Birmingham Cross City Line gets new modern trains - but there are less seats

Passengers on Birmingham’s Cross City Line are travelling on a brand new train fleet for the first time this week today (Monday 15 April).

Train operator West Midlands Railway (WMR) said the introduction of the Class 730 fleet represents the start of a new era for rail travel on the line, which is used by millions of passengers every year and connects Birmingham with destinations including Lichfield, Redditch and Bromsgrove.

The new fleet, built by Midlands-based manufacturers Alstom,  was rolled out on Cross City Line services on Monday (April 15) as part of WMR’s £1 billion investment in new trains and infrastructure.

But they don’t have as many seats as the previous trains which had been in operation for 30 years. Some passengers have raised concern about there being a total of 170 less seats than the older six car 323 services.

However, WMR said there is, in fact, more capacity in the new trains which now have a standing capacity of 345 compared to 120 standing capacity in the Class 323’s  - so they new trains can hold 544 people compared to the 397 which could fit on the older 323 models.

In response to the concerns, one happy WMR passenger pointed out how the middle seat was rarely used on the older trains. The new fleet is made up of 48 three-carriage trains in total – making a total of 144 new carriages.

Get a bespoke headline round-up from Birmingham, as well as breaking news updates, when you sign up to BirminghamWorld’s free emails Features include spacious interior with walk-through carriages, accessible toilets, WiFi and power points at every seat. Ian McConnell, West Midlands Railway managing director, said: “The introduction of this modern new train fleet marks the start of a new era for our customers on the Cross City Line.

“With extra space and modern features such as digital information screens and power points, the fleet will make a huge difference to millions of journeys across the West Midlands every year. The rollout of the Class 730s onto this key Birmingham commuter route is a vital part of our £1billion investment in new trains and infrastructure as we continue modernising our rail network.”

Rail Minister Huw Merriman said: "I’m delighted that passengers travelling on the Cross City Line will now do so on a brand-new fleet of trains, enhancing the passenger experience for the millions who rely on the line each year whilst boosting capacity for one of the country’s busiest commuter routes.

“Replacing ageing rolling stock is crucial to the sustainability, reliability and growth of our network by encouraging more people to travel by rail and I’m pleased passengers in the West Midlands will benefit from this investment for years to come.”

What is so special about Birmingham’s Cross City Line?

The Cross City Line is one of the busiest commuter routes in the country outside London, with millions of passenger journeys made every year. The line connects major conurbations across the West Midlands including Lichfield, Sutton Coldfield, Longbridge, Bromsgrove and Redditch. As well as serving Birmingham New Street, the line is also home to the recently redeveloped University station, which is used by millions of passengers annually.

The Class 730 fleet will be phased into service on the Cross City Line over the spring and summer months as the existing Class 323 trains are withdrawn from service. This means the line will be served by a mixture of Class 730s and Class 323s trains for the next few months, with the transition expected to be fully complete by the autumn.

The first Class 730 train in passenger service on the Cross City Line was Monday’s 6.06am departure from Birmingham New Street to Lichfield Trent Valley. WMR added: “All Class 730s on the Cross City Line will run in pairs, meaning every train will have six carriages and capacity for more than 1,000 passengers.”