MERSEYSIDE ‘AVENTRA’:

West Midlands Trains’ No. 730002 (still awaiting its numbers to be applied at the time, but since done) is pictured passing West Allerton (Merseyside) on March 5 with the 5Q13/13.30 Liverpool Lime Street to Birmingham New Street test run – the first visit of the class to Merseyside. The unit also made the class’s first visit to the Liverpool & Manchester line on March 24 when it worked out and back trips to Lime St via Earlestown. Doug Birmingham