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Class 701 'Aventra' trains for South Western Railway

Sun Chariot

Sun Chariot

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3973EXL said:
5Q85 149 late
reported as 701037

Realtime Trains | 5Q85 0918 Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs to Eastleigh | 02/04/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q85 0918 departure from Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs to Eastleigh on 02/04/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk www.realtimetrains.co.uk
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Running very late and with 69009 doing the honours. Service curtailed at Eastleigh (typical, as I was waiting near Totton....)

This test run slid under my radar. 701005: photo post #8583.

Realtime Trains | 5Q51 1115 London Waterloo to Staines Up Loop | 02/04/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q51 1115 departure from London Waterloo to Staines Up Loop on 02/04/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk www.realtimetrains.co.uk
 

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OneTrackMinded

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We draw closer to the 3 month anniversary of this soft launch and still it's 2 round trips a day, off peak, Monday to Friday, and no sign of it expanding anytime soon
 
S

Sam 76

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OneTrackMinded said:
We draw closer to the 3 month anniversary of this soft launch and still it's 2 round trips a day, off peak, Monday to Friday, and no sign of it expanding anytime soon
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Makes you wonder why they bothered really. This could go on for many more months like this from what I’ve read on here
 
OneTrackMinded

OneTrackMinded

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Sam 76 said:
Makes you wonder why they bothered really. This could go on for many more months like this from what I’ve read on here
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The press of course, they bothered so they can pretend that it's not delayed any further

In other news, 701007 spotted about a month ago going somewhere by road, don't think it was mentioned here
431309353_10223827041973218_192508983264240603_n.png
 
G

Goldfish62

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nlogax said:
If this charade goes on much longer the press will see past it. SWR's reality distortion field isn't infinite in duration.
Click to expand...
SWR clearly hoodwinked even the railway press with the "soft launch" three months ago, but it can't be much longer before questions start being asked about why the trains haven't started entering service.
 
branny_rail465

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It really does feel like a charade doesent it? I wonder why a few of the 5 car variations couldn't have been made first so they can occupy lower capacity services in the off peaks until more come into service.

And more frequently on a couple of different routes? For more than two or four services mind you. South western rail do seem to be taking their sweet time with everything.
nlogax said:
If this charade goes on much longer the press will see past it. SWR's reality distortion field isn't infinite in duration.
Click to expand...
 
G

Goldfish62

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branny_rail465 said:
It really does feel like a charade doesent it? I wonder why a few of the 5 car variations couldn't have been made first so they can occupy lower capacity services in the off peaks until more come into service.

And more frequently on a couple of different routes? For more than two or four services mind you. South western rail do seem to be taking their sweet time with everything.
Click to expand...
What's needed is not more unnecessary extra trips slotted in just behind the regular scheduled services, but the units slotted in on normal diagrams like normal TOCs do. But then that's not going to happen given that training hasn't started and there's no sign of it doing so, and SWR doesn't appear to be a normal TOC!
 
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swt_passenger

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Sun Chariot said:
Is Tuesday's test run, Waterloo-Poole-Staines, (posts #8581 and #8583) is - to date - the longest distance that a 701 has run on its own power?

If it is - then, what a farce this has all become...
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No, they’ve been doing similar lengthy runs for years. There’s a report from May 2021:

Class 701 'Aventra' trains for South Western Railway

701016 made movements today: 06:29 5Q50 Eastleigh TMRSMD - London Waterloo, which reversed at Bournemouth Middle Sidings 11:16 5Q51 London Waterloo - Staines Up Loop, which reversed at Poole S.S. 17:17 5Q52 Staines Up Loop - Eastleigh TMRSMD, which reversed at Bournemouth Middle Sidings
www.railforums.co.uk
 
branny_rail465

branny_rail465

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Goldfish62 said:
What's needed is not more unnecessary extra trips slotted in just behind the regular scheduled services, but the units slotted in on normal diagrams like normal TOCs do. But then that's not going to happen given that training hasn't started and there's no sign of it doing so, and SWR doesn't appear to be a normal TOC!
Click to expand...
Agreed, i think itd be easier if the 5 cars being shorter potentially having "less train" and software to worry about inspecting nesseccerilly, (assuming this is valid) To operate on the easier services as a soft start, instead of whatever is already happening with them.
 
OneTrackMinded

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Apparently the SWR 707 microfleet lease is now under "renewals", likely due to stock shortages and yet another indicator of the 701s not be close to starting a proper rollout.
 
G

Goldfish62

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branny_rail465 said:
Agreed, i think itd be easier if the 5 cars being shorter potentially having "less train" and software to worry about inspecting nesseccerilly, (assuming this is valid) To operate on the easier services as a soft start, instead of whatever is already happening with them.
Click to expand...
Diagrams with a single 4/5 car unit throughout must be a rarity on SWR suburban services, if they exist at all.
 
D

DMckduck97

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branny_rail465 said:
It really does feel like a charade doesent it? I wonder why a few of the 5 car variations couldn't have been made first so they can occupy lower capacity services in the off peaks until more come into service.

And more frequently on a couple of different routes? For more than two or four services mind you. South western rail do seem to be taking their sweet time with everything.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately until all platforms have been tested and passed DCO checks for 10 car, 5 car and 2x5 car formations of 701 I doubt we will see them in service.

Not sure why training hasn't started yet though.
 
H

hwl

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branny_rail465 said:
I wonder why a few of the 5 car variations couldn't have been made first so they can occupy lower capacity services in the off peaks until more come into service.
Click to expand...
branny_rail465 said:
Agreed, i think itd be easier if the 5 cars being shorter potentially having "less train" and software to worry about inspecting nesseccerilly, (assuming this is valid) To operate on the easier services as a soft start, instead of whatever is already happening with them.
Click to expand...

Already covered several times on this thread.

Most units are 10 car (80% of vehicles) so the focus is on getting them in service. (they can also cover low capacity off peak as they will eventually do in service)
One reason for 5 car was to cover the quieter shuttle service that don't get to Waterloo (which can be covered by 455 etc once the main 10car roll out has happened), most 5 car will be 2x 5car in service.
10 car have more redundancy on the power systems so less likely to completely fail.
10car units are effectively 2x single cab ended 5 car units.
5 car would need coupling arrangement to be fully tested for in service working for rescue etc. and to run as 2x5car to mitigate lack of redundancy issues. 5 car is effectively more software /testing in practice.
Less overall effort to sort 10car software then 5car than other permutations.
 
OneTrackMinded

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In other news, more ABDO beacons for the 701s spotted around the place, now at Putney.
GJm_oSQWMAwO7u0


As it's been discussed before, these are likely going to be tested and then not used in passenger service for quite a few years.
 
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G

Goldfish62

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OneTrackMinded said:
Apparently the SWR 707 microfleet lease is now under "renewals", likely due to stock shortages and yet another indicator of the 701s not be close to starting a proper rollout.
Click to expand...
Another indicator being I saw a guard I know the other day and he said he and his colleagues are completely in the dark, wondering why training hasn't started yet. He literally has absolutely no idea why.
 
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