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Class 701 'Aventra' trains for South Western Railway

Wivenswold

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Or, maybe the 707s do have a new home but are not needed until 2023/24. I'm not a SWT/SWR expert but does that withdrawal schedule follow the order in which old trains were most recently refurbished/overhauled/introduced?
 
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hwl

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Or, maybe the 707s do have a new home but are not needed until 2023/24. I'm not a SWT/SWR expert but does that withdrawal schedule follow the order in which old trains were most recently refurbished/overhauled/introduced?
There are only enough 456s to run ~50% of 455s in 10 car trains hence the quickest way top boost capacity is to start with replacing 50% of the 455 then move on to the remained of 455 and start on the 456 and 458 with 707s last.
The reckoning is that they have also looked at relative class reliability with the least reliable going first...
It will probably also be easier to find space on the Windsor side 10 car units with the new Feltham proceeding quickly...
 

samuelmorris

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There are only enough 456s to run ~50% of 455s in 10 car trains hence the quickest way top boost capacity is to start with replacing 50% of the 455 then move on to the remained of 455 and start on the 456 and 458 with 707s last.
The reckoning is that they have also looked at relative class reliability with the least reliable going first...
It will probably also be easier to find space on the Windsor side 10 car units with the new Feltham proceeding quickly...
How times change from the 458/0 golden spanner days...

Has any announcement been made on the order of delivery in terms of 10-car vs 5-car?
 

hwl

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How times change from the 458/0 golden spanner days...

Has any announcement been made on the order of delivery in terms of 10-car vs 5-car?
The first couple of sets are 5 car but that makes more sense for testing and initial training purposes. As well as the ability to do multi unit testing.
 

43096

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There are only enough 456s to run ~50% of 455s in 10 car trains hence the quickest way top boost capacity is to start with replacing 50% of the 455 then move on to the remained of 455 and start on the 456 and 458 with 707s last.
The reckoning is that they have also looked at relative class reliability with the least reliable going first...
It will probably also be easier to find space on the Windsor side 10 car units with the new Feltham proceeding quickly...
What do the current shower operating SWR know about fleet reliability given their “scorched earth” policy around maintenance? Fleet reliability has definitely dropped from where it was under Stagecoach - there are far more train faults now than before.
 

Ethano92

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What do the current shower operating SWR know about fleet reliability given their “scorched earth” policy around maintenance? Fleet reliability has definitely dropped from where it was under Stagecoach - there are far more train faults now than before.
Didn't stagecoach drastically cut maintenance, amongst other things, when they found out they were loosing the franchise? Overall service was poor during the final periods of stagecoach, people were excited for SWR but nobody seems to remember that now that SWR are just as bad/worse.

Edit: Did SWT have any plans on replacing the 455s. I ask because I find it amusing that I see lots of people on twitter complaining about these units saying "SWT wouldn't tolerate these old, dirty things..." But as far as I'm aware, SWT would've kept the 455s for much longer since they've been retractioned. I'm looking forward to these, they'll be a positive change and seats don't bother me. I am 'concerned' about air con though, 345s seem alright but 710s always seem set very cold although I haven't been on one since the weather turned back to constant grey skies.
 
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yorkie

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Just a gentle reminder that this thread is about what is happening regarding Class 701 'Aventra' trains for South Western Railway

Please discuss anything else in an appropriate thread; also a reminder that any suggestions/ideas belong in Speculative Ideas.

Thanks :)
 

Bigfoot

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Did SWT have any plans on replacing the 455s. I ask because I find it amusing that I see lots of people on twitter complaining about these units saying "SWT wouldn't tolerate these old, dirty things..." But as far as I'm aware, SWT would've kept the 455s for much longer since they've been retractioned. I'm looking forward to these, they'll be a positive change and seats don't bother me. I am 'concerned' about air con though, 345s seem alright but 710s always seem set very cold although I haven't been on one since the weather turned back to constant grey skies.

If I remember correctly the SWR bid had an add on 707 order to replace the suburban stock.
 

Goldfish62

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Or, maybe the 707s do have a new home but are not needed until 2023/24. I'm not a SWT/SWR expert but does that withdrawal schedule follow the order in which old trains were most recently refurbished/overhauled/introduced?
Or maybe it's in line with which trains are most reliable. The 458s have always been pretty awful since they were converted.
 

TEW

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707s last then? Not that long ago people had them going first. Nobody must want them...
707s going last has been rumoured for a few weeks now. A lot of people were convinced they were off to Southeastern in the new franchise, but that is obviously all delayed now.
 

samuelmorris

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Exactly, I'm glad common sense has prevailed there - now they aren't imminently expected elsewhere, may as well keep the more reliable stock as long as possible.
 

ivzem

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View attachment 69578 View attachment 69579 View attachment 69580 They look like other Bombardier Aventras, don't they?
(they're not my photos)
Yes, trains from one family built at the same time for similar services will look pretty similar. The biggest difference appears to be the shape of the front lights, which on the 701s is much more pointy than on the LO and GA versions; they also lack the grill and as a consequence the wiper sits far lower.
 

toby_farman

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Yes, trains from one family built at the same time for similar services will look pretty similar. The biggest difference appears to be the shape of the front lights, which on the 701s is much more pointy than on the LO and GA versions; they also lack the grill and as a consequence the wiper sits far lower.
Why though... I only know the LO and GA trains are 25kv whereas the SWR trains are 750v... does that have something to do with it?
 

swt_passenger

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Why though... I only know the LO and GA trains are 25kv whereas the SWR trains are 750v... does that have something to do with it?
The cab area is supposed to be shorter, and the front more vertical, to maximise interior passenger space. This is not obvious from end on views. A discussion earlier in this thread suggests the SWR drivers were unhappy about this change to design, but no detailed dimensions have ever been posted.
 

toby_farman

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The cab area is supposed to be shorter, and the front more vertical, to maximise interior passenger space. This is not obvious from end on views. A discussion earlier in this thread suggests the SWR drivers were unhappy about this change to design, but no detailed dimensions have ever been posted.

Will they have more comfortable seats than the "ironing boards" on the 707s?
 

Ethano92

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A discussion earlier in this thread suggests the SWR drivers were unhappy about this change to design, but no detailed dimensions have ever been posted.
As you said no dimensions have been posted but could the cabs truly have ever been any smaller than the 456s. Those have the same flat front, slim cab style although I guess not every driver would be used to driving those that often.
 

toby_farman

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As you said no dimensions have been posted but could the cabs truly have ever been any smaller than the 456s. Those have the same flat front, slim cab style although I guess not every driver would be used to driving those that often.

It's unlikely that the cabs will be any smaller than the 455s, 456s, 458s or even the 707s...
 

Goldfish62

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Exactly, I'm glad common sense has prevailed there - now they aren't imminently expected elsewhere, may as well keep the more reliable stock as long as possible.
Reliable and high performance. Complete opposite of the 458s!
 

samuelmorris

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Probably already mentioned but....

TOILETS?
Yes, every train on SWR will have toilets when these are fully rolled out. Toilets are 50% of the reason why 701s are replacing perfectly adequate trains (at considerable controversy), the other being the lack of standing capacity.
 

Goldfish62

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Yes, every train on SWR will have toilets when these are fully rolled out. Toilets are 50% of the reason why 701s are replacing perfectly adequate trains (at considerable controversy), the other being the lack of standing capacity.
And standardisation of the suburban fleet.
 

hwl

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Why though... I only know the LO and GA trains are 25kv whereas the SWR trains are 750v... does that have something to do with it?
The cab area is supposed to be shorter, and the front more vertical, to maximise interior passenger space. This is not obvious from end on views. A discussion earlier in this thread suggests the SWR drivers were unhappy about this change to design, but no detailed dimensions have ever been posted.

Enables an extra row of seats to be fitted in so an extra 8 seats per unit...
 

swt_passenger

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Enables an extra row of seats to be fitted in so an extra 8 seats per unit...
Sure, I really meant dimensions within the cab. But you’ve reminded us about the exact effect in seat terms of numbers - I expect it was mentioned earlier in the thread but I didn’t bother looking for it...
 

toby_farman

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Sure, I really meant dimensions within the cab. But you’ve reminded us about the exact effect in seat terms of numbers - I expect it was mentioned earlier in the thread but I didn’t bother looking for it...

But they're not needed on other AVENTRAs so why here?!
 

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