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Class 701 'Aventra' trains for South Western Railway

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WWTownEnth

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One other thing the article in Today’s Railways mentioned was that there is an option on two further 10 car units. It said that this was unlikely to be exercised, however. It will be interesting to see how that plays out because the numbers do seem very tight, given the service increases.
 

hwl

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450s are 50% motored, I believe.
But 450s are software throttled back to 52% of their capability on dc or 350s 75% on ac.

The aventra traction motors are more powerful than the other motors too.
 

Snow1964

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But 450s are software throttled back to 52% of their capability on dc or 350s 75% on ac.

The aventra traction motors are more powerful than the other motors too.

As the 701s will not operate as 12 car they may get a different power restriction. It’s to do with maximum Amps to be drawn.

The 444 have same motors as 450s but are allowed to draw more as will only ever operate as max 2 units coupled

I am not sure what current rules are, but I remember seeing in a book a graph of substation temperature (from decades ago) and how the transformers heat up as a train passes, then cools before next one. By end of rush hour were a lot warmer as cooling time reduced.

In theory trains can draw virtually infinite power if unrestricted, the limitations are to stop it getting too hot and melting the insulation of cables.

The inner suburban substations were replaced a few years ago and voltage changed to nearer 800v at supply (the LSWR had equipped them at 660v, and just 600v on earliest sections). So could get about same power with about 20% fewer amps.

Unrestricted sections used to be nominal 4500 amps, but I think some areas were re-equipped for 6000 amps. Although of course the restriction will be the lowest until the weakest section is brought upto standard. Remember most substations cover pair of tracks so could have multiple trains drawing power together which complicates their sizing
 

mightyena

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The 444 have same motors as 450s but are allowed to draw more as will only ever operate as max 2 units coupled

I guess always just assumed it was because a 444 has a lower percentage of powered axles compared to a 450, and that they could draw more in order to get roughly similar performance. Given that the two fleets are somewhat interoperable (As far as I'm aware it's possible, if unlikely, that anywhere a 444 is diagrammed, a 450 could turn up or vice versa. Not to mention the 444+450 combos), it would make sense for them to have similar acceleration.
 

tasky

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I suppose there's now a chance these trains will never have their SWR decals applied, if the franchise collapses before delivery.
 

Meerkat

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I suppose there's now a chance these trains will never have their SWR decals applied, if the franchise collapses before delivery.

Isnt SWR one of DfTs long term brands, and the colour scheme isn’t First house colours is it??
 

Goldfish62

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DfT have explicitly stated that the LNER and EMR brands will stay irrespective of franchise holder. They also planned the same for South Eastern Railway and encouraged bidders to develop a transferable brand for South Western, hence SWR.

I don't see the brand changing. There are more pressing things to sort out with the franchise.
 

hwl

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DfT have explicitly stated that the LNER and EMR brands will stay irrespective of franchise holder. They also planned the same for South Eastern Railway and encouraged bidders to develop a transferable brand for South Western, hence SWR.

I don't see the brand changing. There are more pressing things to sort out with the franchise.
Quite, and one of the reason for transferable brands so less distraction.
 

dorsetdesiro

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DfT have explicitly stated that the LNER and EMR brands will stay irrespective of franchise holder. They also planned the same for South Eastern Railway and encouraged bidders to develop a transferable brand for South Western, hence SWR.

I don't see the brand changing. There are more pressing things to sort out with the franchise.

Agreed, the small "A First and MTR company" wording to be replaced by something like "operated by DfT or OLR". Like the same & unchanged ScotRail livery having its small FirstGroup logo or wording replaced by Abellio's and it will again in few years time.

What about Avanti West Coast? This seems like a joint First & Trenitalia idea instead of DfT which the latter probably would choose LMS, it is a bit surprising that the DfT allowed a name like AWC to go ahead. Would it still be AWC in the future if another operator (if they're not Italian) takes over?

Then again, I realised the "Greater Anglia" name actually was specified by DfT as it wasn't chosen by Abellio. "Great Eastern Railway" or "Great Anglian Railway" I would've thought to be more like DfT's thing.

Sorry to go OT...
 

Mikey C

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A shame they couldn't have kept the previous "blue" livery as the "standard" livery for SWR as it was far more attractive, but I guess it was considered too "Stagecoachy"
 

Goldfish62

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Agreed, the small "A First and MTR company" wording to be replaced by something like "operated by DfT or OLR". Like the same & unchanged ScotRail livery having its small FirstGroup logo or wording replaced by Abellio's and it will again in few years time.

What about Avanti West Coast? This seems like a joint First & Trenitalia idea instead of DfT which the latter probably would choose LMS, it is a bit surprising that the DfT allowed a name like AWC to go ahead. Would it still be AWC in the future if another operator (if they're not Italian) takes over?

Then again, I realised the "Greater Anglia" name actually was specified by DfT as it wasn't chosen by Abellio. "Great Eastern Railway" or "Great Anglian Railway" I would've thought to be more like DfT's thing.

Sorry to go OT...
Other brands which won't be going anywhere are Merseyrail, Transport for Wales, West Midlands Railway, London North Western Railway.

Arrghh, too OT. Back to the 701s...
 

swt_passenger

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I guess always just assumed it was because a 444 has a lower percentage of powered axles compared to a 450, and that they could draw more in order to get roughly similar performance. Given that the two fleets are somewhat interoperable (As far as I'm aware it's possible, if unlikely, that anywhere a 444 is diagrammed, a 450 could turn up or vice versa. Not to mention the 444+450 combos), it would make sense for them to have similar acceleration.
It’s all about the traction supply conditions on the routes in the peaks when most trains are at full length for multiple working. The max current allowed ‘per train’ is designed around the 12.450, which will have 6 motored carriages in the whole consist. But the 444 equivalent max length, 10.444, only has 4 motored carriages. It is still allowed to draw a similar total current to the 12.450 to have equal performance.
 

RealTrains07

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Yep, the same set up basically.
Well its bombardier after all. Its far easier and cost saving to have similar set ups. It doesn’t mean much crew wise as they still need training but its not surprising
 

Bessie

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I was on a couple of class 458 Waterloo-Reading services yesterday and noticed that the units had had a deep external clean, both had very clean and shiny yellow ends. Maybe these were planned but could it also mean SWR think they will remain in service a little longer, aka 701 delivery is delayed still further.
 

hwl

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I was on a couple of class 458 Waterloo-Reading services yesterday and noticed that the units had had a deep external clean, both had very clean and shiny yellow ends. Maybe these were planned but could it also mean SWR think they will remain in service a little longer, aka 701 delivery is delayed still further.
The revised aim is to get the 8car 455 services up to 10car 701 and provide extra capacity first before any 5car stock starts to leave
 

43096

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I was on a couple of class 458 Waterloo-Reading services yesterday and noticed that the units had had a deep external clean, both had very clean and shiny yellow ends. Maybe these were planned but could it also mean SWR think they will remain in service a little longer, aka 701 delivery is delayed still further.
Shame they haven't bothered to address other issues like some of the graffiti tags which have been around for weeks. Or, indeed, things like blown window seals, especially on the windows with the emergency opening hoppers at the top. These are now commonplace with some now getting water ingress with the resulting "fishtank" between the two window panes. This is a particularly disgusting example:
458 fishtank.jpg
 

Goldfish62

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I was on a couple of class 458 Waterloo-Reading services yesterday and noticed that the units had had a deep external clean, both had very clean and shiny yellow ends. Maybe these were planned but could it also mean SWR think they will remain in service a little longer, aka 701 delivery is delayed still further.
Some of the 458s have had a similar external clean. I think it's just an effort to make the fleet look more presentable.
 

fgwrich

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Shame they haven't bothered to address other issues like some of the graffiti tags which have been around for weeks. Or, indeed, things like blown window seals, especially on the windows with the emergency opening hoppers at the top. These are now commonplace with some now getting water ingress with the resulting "fishtank" between the two window panes. This is a particularly disgusting example:
View attachment 73384

While I do agree with you that it's disgusting and does show a sad lack of care and attention, some of those "fishtank" windows can be a little amusing on a long and dull journey. I had a Voyager back a few weeks ago and the added window wave effect did raise a smile or two. I did even tweet a video of it to XC who, somewhat unsurprisingly wasn't that bothered.
 

Roger B

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Class 701 (Coach No. 484101 leading) at Cerhenice (Velim Test Track) on 10th February 2020.

https://mark5812.smugmug.com/Trains-2020/February-2020-Czech-Republic/i-TCk5RdB/A


Mark
https://mark5812.smugmug.com

Great fots. Gotta say Aventras look so much better with a yellow / orange front - those for TfL Crossrail / Elizabeth Line just look washed out. I think the bright front makes them look sharper, more modern, more zippy (and no, I'm not making any reference to a character from Rainbow, and would be grateful in no-one else did either).
 
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Goldfish62

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Great fots. Gotta say Aventras look so much better with a yellow / orange front - those for TfL / LO just look washed out. I think the bright front makes them look sharper, more modern, more zippy (and no, I'm not making any reference to a character from Rainbow, and would be grateful in no-one else did either).
The LO ones do have an orange front...

Note also the SWR cab design is different.
 

43096

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Great fots. Gotta say Aventras look so much better with a yellow / orange front - those for TfL / LO just look washed out. I think the bright front makes them look sharper, more modern, more zippy (and no, I'm not making any reference to a character from Rainbow, and would be grateful in no-one else did either).
Although Bombardier have bungled the Aventra introduction thus far.

I’ll get me coat......
 

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