Class 701 'Aventra' trains for South Western Railway: progress updates

[Juniper Driver]

It was taking U.701018 to Long Marston for storage!!

Another 701 going to Long Marston tomorrow as well.

Thanks.I said Long Marston to my guard, but I wasn't really sure if I was right.

 

[Invincible]

I have heard that training was supposed to be commencing at Feltham for DIs a couple of weeks back but had to be abandoned (for the third time now!) because there were still far too many issues with the units for it to be viable, but nothing re: depot drivers

Guess someone has a list of issues which Alstom are still working on, or is the Elizabeth line upgrade taking preference?

701011 on 5Q51 today. 47727 and 701018 on 5Q64. I plan to publish updated status list tomorrow.

5Q51 (as "test" on RTT website) seemed to run from Waterloo to Poole to Staines, then as 5Q52 is making it's way to Eastleigh.

 

[The_Train]

701018 has moved to Long Marston today

 

[Stew27005]

Hi everyone. I've updated the locations list. The updated data has been shaded in yellow. Thanks to those of you who have provided information in support of the ever changing situation with this class. Happy to continue to receive updates and observations.

 

[Dstock7080]

37.254 seems to have brought in 701.026 into Wimbledon today

 

[Sad Sprinter]

Why are these trains going to Long Marston?

 

[800001]

Why are these trains going to Long Marston?

To be stored awaiting entry to service.
Space is filling up at Swr Depots.

 

[444045]

Hi everyone. I've updated the locations list. The updated data has been shaded in yellow. Thanks to those of you who have provided information in support of the ever changing situation with this class. Happy to continue to receive updates and observations.

Thanks for the updated list @Stew27005

 

[LUYMun]

By this point, I think it's better they get introduced into revenue service, despite being unreliable from the technical faults, than wait a prolonged period for the "test" to complete while the leases on other units are due to expire in the next few years.

 

[swt_passenger]

By this point, I think it's better they get introduced into revenue service, despite being unreliable from the technical faults, than wait a prolonged period for the "test" to complete while the leases on other units are due to expire in the next few years.

Theoretical only, because the drivers have apparently decided they will not accept them with any technical faults. (IMHO)

 

[SWT_USER]

Two units at Clapham yard, both appear to have their tail lights on. Has the issue which meant the units had to be totally powered down been resolved?

 

[swt_passenger]

Two units at Clapham yard, both appear to have their tail lights on. Has the issue which meant the units had to be totally powered down been resolved?

Yes, it was reported some time back, about November 2022, that they were being stabled with power on. But I couldn’t find anything explicitly stating the capacitor problem was fixed. Just a strengthened container?

 

[SWT_USER]

Yes, it was reported some time back, I’ll try and find it.

Thank you, apologies I must have missed it further back.

 

[wickham]

Regarding the location list published by Stew27005 on 06/05/23, there are none shown at FELTHAM but there are two at FARNHAM - is this right ?
As far as I was aware FARNHAM fills right up with berthed service stock and is rather unlikely to have room for two 701s, but I might be wrong !!
MK

 

[jackot]

Regarding the location list published by Stew27005 on 06/05/23, there are none shown at FELTHAM but there are two at FARNHAM - is this right ?
As far as I was aware FARNHAM fills right up with berthed service stock and is rather unlikely to have room for two 701s, but I might be wrong !!
MK

At one point a few months ago Farnham actually had 6 701s! I can confirm though that last time I went past there were 2 701s as well as the usual 450s and 458s.

 

[43096]

Regarding the location list published by Stew27005 on 06/05/23, there are none shown at FELTHAM but there are two at FARNHAM - is this right ?
As far as I was aware FARNHAM fills right up with berthed service stock and is rather unlikely to have room for two 701s, but I might be wrong !!
MK

There are none at Feltham as of 30 seconds ago!

 

[Goldfish62]

There are none at Feltham as of 30 seconds ago!

Indeed. They all departed a few weeks ago.

 

[Bigfoot]

Farnham has had a few roads added in recent years as part of the prep for the 701s and the previous HLOS project under SWT

 

[TEW]

And since Covid there has been a bit of spare capacity at Farnham because of the reduced service.

 

[Dan G]

Just to clarify something for me – not a single 701 is in operation, right? As each new one pops out the factory, they're being moved to whatever storage space can be found for them?

 

[Invincible]

Just to clarify something for me – not a single 701 is in operation, right? As each new one pops out the factory, they're being moved to whatever storage space can be found for them?

There's about 10 on the list running tests on the SWR lines, headcodes like 5Q51, presumably testing new software, other train modifications or training?

 

[Fazaar1889]

There's about 10 on the list running tests on the SWR lines

How many did SWR order total?

 

[swt_passenger]

How many did SWR order total?

90 units consisting of 60 x 10 car, and 30 x 5 car.
The former 600 vehicles are a broad equivalent to the combined total of the 455, 456, 458/5 fleets, IIRC 592.
The latter 150 vehicles being equivalent in numbers to the 707s.

 

[fgwrich]

Indeed. They all departed a few weeks ago.

Cancel! Tiredness read Farnham instead of Feltham!

 

[Fazaar1889]

90 units consisting of 60 x 10 car, and 30 x 5 car.
The former 600 vehicles are a broad equivalent to the combined total of the 455, 456, 458/5 fleets, IIRC 592.
The latter 150 vehicles being equivalent in numbers to the 707s.

So the 10 that Invincible mentioned consist of how many cars?

 

[3973EXL]

5Q12 47727 701010

Realtime Trains | 5Q12 0733 Eastleigh Trsmd to Worksop Down Yard | 11/05/2023

Real-time train running information for 5Q12 0733 departure from Eastleigh Trsmd to Worksop Down Yard on 11/05/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[swt_passenger]

So the 10 that Invincible mentioned consist of how many cars?

Don’t know sorry, I’m not following the moves at all.

 

[Fazaar1889]

Don’t know sorry, I’m not following the moves at all.

ah don't worry

 

[Invincible]

So the 10 that Invincible mentioned consist of how many cars?

checking the list again is actually 7 10 coach units on test at different times on the SWR network
Eastleigh:
006
010 (now moved to Worksop?)
013
026
033
Clapham: 014
Bournemouth: 042
and 2 5 coach units on test at Wimbledon:
509
512

This is a video "satnavdan" posted about 17:00 today of the 33 and London Underground heritage 4tc, identity 0Z47, at Totton heading for the Swanage diesel gala, but just before this there is what looks very like a 10 coach 701 heading the other direction, not able to see it's ID, checked on the realtime trains site, but does not seems to be listed? Cant be 010 as this was moved earlier with a loco?

 

[swt_passenger]

This is a video "satnavdan" posted about 17:00 today of the 33 and London Underground heritage 4tc, identity 0Z47, at Totton heading for the Swanage diesel gala, but just before this there is what looks very like a 10 coach 701 heading the other direction, checked on the realtime trains site, but does not seems to be listed? Cant be 010 as this was moved earlier with a loco?

This service seems to have been through Totton in the up direction at 1504¾ RTT then has the 33 etc passing at 1505.

Realtime Trains | 5Q51 1115 London Waterloo to Eastleigh | 11/05/2023

Real-time train running information for 5Q51 1115 departure from London Waterloo to Eastleigh on 11/05/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk