Class 701 'Aventra' trains for South Western Railway

[downmain]

have been told there a move of a 701 out of store tomorrow from Long Marston to Eastleigh

Realtime Trains | 5Q46 1145 Long Marston Gbrf to Eastleigh Trsmd | 16/11/2023

Real-time train running information for 5Q46 1145 departure from Long Marston Gbrf to Eastleigh Trsmd on 16/11/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

701004 heading for eastleigh

 

[Andy1673]

If I understand correctly we can`t wait for 701s will be introduce into passenger service since date of the new timetable or within the period of validity of the new timetable?

 

[The_Train]

There was a pair of 5 cars out and about under their own steam this evening. Too dark to catch the numbers as they went past though!

Turning them into steam units could be one way to get them into service quicker

 

[St. Paddy]

701523 en route from Derby to Eastleigh today

 

[3973EXL]

701507/511

Realtime Trains | 5Q64 0740 Eastleigh Trsmd to Willesden S.W.S. | 17/11/2023

Real-time train running information for 5Q64 0740 departure from Eastleigh Trsmd to Willesden S.W.S. on 17/11/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q68 1109 Willesden S.W.S. to Bicester Mod Gbrf | 17/11/2023

Real-time train running information for 5Q68 1109 departure from Willesden S.W.S. to Bicester Mod Gbrf on 17/11/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

701515/516

Realtime Trains | 5Q64 0740 Eastleigh Trsmd to Willesden S.W.S. | 22/11/2023

Real-time train running information for 5Q64 0740 departure from Eastleigh Trsmd to Willesden S.W.S. on 22/11/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q68 1009 Willesden S.W.S. to Bicester Mod Gbrf | 22/11/2023

Real-time train running information for 5Q68 1009 departure from Willesden S.W.S. to Bicester Mod Gbrf on 22/11/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[markle]

Given that we're only about five weeks away from the end of the year now, any further news on whether or not SWR will be able to fulfill their commitment to have the trains enter passenger service this year?

(Even if just one token service)

 

[Jamesrob637]

Given that we're only about five weeks away from the end of the year now, any further news on whether or not SWR will be able to fulfill their commitment to have the trains enter passenger service this year?

(Even if just one token service)

One token service from Basingstoke to Woking on the evening of the 30th (Not NYE as the railway shuts down earlier then)

Memories of TPE and their 68s/MK3s on the 30th of December 2017.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

One token service from Basingstoke to Woking on the evening of the 30th (Not NYE as the railway shuts down earlier then)

Memories of TPE and their 68s/MK3s on the 30th of December 2017.

Really? Is that confirmed? Amazing!

 

[Jamesrob637]

Really? Is that confirmed? Amazing!

No, it was in jest! Wouldn't put it past SWR to run one diagram that day though.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

No, it was in jest! Wouldn't put it past SWR to run one diagram that day though.

Ohhh you wicked man, you got me so excited I'll actually be home from Cardiff in Farnham at that point too, so here's hoping the dream becomes a reality

 

[Snow1964]

Given that we're only about five weeks away from the end of the year now, any further news on whether or not SWR will be able to fulfill their commitment to have the trains enter passenger service this year?

(Even if just one token service)

If there is some sort of financial penalty or contractual requirement should have been at least one over every route intended to operate.

Otherwise could start a train out of Kingston, terminate it at Hampton Wick, about half a mile, and get tick in box.

Plenty of other stupidly short journeys too are possible, eg Chessington North to Chessington South

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

If there is some sort of financial penalty or contractual requirement should have been at least one over every route intended to operate.

Otherwise could start a train out of Kingston, terminate it at Hampton Wick, about half a mile, and get tick in box.

Plenty of other stupidly short journeys too are possible, eg Chessington North to Chessington South

Lymington Town to Lymington Pier

 

[amazon1675]

701517 and 701519 out on test yesterday. 39 days till year end...

 

[SWT_USER]

Lymington Town to Lymington Pier

My money would be on Staines to Feltham (or v/v). Out of the depot, quick run, reverse and back to the depot with a promise of a full entry to service in the new year (just don't ask them to specify which new year).

 

[amazon1675]

If Derby closes,who will supply any spares or do any warranty work ? Remember all the returns of tube stock a while back. Surprised this saga has not attracted national media by now,or been given a full blast in Modern Railways for example. By the way,have the unions accepted the design yet ?

 

[Peter Sarf]

If Derby closes,who will supply any spares or do any warranty work ? Remember all the returns of tube stock a while back. Surprised this saga has not attracted national media by now,or been given a full blast in Modern Railways for example. By the way,have the unions accepted the design yet ?

Really do wonder how to could get out of the order for 701s.
Does SWR have a way out ?.
Who is left holding the baby - ROSCO or Alstom as surrogate for Bombardier ?.

Its too big to go down the pan of course.

 

[87015]

My money would be on Staines to Feltham (or v/v). Out of the depot, quick run, reverse and back to the depot with a promise of a full entry to service in the new year (just don't ask them to specify which new year).

Windsors. Put back again by ASOS.

 

[Goldfish62]

Really do wonder how to could get out of the order for 701s.
Does SWR have a way out ?.
Who is left holding the baby - ROSCO or Alstom as surrogate for Bombardier ?.

Its too big to go down the pan of course.

But as reported on this thread some trains are now crewed by SWR so why would they want a way out of something that is clearly going to be introduced at some stage, hopefully very soon?

Not introducing them would leave SWR with an elderly 8-car suburban railway without any prospect of adding additional capacity as passenger numbers increase.

 

[Peter Sarf]

But as reported on this thread some trains are now crewed by SWR so why would they want a way out of something that is clearly going to be introduced at some stage, hopefully very soon?

Not introducing them would leave SWR with an elderly 8-car suburban railway without any prospect of adding additional capacity as passenger numbers increase.

I agree. It is looking very much more likely now drivers are getting trained.

I think the biggest hurdle is going to be how long the older units have spent idle in sidings - not healthy. I think we are starting to see how the earlier 720/5s that are not yet introduced are faring - then we will be able to predict similar for the 701s.

 

[Bigfoot]

For clarification here. Crewed by SWR management and trainers. Not Mainline Drivers.

 

[Carlisle]

Windsors. Put back again by ASOS.

What does that mean ?

 

[Goldfish62]

For clarification here. Crewed by SWR management and trainers. Not Mainline Drivers.

So? Drivers are the next thing logical step at any normal train operator surely?

 

[JonathanH]

What does that mean ?

ASOS is "action short of a strike" - it means that something keeps being put back as a result of industrial action.

 

[InOban]

Surely any newly-trained drivers would be trained on these as part of their course?

 

[Snow1964]

ASOS is "action short of a strike" - it means that training keeps being put back as a result of industrial action.

This is only half the excuse, if an employee is supposed to receive X days training, familiarisation, safety update days per year etc as part of their normal work then they won't be affected.

ASOS (action short of a strike) is only not doing extra duties, voluntary tasks etc, doesn't affect any tasks normally booked to be done.

However some operators have sort of reallocated staff to more essential duties, instead of routine training. Strictly the employee participating in ASOS should turn up at whatever their roster said at time of calling ASOS, ie if they were scheduled to go to a training centre that's what they do, not accept a late change to driving instead.

In practice, bit of a grey area, and many employees don't understand the nuances of ASOS, instead mistakenly think it means doing core duties, instead of duties originally scheduled. So if someone says can you drive today instead of doing training, the often forget they are doing ASOS and agree to the change.

Really ASOS will only affect training during overtime, not scheduled training, so when you hear training is postponed, it's only bit that was unscheduled or overtime that gets postponed, not all of it.

 

[kw12]

This is only half the excuse

What is the other half?

 

[amazon1675]

I wonder when the phase 'Operator of Last Resort' will start to appear ? Not only the operator is at fault,but the train builders and in some part the operators employees. We are rapidly approaching the point when all of the 701s have been constructed,and still the existing rolling stock is being maintained and leased,whilst the new fleet of trains is in paid storage or yet to carry a fare paying passenger.Oh,and the builder is likely to close the plant that built them before much longer.Less than ideal?

 

[JonathanH]

I wonder when the phase 'Operator of Last Resort' will start to appear ?

Is an operator of last resort going to have additional powers to get trains into service, that the existing management don't have access to?

 

[amazon1675]

Who knows ? I wonder when this saga will end and the trains actually carry passengers. This does very much appear to be an operator project and look what has happened elsewhere.OK,services are still running,but using the stock the 701s were meant to replace.It all comes down to the cab size ,and who opens and closes the doors does it not ? Where is the Guiding Mind when one is needed?

 

[87015]

ASOS is "action short of a strike" - it means that training keeps being put back as a result of industrial action.

Not at all thanks, was answering where and when the first passenger working is/was.