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

[Goldfish62]

Just had a thought...

Even if SWR's internal disputes are resolved, GWR could still quite easily disrupt the rollout on the Reading line if either DCO or DOO is implemented. Given that all passenger services out of 4, 5 and 6 are all currently dispatched with a guard, this would be a break from the norm and I'd imagine RMT would try leveraging Reading if things, once again, turn sour between RMT and SWR. Purely speculative, but even if things are all good with SWR internally, they're not necessarily out of the woods yet.

Sounds like you're trying to find reasons for the 701s not to be introduced!

 

[43OO4]

Sounds like you're trying to find reasons for the 701s not to be introduced!

I actually can't wait for the 701s! The sooner the 458s are away from my neck of the woods, the better! The point I'm trying to drive home is that the 701s may still yet be even further away than we're all anticipating.

 

[Goldfish62]

Some of the remaining ones are getting fairly close to needing overhauls.

With the major refurb (about 12 years ago) and new traction packages (about 8 years ago), almost certainly could get another 5 years out of them. But that is dependent on paying for major overhauls (whilst simultaneously paying for new trains too).

Bit of a question mark, over if there are now enough 455s to have few away for major work too, whilst leaving enough for service.

Surely major overhauls on the 455s wouldn't be commissioned just because training on the 701s is being delayed by industrial relations issues?

I actually can't wait for the 701s! The sooner the 458s are away from my neck of the woods, the better! The point I'm trying to drive home is that the 701s may still yet be even further away than we're all anticipating.

But based on your example it could be said that the 701s or indeed any new stock is never able to ever again enter service because of a never-ending list of potential dispute issues that could in theory stop everything.

 

[Fincra5]

Just had a thought...

Even if SWR's internal disputes are resolved, GWR could still quite easily disrupt the rollout on the Reading line if either DCO or DOO is implemented. Given that all passenger services out of 4, 5 and 6 are all currently dispatched with a guard, this would be a break from the norm and I'd imagine RMT would try leveraging Reading if things, once again, turn sour between RMT and SWR. Purely speculative, but even if things are all good with SWR internally, they're not necessarily out of the woods yet.

Unlikely given DOO already exists on the GWR Network, for many years. As long as the lighting levels are sufficient for DOO operation.

 

[Robin Procter]

I actually can't wait for the 701s! The sooner the 458s are away from my neck of the woods, the better!

.... The SWR website says about the 458s :

"Following significant work at our Wimbledon depot the trains became some of the most reliable in the UK, winning a number of awards.
Our Class 701 Arterio trains will replace the 458s in future, at which point they will be sent for refurbishment."

So I interpret that as saying that the 458s will not disappear when the 701s eventually enter service.

Personally, seeing 458s never inspires me to take their photograph but the 701s do inspire me - At least until they become very commonly seen in only SWR livery.

 

[swr444]

.... The SWR website says about the 458s :

"Following significant work at our Wimbledon depot the trains became some of the most reliable in the UK, winning a number of awards.
Our Class 701 Arterio trains will replace the 458s in future, at which point they will be sent for refurbishment."

So I interpret that as saying that the 458s will not disappear when the 701s eventually enter service.

Personally, seeing 458s never inspires me to take their photograph but the 701s do inspire me - At least until they become very commonly seen in only SWR livery.

Surely you have read about the 458 refurb for them to be "used" on the Portsmouth direct?

 

[SWT_USER]

.... The SWR website says about the 458s :

"Following significant work at our Wimbledon depot the trains became some of the most reliable in the UK, winning a number of awards.
Our Class 701 Arterio trains will replace the 458s in future, at which point they will be sent for refurbishment."

So I interpret that as saying that the 458s will not disappear when the 701s eventually enter service.

Personally, seeing 458s never inspires me to take their photograph but the 701s do inspire me - At least until they become very commonly seen in only SWR livery.

More BS from SWR then - as they are sending the 458's away now with no sign of any 701's in service.

 

[Goldfish62]

.... The SWR website says about the 458s :

"Following significant work at our Wimbledon depot the trains became some of the most reliable in the UK, winning a number of awards.
Our Class 701 Arterio trains will replace the 458s in future, at which point they will be sent for refurbishment."

So I interpret that as saying that the 458s will not disappear when the 701s eventually enter service.

Personally, seeing 458s never inspires me to take their photograph but the 701s do inspire me - At least until they become very commonly seen in only SWR livery.

That's all way out of date, especially the bit about the UK's most reliable trains. They went from that to SWR's least reliable trains when converted to 5 cars.

 

[ebennett07]

So I interpret that as saying that the 458s will not disappear when the 701s eventually enter service.

458s are being sent to PDL and some Poole-London services like the 442s were.

 

[Goldfish62]

458s are being sent to PDL and some Poole-London services like the 442s were.

Although if you read the 458 thread it's suggested that they will never enter service in their 458/4 form.

 

[Robin Procter]

Surely you have read about the 458 refurb for them to be "used" on the Portsmouth direct?

.... No I haven't because I am not so deeply interested in photographing most of the MUs, especially those with gangways (very useful as I realise they are) on flat fronts - That's merely my personal taste and is not a meaningful judgement.

That's all way out of date, especially the bit about the UK's most reliable trains. They went from that to SWR's least reliable trains when converted to 5 cars.

.... Then I guess that SWR don't keep their website up to date? Plus of course that any railway operator is hardly likely to highlight unreliability when marketing their services.

When you say that a train, any train, is "least reliable" in which way are you making your judgement? Units breaking down? Unreliable on sticking to timetables?

Although if you read the 458 thread it's suggested that they will never enter service in their 458/4 form.

.... Perhaps I should have posted my comments in the 458 thread which I didn't know existed because I'm not interested in them. I only mentioned them here in the context of the 701 class and directly related subjects (the SWR website text I quoted) being discussed in this thread.

 

[Waterlemon]

Although if you read the 458 thread it's suggested that they will never enter service in their 458/4 form.

No plans as of yet

 

[subria]

701039 is out and about this afternoon. Here it is at Richmond just after 3pm

 

[Goldfish62]

701039 is out and about this afternoon. Here it is at Richmond just after 3pm

In the same path as when I saw one a couple of weeks ago.

 

[CarrotPie]

701039 is out and about this afternoon. Here it is at Richmond just after 3pm

028 was out and about at Waterloo at noon too.

 

[Snow1964]

Couple more weird one day paths tomorrow

5O87 Waterloo depart 10:57 to Strawberry Hill via Richmond
5U45 Strawberry Hill to Waterloo

No idea if they will be a 701 working, or even if they will be varied from empty to a pre Christmas preview, just seemed odd that it was on last full working day (standard Mon-Fri timetable) of the year

 

[TEW]

Couple more weird one day paths tomorrow

5O87 Waterloo depart 10:57 to Strawberry Hill via Richmond
5U45 Strawberry Hill to Waterloo

No idea if they will be a 701 working, or even if they will be varied from empty to a pre Christmas preview, just seemed odd that it was on last full working day (standard Mon-Fri timetable) of the year

The same ran today. It's probably just units stabling there between the peaks instead of Wimbledon Depot or Clapham Yard.

 

[Bigfoot]

Couple more weird one day paths tomorrow

5O87 Waterloo depart 10:57 to Strawberry Hill via Richmond
5U45 Strawberry Hill to Waterloo

No idea if they will be a 701 working, or even if they will be varied from empty to a pre Christmas preview, just seemed odd that it was on last full working day (standard Mon-Fri timetable) of the year

Wimbledon is closed during the day so they have been amended

 

[Recessio]

Saw a 701 at Vauxhall this morning around 10:40-10:50 ish? I was on the 10:19 from Guildford to Waterloo (10:56), passing through Vauxhall fast so I couldn't get a good look at it, but maybe that helps someone else narrow down the timings?

 

[CarrotPie]

There's a 5Q50 running today that seemed to be a 701.

 

[Invincible]

Saw a 701 at Vauxhall this morning around 10:40-10:50 ish? I was on the 10:19 from Guildford to Waterloo (10:56), passing through Vauxhall fast so I couldn't get a good look at it, but maybe that helps someone else narrow down the timings?

5Q75 to Basingstoke? 10:40

Realtime Trains | 5Q75 1005 Clapham Yard Sidings to Basingstoke | 22/12/2023

Real-time train running information for 5Q75 1005 departure from Clapham Yard Sidings to Basingstoke on 22/12/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

or 5Q20 Hounslow loop to Waterloo? 10:52

Realtime Trains | 5Q20 0928 Clapham Yard Sidings to London Waterloo | 22/12/2023

Real-time train running information for 5Q20 0928 departure from Clapham Yard Sidings to London Waterloo on 22/12/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[CarrotPie]

701521+508 are running 5Q52 (currently at Bournemouth)

 

[GeoffS]

The franchise term is to August next year, with an option to extend for a further nine months to 28th May 2025............ That's 75 weeks, starting now, to get 75 trains into service.....

75 trains? Surely 90, unless you're counting 2 5-cars as 1 train?

 

[OneTrackMinded]

unless you're counting 2 5-cars as 1 train?

Yes the latest and greatest 701 subclass has arrived, a 250 car train to fit all the commuters everywhere at once. Entering service next century.

 

[43OO4]

Yes the latest and greatest 701 subclass has arrived, a 250 car train to fit all the commuters everywhere at once. Entering service next century.

What..? That's not what they said.

75 trains? Surely 90, unless you're counting 2 5-cars as 1 train?

That would check out, considering there's going to be enough 5 cars to produce 15 double sets

 

[norbitonflyer]

75 trains? Surely 90, unless you're counting 2 5-cars as 1 train?

I was, as that is how the 5-car units will generally be used - which is the basic cause of the problem in the first place: the redesign of the cabs so that 2x5-car takes up the same length as 1x10-car.

 

[OneTrackMinded]

What..? That's not what they said.

Ah, I read that as 25 10 car sets, not 2x5 car sets

 

[Meerkat]

701521+528 are running 5Q52 (currently at Bournemouth)

That Arterio logo - not obvious it’s an A if you didn’t know the name already.
And the join between the white (or light grey?) roof and the cab makes it look like they gave up on painting the roof.

 

[317 forever]

I wonder if the new tube trains will enter service before the 701s.

Yes, the Bakerloo line trains will be replaced before the 701s enter service

 

[CarrotPie]

the redesign of the cabs so that 2x5-car takes up the same length as 1x10-car.

Wasn't it more specifically to do with door positions?