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The latest cover of Modern Railways magazine has a panel about the 701s, and a rather worrying bullet point that states "455 life extension plans"
This doesn't make much sense considering the positive news recently and the plan to get 30-ish in by Christmas, which would cover most of the 455s with the remaining being operated by 450s and 458s.
Has something else gone wrong?
Guildford is on two 701 diagrams each day as of this recent timetable change, (interworking with Hampton Court), and indeed 037 is working the 1945 Waterloo via Epsom service.
Real-time train running information for 1945 departure from Guildford to London Waterloo on 20/05/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
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Interestingly enough though, that 701 formed the 18:09 from Waterloo to Guildford, and the booked 701 turn at 18:54 was a pair of 458/5s instead. The 19:54 is being subbed with 455s. Not all of the above will immediately become 701s, due to driver availability - it will be a gradual process over the next couple of weeks.
Guildford is on two 701 diagrams each day as of this recent timetable change, (interworking with Hampton Court), and indeed 037 is working the 1945 Waterloo via Epsom service.
As South Western becomes the latest operator to be renationalised, there are questions about whether the changes will lead to lower fares
www.theguardian.com
I knowm its not actually the first re-nationalisation as was reported (the first was Connex South Eastern in 2003, and OLR has been in existence since 2018 (the second nationalsiation of the East Coast franchise)
But it seems fitting that the first train in GBR branding should be running on the same route (well partly - between Twickenham and Kingston) as the first in privatisation 29 years ago - and at a similarly ungodly hour on a Sunday morning (well, an hour later)
Real-time train running information for 2H07 0614 departure from London Waterloo to Shepperton on 25/05/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
701 by the looks of it, and if rumors are to be believed, it'll be 701046 with some kind of GBR branding (either a logo or full livery- it's currently unclear as it is just a rumor for now as far as I can tell)
Quite amusing that with news finally of a few more 701s starting to appear in service, the discussion of this over-long South Western saga has now reached page … wait for it …. 442 !!
701 by the looks of it, and if rumors are to be believed, it'll be 701046 with some kind of GBR branding (either a logo or full livery- it's currently unclear as it is just a rumor for now as far as I can tell)
From what I can tell from the article it'll just be a one off sticker to promote GBR. The article says that GBR is not an operating entity, and that SWR will be around for some time to come. I'd guess all we'll see in the coming months is the mass peeling off of "operated by First Group" lettering.
It’s already very much begun, though no doubt the 701s will be the last to retain the “Operated by First Group & MTR” tagline due to the amount of units in storage.
From what I can tell from the article it'll just be a one off sticker to promote GBR. The article says that GBR is not an operating entity, and that SWR will be around for some time to come. I'd guess all we'll see in the coming months is the mass peeling off of "operated by First Group" lettering.
The latest cover of Modern Railways magazine has a panel about the 701s, and a rather worrying bullet point that states "455 life extension plans"
This doesn't make much sense considering the positive news recently and the plan to get 30-ish in by Christmas, which would cover most of the 455s with the remaining being operated by 450s and 458s.
Has something else gone wrong?
There is a brief mention of a 455 going to Kilmarnock for repairs, which is hardly news. There have been virtually no short forms this week so the new timetable seems to be achievable in terms of stock utilisation.
Reading had a 4 car 450 and 5 car 458/5 on Monday, and a 5 car 458/5 on Tuesday and today. Alton, Basingstoke, Portsmouth, Twickenham, Southampton are some of the routes suffering from having 4-car short forms today. Not sure how many of them are timetabled but in any case it seems like we are not out from the mess just yet…
Reading had a 4 car 450 and 5 car 458/5 on Monday, and a 5 car 458/5 on Tuesday and today. Alton, Basingstoke, Portsmouth, Twickenham, Southampton are some of the routes suffering from having 4-car short forms today. Not sure how many of them are timetabled but in any case it seems like we are not out from the mess just yet…
Absolutely crazy to run single units on Reading services given SWR have already cut those to the bone. Can't believe there isn't something else that couldn't have been shortened elsewhere even if it meant a couple of 8 vice 12 on the mainline side.
The 15.52 Waterloo to Weybridge was a 4 car 455 today which is totally inadequate too. Hopefully these diagrams are prioritised for 701 introduction
Absolutely crazy to run single units on Reading services given SWR have already cut those to the bone. Can't believe there isn't something else that couldn't have been shortened elsewhere even if it meant a couple of 8 vice 12 on the mainline side.
The 15.52 Waterloo to Weybridge was a 4 car 455 today which is totally inadequate too. Hopefully these diagrams are prioritised for 701 introduction
This only lasts the morning thankfully before getting replaced by a pair of 458/4s from the 2C37 onwards, the 5 car then goes onto the Weybridge side, and it is booked for longer than just this week sadly
All they are doing is rotating units around. This regularly happens.
Units are Long Marston regularly move to Eastleigh and a unit goes the other way.
This is to keep the units in a fit state rather than just say doing nothing.
At Eastleigh they will be powered up via 3rd rail and other things done to them.
All they are doing is rotating units around. This regularly happens.
Units are Long Marston regularly move to Eastleigh and a unit goes the other way.
This is to keep the units in a fit state rather than just say doing nothing.
At Eastleigh they will be powered up via 3rd rail and other things done to them.
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