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

[NSEWonderer]

Well said indeed. Someone who understands the nuances of such technology. There will always be 'odd men out' when it comes to (in railway parlance) stock types, the same applies to the car world, past and present. Easily explained perhaps in years past by the maintenance regimes in place at the time, ie: when brake blocks need changing, they'll be replaced (etc), but often there were always one or two units (locos) of a given class, that never seemed to fit within the overall parameters of the class in question, and which perplexed numerous exam investigations over the years.

Indeed Jumby. Will be nice to eventually find out the star of the fleet. 444025 I still remember drove a lot quicker than other 444s in the fleet, couldn't put it down to anything when I asked the Northam Crew.

 

[nctd2306]

2C20 should be a single 458/5, but has been a 450 so far this week.

To add to the woes, both the 1320 to Reading and 1322 to Weybridge cancelled at Waterloo today due to train faults.

Yes, counter-intuitively each additional 701 introduced seems to make the stock situation otherwise worse!

The Reading line has been a pitiful shell of its former self today, with 4 car trains followed by cancellations everywhere you look! Really doesn't help that the diagram with the cancelled train is the one following the 4 car although that's just sheer bad luck I suppose
At least it looks like 2C55 will be 8 car for two days in a row which is pretty rare these days

 

[Goldfish62]

The Reading line has been a pitiful shell of its former self today, with 4 car trains followed by cancellations everywhere you look! Really doesn't help that the diagram with the cancelled train is the one following the 4 car although that's just sheer bad luck I suppose
At least it looks like 2C55 will be 8 car for two days in a row which is pretty rare these days

Can we have the pre-May timetable back please, and forget about introducing the 701s? Everything somehow seems so much worse now!

 

[swtrains]

Today's testing (701028):

5T90 - Clapham Yard - Waterloo - normal.
5T91 - Waterloo - Clapham Yard - goes to Strawberry Hill via Wimbledon, reverses, heads to Kingston, reverses and heads back to the Yard via Richmond, finishing around midnight.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:Q54760/2025-06-03/detailed

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:Q54758/2025-06-03/detailed

 

[Peter Sarf]

2C20 should be a single 458/5, but has been a 450 so far this week.

To add to the woes, both the 1320 to Reading and 1322 to Weybridge cancelled at Waterloo today due to train faults.

Yes, counter-intuitively each additional 701 introduced seems to make the stock situation otherwise worse!

I am guessing it is because the run down of 455s (and 458/5s) is really beginning to bite. It is not the presence of 701s making it worse it is the presence of erm - not enough 701s !.

 

[NSEWonderer]

I am guessing it is because the run down of 455s (and 458/5s) is really beginning to bite. It is not the presence of 701s making it worse it is the presence of erm - not enough 701s !.

Yep, the 455s are failing faster than yes the amount of 701s coming in. It will be a bit more pain before the eventual relief. No surprises with the increase in 4 Car Ops of 455s. It will get better slowly at least with stability now in training and some more fleet pushing for passenger readiness.

 

[Goldfish62]

I am guessing it is because the run down of 455s (and 458/5s) is really beginning to bite. It is not the presence of 701s making it worse it is the presence of erm - not enough 701s !.

Yes, despite my tongue-in-cheek comment I of course realise that this is undoubtedly the case. On the current carriage working notices one of the all-day Class 455 Reading diagrams is meant to go over to 2 x 458/5 at some stage. I wonder if that will ever happen.

And just to add to the "entertainment", not long until Royal Ascot now and its huge additional stock requirement for five days! Royal Ascot is one of those events that really would benefit from the 701s hoovering up the post-race crowds, especially on the Saturday, but there seems to be absolutely zero prospect of any 701s working beyond Staines to/from Ascot/Reading any time soon.

 

[swr444]

Yes, despite my tongue-in-cheek comment I of course realise that this is undoubtedly the case. On the current carriage working notices one of the all-day Class 455 Reading diagrams is meant to go over to 2 x 458/5 at some stage. I wonder if that will ever happen.

And just to add to the "entertainment", not long until Royal Ascot now and its huge additional stock requirement for five days! Royal Ascot is one of those events that really would benefit from the 701s hoovering up the post-race crowds, especially on the Saturday, but there seems to be absolutely zero prospect of any 701s working beyond Staines to/from Ascot/Reading any time soon.

Im sure they will try get as many 701s on the Windsor side especially for the Saturday as there’s also a rugby match happening. The alterations are already up on the planned improvements section on the SWR website. One can hope that they can clear them for passenger service to Reading in the next week or so

Planned Improvements - June Works | South Western Railway

In order to maintain and improve the rail network we need to carry out engineering works. Find out more about our June engineering work.

www.southwesternrailway.com

 

[nctd2306]

Well I certainly wouldn't be relying on 458s at this point either, yet another pair (3rd one today) has just broken down on 2U49, today they seem to be doing their best to match the 455s availability

 

[wickham]

5Q76 1818 Bicester to Willesden SWS to form 5Q77 1933 Willesden SWS to Wimbledon Depot is on the move hauled 69008, but does anyone know which unit is being converyed ? (Tuesday 3.6.25):

 

[Peter Mugridge]

5Q76 1818 Bicester to Willesden SWS to form 5Q77 1933 Willesden SWS to Wimbledon Depot is on the move hauled 69008, but does anyone know which unit is being converyed ? (Tuesday 3.6.25):

701 021, I believe.

 

[DMckduck]

Yes, despite my tongue-in-cheek comment I of course realise that this is undoubtedly the case. On the current carriage working notices one of the all-day Class 455 Reading diagrams is meant to go over to 2 x 458/5 at some stage. I wonder if that will ever happen.

And just to add to the "entertainment", not long until Royal Ascot now and its huge additional stock requirement for five days! Royal Ascot is one of those events that really would benefit from the 701s hoovering up the post-race crowds, especially on the Saturday, but there seems to be absolutely zero prospect of any 701s working beyond Staines to/from Ascot/Reading any time soon.

Could really do without the rugby on the same day as Ascot, pretty sure there was a game on last year and it was chaos at Twickenham.

 

[Goldfish62]

Im sure they will try get as many 701s on the Windsor side especially for the Saturday as there’s also a rugby match happening. The alterations are already up on the planned improvements section on the SWR website. One can hope that they can clear them for passenger service to Reading in the next week or so

Planned Improvements - June Works | South Western Railway

In order to maintain and improve the rail network we need to carry out engineering works. Find out more about our June engineering work.

www.southwesternrailway.com

Thanks for pointing me towards that - it had completely passed me by. The train planners are certainly using some creativity to get that 4tph service to Ascot during the week!

And maybe indeed we may see the first 701 passenger services to Reading then, although I'll believe it when I see it!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Tuesday at 17:21 ==

Could really do without the rugby on the same day as Ascot, pretty sure there was a game on last year and it was chaos at Twickenham.

I'm really surprised that the rugby lot at Twickers don't make sure there's not such a clash. Royal Ascot is an immovable feast, but surely a rugby match could be moved. After all the date of Royal Ascot isn't exactly a surprise. It's the same week every year.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Tuesday at 17:23 ==

Well I certainly wouldn't be relying on 458s at this point either, yet another pair (3rd one today) has just broken down on 2U49, today they seem to be doing their best to match the 455s availability

It's as if they're reliving their first few years after introduction.

From memory they were also decidedly flaky initially after being converted to 5 cars, including at least one "thermal incident".

 

[Ian Hardy]

I'm really surprised that the rugby lot at Twickers don't make sure there's not such a clash. Royal Ascot is an immovable feast, but surely a rugby match could be moved. After all the date of Royal Ascot isn't exactly a surprise. It's the same week every year.

But different sporting organisers are only interested in clashes in their sports, they don't even consider that other sports exist let alone if there are any clashes. It isn't the first time that it has happened, I am sure that 2024 had the same issue.

 

[BJames]

I'm going to Royal Ascot on the Saturday by train for the first time ever. Will watch this thread with interest over the next couple of weeks!

 

[Goldfish62]

But different sporting organisers are only interested in clashes in their sports, they don't even consider that other sports exist let alone if there are any clashes. It isn't the first time that it has happened, I am sure that 2024 had the same issue.

Yes, and you would think after last year thar they'd try to avoid the clash. They do work with the railways and other public transport organisations to ensure as smooth as possible transport to and from the events so you'd think that they'd know how problematic this clash is. I'm sure SWR will have highlighted the issue, seemingly to no avail.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Tuesday at 17:53 ==

I'm going to Royal Ascot on the Saturday by train for the first time ever. Will watch this thread with interest over the next couple of weeks!

You're brave!

For a more serene experience I recommend the Tuesday or Wednesday. Avoid Thursday, Ladies Day!

 

[norbitonflyer]

especially for the Saturday as there’s also a rugby match happening.

Oh great - another Saturday with only 2tph on the Kingston route, and gridlock on the roads when i need to cross the river.

Thanks for the heads up anyway

 

[FRSZMZ56]

I was at Wimbledon earlier for about 15 mins, and about 8 suburban trains stopped on platforms 5 and 8 in that time, and absolutely none of them were 455s
5x 450s, 2x 701s and a 458

I was surprised at just how many 450s are being used for these routes at the moment, but its nice to see the 701s out and about regularly too without it being a surprise anymore

 

[Towers]

I was at Wimbledon earlier for about 15 mins, and about 8 suburban trains stopped on platforms 5 and 8 in that time, and absolutely none of them were 455s
5x 450s, 2x 701s and a 458

I was surprised at just how many 450s are being used for these routes at the moment, but its nice to see the 701s out and about regularly too without it being a surprise anymore

I was at Clapham a week or so back and it seemed largely business as usual, nearly everything arriving on the suburban platforms was red and 455 shaped

I see one of them is off to Bournemouth this morning, overhaul work?

 

[WWTownEnth]

How many drivers are now trained on 701s? And how many units are now ready for passenger service?

 

[Falcon1200]

701 021, I believe.

It was! By chance I was at Oxford when it passed through, and although it ran via the Up platform line it didn't stop, so AFAIK no-one tried to board it....

 

[Goldfish62]

I was surprised at just how many 450s are being used for these routes at the moment.

With the slow door operation and frequent station calls it can't be doing anything for punctuality.

 

[JamesT]

Yes, and you would think after last year thar they'd try to avoid the clash. They do work with the railways and other public transport organisations to ensure as smooth as possible transport to and from the events so you'd think that they'd know how problematic this clash is. I'm sure SWR will have highlighted the issue, seemingly to no avail.

There’s not that much wiggle room available. The domestic rugby final is at Twickenham the previous weekend, the match on the 21st is their warmup for their tour to the Americas. Maybe they could put it on the Sunday, but I suspect that might limit the numbers they’d get. Plus dealing with a Sunday service on various public transport modes. I’m sure they’ve considered the implications of the clash and decided that is the best date.

 

[Goldfish62]

There’s not that much wiggle room available. The domestic rugby final is at Twickenham the previous weekend, the match on the 21st is their warmup for their tour to the Americas. Maybe they could put it on the Sunday, but I suspect that might limit the numbers they’d get. Plus dealing with a Sunday service on various public transport modes. I’m sure they’ve considered the implications of the clash and decided that is the best date.

Fair enough.

 

[Invincible]

Oh great - another Saturday with only 2tph on the Kingston route, and gridlock on the roads when i need to cross the river.

Thanks for the heads up anyway

And a potentially unreliable Saturday bus service Weybridge to Virginia Water, when horse racing and rugby fans get the extra 450 or 458 trains that would have run on the line.

Good that more 701s are being introduced.

 

[Goldfish62]

And a potentially unreliable Saturday bus service Weybridge to Virginia Water, when horse racing and rugby fans get the extra 450 or 458 trains that would have run on the line.

Good that more 701s are being introduced.

SWR have got little choice, unfortunately. Currently they haven't even got enough rolling stock to operate the normal day to to day service.

Hopefully this is be the last year of this sort of debacle.

 

[pompeyfan]

Im sure they will try get as many 701s on the Windsor side especially for the Saturday as there’s also a rugby match happening. The alterations are already up on the planned improvements section on the SWR website. One can hope that they can clear them for passenger service to Reading in the next week or so

Planned Improvements - June Works | South Western Railway

In order to maintain and improve the rail network we need to carry out engineering works. Find out more about our June engineering work.

www.southwesternrailway.com

Unusual to put the headcode / train running number in a customer facing publication.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Unusual to put the headcode / train running number in a customer facing publication.

Very - but why only on 14th June?

 

[Gag Halfrunt]

Perhaps the person who wrote the notice copied the list of extra trains from an internal document and couldn't be bothered to delete the headcodes.

The notice for Royal Ascot (17th-20th June) gives the intermediate stops for the additional services, but the notice for 14th June does not. Perhaps they posted a draft notice without completing and checking it.

 

[Goldfish62]

Im sure they will try get as many 701s on the Windsor side especially for the Saturday as there’s also a rugby match happening. The alterations are already up on the planned improvements section on the SWR website. One can hope that they can clear them for passenger service to Reading in the next week or so

Planned Improvements - June Works | South Western Railway

In order to maintain and improve the rail network we need to carry out engineering works. Find out more about our June engineering work.

www.southwesternrailway.com

I've had a look at the Windsor services being diverted Tues - Fri and only one, the 0933 from Waterloo, is a 701. I imagine that will be swapped out, perhaps for a pair of 455s, to enable the diversion to/from Bracknell.