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

[Big Jumby 74]

Although new stabling and servicing was built at Feltham. And the 750 vehicles was virtually identical to combined total of 455+456+458+707 so on paper sufficient siding length.

And many other locations had sidings extended/modified specifically for the original 10 car plan. That said, the space available for day to day traffic stabling was only just enough, and remember, 455, 456, 458, 707, could all be split down in to 2/4/5 car format to make best use of the shorter sidings. Also, there were still a proportion of services operated by 8 car 455's, so whilst the number of cars (701) is roughly equal to the old order, the fact a majority are in fixed 10 car format, renders many shorter sidings, particularly at Wimbledon Depot, but other places as well, as unusable, particularly for daily traffic purposes.
This will be hardest felt during any stock changeover/cascade (new for old etc) as now, when there will likely be unused units lying around, namely a number of 455's having been stood down, but still on the patch, and a number of 701's which will be required for commissioning, training purposes etc. These all require siding space, in addition to the units in daily service.
That is why (I would guess) many of the 701's are spending their early existence on Mystex tours round the country...

 

[DCtrains]

The latest I have heard is that ROs (Platform staff) are being briefed for 7/1/2024 701 soft launch

 

[Jamesrob637]

The latest I have heard is that ROs (Platform staff) are being briefed for 7/1/2024 701 soft launch

Ooh, a Sunday. Interesting.

 

[DanNCL]

I’ll believe it when it happens…

 

[norbitonflyer]

I’ll believe it when it happens…

The latest I have heard is that ROs (Platform staff) are being briefed for 7/1/2024 701 soft launch

There seem to be more trains than usual to Windsor on RTT on that Sunday, although I think they are merely diverted Woking-via-Brentford trains, routed to Windsor because the line through Virginia Water is closed.

 

[DCtrains]

They should run in between 10:00 and 16:00, with the unit originating at Wimbledon depot

 

[norbitonflyer]

They should run in between 10:00 and 16:00, with the unit originating at Wimbledon depot

Nothing in RTT yet that looks likely.

And it would be an odd day to put in extra trains, being a Sunday when fewer staff are available either to drive the things or monitor their performance. And that Sunday in particular, if the Windsor branch is to be used, as it will already be handling twice as many trains as usual because of the diversion of the Chertsey line services to Windsor because of maintenance work beyond Staines.

We shall see

 

[Bigfoot]

I'd suggest the date being rumoured is week commencing rsther than the day itself.

 

[amazon1675]

One presumes if one unit fails,coupling a second unit has been well-rehearsed by drivers?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

One presumes if one unit fails,coupling a second unit has been well-rehearsed by drivers?

A way around it could potentially be allocating a pair of 701/5s rather than one of the flagship 701/0, but being newer I don’t know how progressed these are with their testing and fault free running, and I feel like SWR will want to flaunt any improvements over the 707s as much as possible - and ten carriages completely walk-through is the most obvious improvement after the toilets.

 

[Snow1964]

A way around it could potentially be allocating a pair of 701/5s rather than one of the flagship 701/0, but being newer I don’t know how progressed these are with their testing and fault free running, and I feel like SWR will want to flaunt any improvements over the 707s as much as possible - and ten carriages completely walk-through is the most obvious improvement after the toilets.

There were a handful of 5cars in Rock Rails list of charges about 3-4 months ago. Possibly they had passed acceptance. As they only seem to update that charge registration every few months could be more by now.

If they did start on a Sunday in January, could probably use 5car units on their own, rather than in pairs.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

There were a handful of 5cars in Rock Rails list of charges about 3-4 months ago. Possibly they had passed acceptance. As they only seem to update that charge registration every few months could be more by now.

If they did start on a Sunday in January, could probably use 5car units on their own, rather than in pairs.

With such an infamously long delay though, it’s likely that press will be hot on the heels of any introduction, even if SWR do intend for it to be low key, and it wouldn’t look great to reveal a five car unit as the new long, capacious trains they’ve been promising.

 

[D365]

I’m not sure if any of the 5 car units are ready for ”entry into passenger service”.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Yes it’ll probably almost certainly be a 701/0, but I’m sure some sort of Alstom crew will be on hand in case of any unfortunate technical issues.

 

[Goldfish62]

If they did start on a Sunday in January, could probably use 5car units on their own, rather than in pairs.

Windsor lines (Windsor/Reading/ Hounslow) need and use 8/10 car trains on Sundays. A 5 car train wouldn't go down at all well, however shiny and new!

 

[norbitonflyer]

Windsor lines (Windsor/Reading/ Hounslow) need and use 8/10 car trains on Sundays. A 5 car train wouldn't go down at all well, however shiny and new!

Quite so, but if these were additional trains running immediately behind a scheduled service that wouldn't be an issue

 

[TEW]

One presumes if one unit fails,coupling a second unit has been well-rehearsed by drivers?

There will be a second unit and driver on standby.

 

[Class450/4DES]

Its now gone past December 2023 and is now 2024. The wiki page for the Class 701 now says "In Service: TBA".

 

[PG]

Its now gone past December 2023 and is now 2024. The wiki page for the Class 701 now says "In Service: TBA".View attachment 149492

I don't think we'll be gaining prior knowledge of their (eventual) entry into passenger service from Wikipedia!

 

[MotCO]

Its now gone past December 2023 and is now 2024. The wiki page for the Class 701 now says "In Service: TBA".View attachment 149492

So what penalty will SWR face for not introducing the trains by 31st December 2023?

 

[OneTrackMinded]

So what penalty will SWR face for not introducing the trains by 31st December 2023?

No tea and biscuits at the next DfT meeting

 

[43096]

So what penalty will SWR face for not introducing the trains by 31st December 2023?

There is no penalty, as per post 6918.

SWR have missed every other deadline (not just on 701s) seemingly without penalty, so not sure why this would be any different?

 

[JonathanH]

So what penalty will SWR face for not introducing the trains by 31st December 2023?

It is suggested up thread that there is no penalty, because they are simply paid to run the service, and any penalty would simply be a money go round for the DfT. Who would the penalty be payable to, and who would benefit as a result?

 

[Last Hurrah]

No tea and biscuits at the next DfT meeting

Somewhat punitive - it made me chuckle . .

 

[HamworthyGoods]

Are there any which never entered service? (there have of course been subclasses, such as the GWR 769/9s).

The Nightstar fleet was tested by never entered traffic in the UK.

 

[Invincible]

It is suggested up thread that there is no penalty, because they are simply paid to run the service, and any penalty would simply be a money go round for the DfT. Who would the penalty be payable to, and who would benefit as a result?

Isn't it Alstom not being paid as the Angel/SWR lease has not yet started?

 

[D365]

I don't think we'll be gaining prior knowledge of their (eventual) entry into passenger service from Wikipedia!

Correct.

 

[hwl]

No tea and biscuits at the next DfT meeting

Tea and biscuits haven't been provided at DfT meetings as a cost saving measure for the last 13 years.

Isn't it Alstom not being paid as the Angel/SWR lease has not yet started?

Rock Rail rather than Angel as the Rosco

 

[Invincible]

Tea and biscuits haven't been provided at DfT meetings as a cost saving measure for the last 13 years.


Rock Rail rather than Angel as the Rosco

Thanks, but still Alstom not being paid?

 

[MotCO]

Isn't it Alstom not being paid as the Angel/SWR lease has not yet started?

Have SWR accepted any units yet? I assume they have since I thought that SWR drivers are training on them and we expect them to enter service shortly. So if the trains are ready for service but the delay is caused by staff issues, why should Rock Rail suffer for this delay? Presumably some lease payments have started.