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

[Goldfish62]

Any idea what that entails?

Seems strange to call it a formal launch when they've been running in service for nearly a year now!

No idea I'm afraid. I shall make some discreet enquiries. I'm assuming it'll be at Waterloo.

I can only assume the launch means there's about to be a step change in the number of trains in service. Otherwise, as you say, I can't see much point given they've been in service for quite some time now.

 

[TEW]

I don't think it's a formal launch as such, but it's an event to show off the 701s to local politicians and others I assume. There's no imminent step change in the number of diagrams, it's going to be a slow and steady increase for several months.

 

[OneTrackMinded]

[deleted]

 

[Elorith]

They've been more so on a soft launch which is more of a loaded trial than a proper service launch.

Seems like it's been a proper service launch for quite some time now, even if there are only very few trains running.

Unless they are going to introduce loads of new diagrams at this event, I don't see how it's not.

 

[Goldfish62]

OK, just to reiterate, the chap I know has received an invitation from SWR for the official launch of the 701s. Not sure we really need pages of discussion over what constitutes a launch. We've got less than two weeks to find out.

 

[OneTrackMinded]

OK, just to reiterate, the chap I know has received an invitation from SWR for the official launch of the 701s. Not sure we really need pages of discussion over what constitutes a launch. We've got less than two weeks to find out.

Did he say where? I wonder if it'll be at a stations (probably Waterloo) or at a depot like Wimbledon

 

[Goldfish62]

Did he say where? I wonder if it'll be at a stations (probably Waterloo) or at a depot like Wimbledon

I'll ask...

 

[TEW]

Did he say where? I wonder if it'll be at a stations (probably Waterloo) or at a depot like Wimbledon

Waterloo

 

[Sheldonian]

If you've got a finite number of staff and you need to take some out of circulation for training that affects availability.

Should employ and train a few more.
Companies trying to do things on the cheap all the time.

 

[Goldfish62]

Should employ and train a few more.
Companies trying to do things on the cheap all the time.

Staff don't grow on trees. You've actually got to try to get people to work for you in the first place.

 

[OneTrackMinded]

Should employ and train a few more.
Companies trying to do things on the cheap all the time.

Best they seem to be able to do is put “we’re hiring” on the PIS

 

[LUYMun]

Should employ and train a few more.
Companies trying to do things on the cheap all the time.

If only my applications to SWR hadn't been turned down to seek other candidates before or after interviews...

 

[nctd2306]

The unit on the all day Windsor diagram (037 I think?) has broken with a GSM-R fault, leading to cancellations

 

[Kite159]

Staff don't grow on trees. You've actually got to try to get people to work for you in the first place.

And even if you can get suitable staff it takes 4+* months of training before they can turn productive (* for guards, drivers is a lot longer, depending on depot they will be based)

 

[Bigfoot]

There's a lot of people who apply who also simply don't meet the requirements for the role. They get through all the tests and training but just can't cope with the work and the random hours involved.

 

[Kite159]

There's a lot of people who apply who also simply don't meet the requirements for the role. They get through all the tests and training but just can't cope with the work and the random hours involved.

Pretty much, they get through the tests/interview & training school but throw in the towel when it comes to route learning and when they see just what unsociable hours some of the turns involve.

Add on staff turnover in some locations is higher than others, especially if other TOCs are paying more money for what they deem as better work (ie a SWR metro guard working services calling at stations every few minutes to a LNR guard where the stops are further apart)

 

[Bigfoot]

Add on staff turnover in some locations is higher than others, especially if other TOCs are paying more money for what they deem as better work (ie a SWR metro guard working services calling at stations every few minutes to a LNR guard where the stops are further apart)

Not helped by being paid less in the first year or so for doing exactly the same job as your colleague by some TOCs

 

[Snow1964]

More new charges have been registered by Rock Rail this week

701 units 003, 005, 058, 525,

I think the list of charges is now

002, 003, 004, 005, 006, 009, 011, 012, 013, 014, 015, 016, 017, 018, 019, 020, 021, 022, 023, 024, 025, 026, 027, 028, 029, 030, 031, 032, 033, 034, 035, 036, 037, 038, 039, 040, 041, 042, 043, 044, 045, 046, 047, 048, 049, 050, 051, 052, 053, 054, 055, 056, 057, 058, 505, 506, 507, 508, 509, 510, 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520, 521, 522, 523, 524, 525, 527, 528, 529, 530

Missing units :
001, 007, 008, 010, 059, 060
501, 502, 503, 504, 526

54 of 60 10car, and 25 of 30 5car,
so 675 of 750 (90%) vehicles accepted

ROCK RAIL SOUTH WESTERN PLC filing history - Find and update company information - GOV.UK

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[Goldfish62]

Waterloo

Yes, I can also confirm this.

 

[DMckduck]

Not helped by being paid less in the first year or so for doing exactly the same job as your colleague by some TOCs

The bright spark who thought that would benefit the company In the long run, I'd be interested in seeing the recruitment data since this change in new starter money.

 

[class701]

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[WWTownEnth]

Any news of additional diagrams ahead of the new timetable?

 

[swr444]

Looks like there are 10 drivers across 4 suburban depots being trained this week

 

[GW43125]

Last I heard was another Windsor next week, a shepperton next month, then a break before two more sheppertons in Feb. Wonder if that's still the case?

Word on the street is no 455s beyond the end of next year. If that's still the case then we might be in trouble at this rate...

 

[Snow1964]

Looks like there are 10 drivers across 4 suburban depots being trained this week

If it's 10 starting training course each week, then it will take a year to get 500 trained, I wonder how many still need training

 

[swr444]

Last I heard was another Windsor next week, a shepperton next month, then a break before two more sheppertons in Feb. Wonder if that's still the case?

Word on the street is no 455s beyond the end of next year. If that's still the case then we might be in trouble at this rate...

455s were meant to be gone 4 years ago, yet here we are. They will carry on until they are able to be replaced

If it's 10 starting training course each week, then it will take a year to get 500 trained

it's ramping up bit by bit.

 

[WWTownEnth]

Last I heard was another Windsor next week, a shepperton next month, then a break before two more sheppertons in Feb. Wonder if that's still the case?

Word on the street is no 455s beyond the end of next year. If that's still the case then we might be in trouble at this rate...

Thanks. Why a two month break between further new diagrams? Seems a bit extreme…..

 

[SWT_USER]

Thanks. Why a two month break between further new diagrams? Seems a bit extreme…..

At a guess a pause on training to avoid stretching limited resources any further over the festive period with increased annual leave/ sickness etc.

Or from a more negative point of view, they don't have enough 701's fit for service...

 

[Goldfish62]

Steve Montgomery of First Rail said a couple of months ago that his aim was to get all the 701s into service before SWR hand back the keys in May. That's clearly not going to happen, or even come close.

 

[DMckduck]

At a guess a pause on training to avoid stretching limited resources any further over the festive period with increased annual leave/ sickness etc.

Or from a more negative point of view, they don't have enough 701's fit for service...

Probably your second point is just as likely an issue as the first.

Am I correct in saying we've only seen 5 units in Passenger service and one of them (028) hasn't been seen again since February?