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

[73128]

You're correct, I'm sure my Middleton press Wimbledon to Epsom book mentions Worcester Park had non stop trains to Waterloo which took about 17 minutes back in the steam age, so similar to the Surbiton to Waterloo non stop trains now.

and non-stop peak trains in SUB age. Need to dig out an old timetable to see how long they were booked to take.

 

[norbitonflyer]

The big timetable recast in 2004(?) added extra dwell time at most stations on the suburban lines, to improve reliability. Also removed some of the faster / skip stop trains such as the Dorkings that ran fast from Wimbledon to Worcester Park.

And the non-stop Norbiton to Wimbledon "flyers". (I was assured by SWT staff that we would still have 6tph from Kingston/Norbiton in the peaks after the timetable change. When I pointed out, at a Meet the Manager session after the change, that this was not the case, the very same person denied he had ever said that. (and claimed that the two 2ph going the long way round via richmond meant we had six tph all day anyway)

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

And the non-stop Norbiton to Wimbledon "flyers". (I was assured by SWT staff that we would still have 6tph from Kingston/Norbiton in the peaks after the timetable change. When I pointed out, at a Meet the Manager session after the change, that this was not the case, the very same person denied he had ever said that. (and claimed that the two 2ph going the long way round via richmond meant we had six tph all day anyway)

Oh dear... (shakes head)

 

[swtrains]

Today's testing (701025):

5T91 - Clapham Yard - Reading - normal.
5T92 - Reading - Clapham Yard - normal.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:Q31610/2025-02-11/detailed#allox_id=0

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:Q31608/2025-02-11/detailed#allox_id=0

 

[class701]

Any news on the 5-car training or even entry into passenger service yet? They could do a few off-peak runs surely and would likely be unrestricted by the current 10-car debacle. Where are they all and why are they not being used? Does anyone have a current full 701 storage list?

 

[Snow1964]

Any news on the 5-car training or even entry into passenger service yet? They could do a few off-peak runs surely and would likely be unrestricted by the current 10-car debacle. Where are they all and why are they not being used? Does anyone have a current full 701 storage list?

501-504 and 526 do not yet have Rock Rail SouthWestern charges, so presumably haven't been finished to handover status yet. (most recent registered charges were 12 November)

Sorry, no idea where the other 25 5car units are, or how many of them have had modifications and updates, or completed their testing.

 

[OneTrackMinded]

Sorry, no idea where the other 25 5car units are

In a siding far far away…

 

[TEW]

Any news on the 5-car training or even entry into passenger service yet? They could do a few off-peak runs surely and would likely be unrestricted by the current 10-car debacle. Where are they all and why are they not being used? Does anyone have a current full 701 storage list?

The delay is being caused by a lack of driver training, the length of the unit has no impact.

 

[wickham]

Most of the 701/5s are at Bicester.
2 in Clapham Yard, 2 Wimbledon Park Top Yard, 4 at Long Marston: 501 at Worksop and 502 at Old Dalby (Most recent reports I have seen).
They have been put out to grass because they did not see an immediate need for them, but that might now change !

 

[DMckduck]

Any news on the 5-car training or even entry into passenger service yet? They could do a few off-peak runs surely and would likely be unrestricted by the current 10-car debacle. Where are they all and why are they not being used? Does anyone have a current full 701 storage list?

Guards have an agreed method of operation for the train and also contingency for when the train is full and standing.

The DFT, ASLEF and SWR have failed to agree, probably because ASLEF almost sneakily got DCO removed from the new course.

Even though it was temporary and DCO would be implemented in the future it was a sign that it would never happen.

My take on it, is the DFT had a look and said hold on a minute, and here we are.

 

[OneTrackMinded]

Guards have an agreed method of operation for the train and also contingency for when the train is full and standing.

The DFT, ASLEF and SWR have failed to agree, probably because ASLEF almost sneakily got DCO removed from the new course.

Even though it was temporary and DCO would be implemented in the future it was a sign that it would never happen.

My take on it, is the DFT had a look and said hold on a minute, and here we are.

Personal prediction: No driver training will happen until May when SWR is nationalised. I think this is going to be one of those situations where all parties just sit and look at each other blankly for multiple months. I hope I’m wrong though.. but we saw what happened with the strikes

 

[markle]

deleted

 

[D365]

The delay is being caused by a lack of driver training, the length of the unit has no impact.

It does have an impact - the 5 car units have an entirely separate project plan.

 

[DMckduck]

It does have an impact - the 5 car units have an entirely separate project plan.

Probably be years before the 5 cars see passenger service, not even a sniff of them in testing for what nearly a year now?

 

[Snow1964]

Labour Ministers now run the DfT, do we know if have they have had any impact on the 701 introduction to date? And will they likely have any when SWR is taken over shortly?

It will depend a lot on how well journalists read up, Labour needs to make its nationalisation look good so press office is bound to try and spin the first takeover (SWR in May). 701 delays are not going to help make things look wonderful.

If clever journalists start printing that Labours plan doesn't actually restore the cut services, or get trains ordered 8 years ago into service, or it might take another 2-3 years to do so on a nationalised railway, or SWR is still using trains from early 1980s due to incompetence of introducing replacement, etc, then there are going to be Labour ministers on the back foot.

I don't have much faith in current Secretary of State, she can't even defend her record in her own constituency where a service (Trans Wilts to Westbury) from her own constituency (Swindon South) has not operated on more days than it has run so far this year.

 

[class701]

Hang on, wait, what... There is a project plan? I wonder if anyone has actually seen it, read it, acted on it yet. Was it written in 2017 then somehow lost?

 

[OneTrackMinded]

I wonder if the pause in driver training for well over a month will make it into any railway publications, or if it will be conveniently ignored/missed due to SWR’s lack of transparency…. and then become a story 12 months later like the windscreen wiper saga

 

[Snow1964]

Hang on, wait, what... There is a project plan? I wonder if anyone has actually seen it, read it, acted on it yet. Was it written in 2017 then somehow lost?

This was the plan, it is (still) on SWR website, so not lost, and available to be seen all

all the 701s in service by 50 months ago, charging points and toilets on all suburban services.......

By December 2020 the SWR mainland fleet will undergo a facelift. Ninety new British-built Aventra trains be introduced (750 carriages, in five and 10 car formations), and the rest of the fleet will be refurbished and refreshed. Ultimately this will increase capacity by 52,000 extra seats through the morning and evening peak by 2020. Improved Wi-Fi (up to 5x faster), at-seat charging points, toilet provision on all suburban trains, infotainment systems and better on-board customer information will make passenger journeys better.

Major improvements for passengers on the way as South Western Railway begins operations

www.southwesternrailway.com

 

[The_Train]

Sorry, no idea where the other 25 5car units are

Probably undergoing mid-life refurbs at this point

 

[Goldfish62]

I wonder if the pause in driver training for well over a month will make it into any railway publications, or if it will be conveniently ignored/missed due to SWR’s lack of transparency…. and then become a story 12 months later like the windscreen wiper saga

SWR will be subject to FOI (Freedom of Information) from May. There'll be no hiding then.

 

[class701]

Wouldn't it be funny if all the old USB charging points were so old by the time the 701 enters service that you would need an adaptor to use them.

 

[87electric]

Wouldn't it be funny if all the old USB charging points were so old by the time the 701 enters service that you would need an adaptor to use them.

Elon will have us using portals to other realms before this stock gets squadron service.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Most of the 701/5s are at Bicester.
2 in Clapham Yard, 2 Wimbledon Park Top Yard, 4 at Long Marston: 501 at Worksop and 502 at Old Dalby (Most recent reports I have seen).
They have been put out to grass because they did not see an immediate need for them, but that might now change !

I noticed last night that the usual 701/5 in Clapham Yard had gone from near platform 7 side. It was dark but I specifically looked for it.

 

[alanc]

I noticed last night that the usual 701/5 in Clapham Yard had gone from near platform 7 side. It was dark but I specifically looked for it.

7015’s seen at Radley en route to Bicester include:-
05/06/07/11/13/14/15/16/20/22/30
(There may well be others)
HTH

There is a 5q89/90 from Long marston to Wimbledon via Eastleigh this afternoon, 47739 plus
Any help with the unit welcome
Alan

 

[3973EXL]

701059

Realtime Trains | 5Q89 1234 Long Marston Gbrf to Eastleigh East Yard | 12/02/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q89 1234 departure from Long Marston Gbrf to Eastleigh East Yard on 12/02/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q90 1833 Eastleigh East Yard to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 12/02/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q90 1833 departure from Eastleigh East Yard to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 12/02/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

13/02

Realtime Trains | 5Q75 0920 Eastleigh Trsmd to Long Marston | 13/02/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q75 0920 departure from Eastleigh Trsmd to Long Marston on 13/02/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Most of the 701/5s are at Bicester.
2 in Clapham Yard, 2 Wimbledon Park Top Yard, 4 at Long Marston: 501 at Worksop and 502 at Old Dalby (Most recent reports I have seen).
They have been put out to grass because they did not see an immediate need for them, but that might now change !

701501 Old Dalby
701502 Derby Lit

 

[alanc]

701059

Many thanks

 

[swtrains]

For the first time in 3 weeks, the mainline Shepperton peak has run as a 701 (2H16).
Coincidentally, 2H96 (peak via Richmond) is a 455.

Also first time in ages the Shepperton diagram is running all day.

 

[3973EXL]

701008

Realtime Trains | 5Q75 0920 Eastleigh Trsmd to Long Marston | 13/02/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q75 0920 departure from Eastleigh Trsmd to Long Marston on 13/02/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[wickham]

Clapham Yard at 1430 today (13.02.25):
701018 701025 701028 701034 701035 701044 701046 701051 701528
Of note: 701051 was at Farnham last week. 701529 has gone somewhere, leaving 701528 all on it's own (must be lonely after sitting there with it's pal of near on a year !).
About 4 or 5 more were visible at East Wimbledon/Wimbledon Park from the passing main line train but not able to identify any.

 

[OneTrackMinded]

Neil Durry, SWR's engineering director, will be holding a conference on the 20th providing an update on the 701s: https://rcts.org.uk/event/surrey-branch-february-2025-meeting/

Surrey Branch – Class 701 Update
Thu 20th February @ 19:15 - 21:30
Please note: The RCTS Privacy Policy applies to everyone participating in, or registering for, this event.

Class 701 Update

By Neil Drury

Engineering & Infrastructure Director and Projects & Change Director, South Western Railway

Venue
SRY Woking
Woking United Reform Church, White Rose Lane
Woking, GU22 7HA United Kingdom + Google Map

For some reason it's being held at a church.... make of that what you will