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

[PG]

There is a known issue with door air on the Aventra platform which is causing a lot of issues at the moment. Fixes are being developed and will be rolled out in due course.

Do you know if this is affecting other TOCs as well as SWT?

 

[Goldfish62]

Do you know if this is affecting other TOCs as well as SWT?

It has certainly affected the 345s in the past, among many other issues. Don't know if it's still a problem with them.

So not just confined to SWR.

 

[OneTrackMinded]

There is a known issue with door air on the Aventra platform which is causing a lot of issues at the moment. Fixes are being developed and will be rolled out in due course.

They’re finally working on a fix? Great news. Although I don’t understand what is meant by “door air”. Surely that wouldn’t apply to an electronically driven system like what is present on the Aventras?

 

[bb21]

They’re finally working on a fix? Great news. Although I don’t understand what is meant by “door air”. Surely that wouldn’t apply to an electronically driven system like what is present on the Aventras?

I won't say "finally" . They have been working on it since the other Aventra fleets came into service, however the 701s only started experiencing them of late. There is a fix but it isn't as simple as just implementing the same ones on all Aventra fleets. Without getting into the technical side too much, it is to do with air pressure in the system, which causes a spurious object being detected, and warmer weather will bring higher usage of air-conditioning, which builds up more air, or so I was of the understanding from my source. The previous door issues from weeks ago weren't related to this one.

It has certainly affected the 345s in the past, among many other issues. Don't know if it's still a problem with them.

So not just confined to SWR.

Correct. 345s and 720s both suffered from it AIUI.

 

[boiledbeans2]

Was at the country-end of Clapham Junction today, watching a Shepperton-bound 701 enter the station.

Wow, it entered the platform at such speed, that I thought it wasn't going to stop at the station!
Driver probably slammed full brakes and brought it to stop exactly at the right position, as if it was a LU train on ATO. No inching forward/creeping in the last bit.

I already knew SWR drivers pushed their trains hard. On the Clapham Junction overbridge, you can always hear the Class 455 motors/gearbox howling while decelerating, in contrast to the SE-land, where their drivers crawl into the stations with their 465s.

But wow, I'm sure the 701s could shorten journey times! When fully rolled out of couse...

 

[TRAX]

There is a known issue with door air on the Aventra platform which is causing a lot of issues at the moment.

Aren’t the doors on the Aventra fully electric ?

 

[Goldfish62]

Was at the country-end of Clapham Junction today, watching a Shepperton-bound 701 enter the station.

Wow, it entered the platform at such speed, that I thought it wasn't going to stop at the station!
Driver probably slammed full brakes and brought it to stop exactly at the right position, as if it was a LU train on ATO. No inching forward/creeping in the last bit.

I already knew SWR drivers pushed their trains hard. On the Clapham Junction overbridge, you can always hear the Class 455 motors/gearbox howling while decelerating, in contrast to the SE-land, where their drivers crawl into the stations with their 465s.

But wow, I'm sure the 701s could shorten journey times! When fully rolled out of couse...

I've noticed this with 701s. The drivers are clearly confident with the braking. Add in the almost instantaneous door release and it's really going to help, certainly in respect of maintaining punctuality.

 

[DMckduck]

I've noticed this with 701s. The drivers are clearly confident with the braking. Add in the almost instantaneous door release and it's really going to help, certainly in respect of maintaining punctuality.

I've noticed the doors being released far too quickly in some instances, I wonder what the SWR driving policy states referencing arrival into station, platform checks and door release.

 

[Goldfish62]

I've noticed the doors being released far too quickly in some instances, I wonder what the SWR driving policy states referencing arrival into station, platform checks and door release.

You'd better report it then if you're concerned. It sounds like you have some safety role in the railways.

What are these platform checks that the drivers have to undertake, given that they've drawn alongside the platform in the last few seconds?

 

[DMckduck]

You'd better report it then if you're concerned. It sounds like you have some safety role in the railways.

What are these platform checks that the drivers have to undertake, given that they've drawn alongside the platform in the last few seconds?

Train Secured/Brake applied
Correct SCM for formation
Correct side door release

I would hazard a guess, that some part of that process is being disregarded with instant door release.

3-5 seconds for those checks would be ballpark I reckon, maybe DOO drivers could chime in on this one?

 

[Goldfish62]

Train Secured/Brake applied
Correct SCM for formation
Correct side door release

I would hazard a guess, that some part of that process is being disregarded with instant door release.

3-5 seconds for those checks would be ballpark I reckon, maybe DOO drivers could chime in on this one?

If that's that case then many drivers on GWR, Southern and Southeastern, all of which I regularly use, are in breach. And you'd have a fit if you travelled on the Underground.

 

[absolutelymilk]

Train Secured/Brake applied
Correct SCM for formation
Correct side door release

I would hazard a guess, that some part of that process is being disregarded with instant door release.

3-5 seconds for those checks would be ballpark I reckon, maybe DOO drivers could chime in on this one?

What does SCM stand for?

 

[Nimbus020]

Appreciate that this isn't directly about the 701s (although maybe pointing to the need to get the 701s into service as quickly as possible) - is solo '455' 455 858 still blocking Plat 1 @ Surbiton? (since early this morning) - many thanks

 

[Bumpkin]

What does SCM stand for?

Stop Car Mark

 

[norbitonflyer]

Appreciate that this isn't directly about the 701s (although maybe pointing to the need to get the 701s into service as quickly as possible) - is solo '455' 455 858 still blocking Plat 1 @ Surbiton? (since early this morning) - many thanks

OTT shows 2F10 (0632 Woking to Waterloo, due at Surbiton at 0656) still at platform 1 at 1215, with a 1Z99 behind it - possibly a rescue train? Hampton Court services have been cancelled all morning (as up Hampton Court services can only access platform 1 at Surbiton ) and no services calling at Berrylands (as there is no Up fast/Up slow crossover between Surbiton and Berrylands - Control do not seem to have taken the seemingly obvious measure of adding Berrylands calls to the down Woking or Cobham line stoppers)

 

[Highview]

I've just watched the 8 car rescue train being attached to the 4 car in platform 1.

 

[swtrains]

They have just added a replacement bus service calling at Berrylands, Surbiton, Thames Ditton, Hampton Court.
2J29 is running, first one not to be cancelled since this morning, so the line should be clear soon.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

Hampton Court services have been cancelled all morning (as up Hampton Court services can only access platform 1 at Surbiton )

May be things have changed, or perhaps the easy option taken, but Hampton Court shuttles (were) able to run over the down line using p4 at Surbiton. Suspect it's a case of minimum cost in crew provision etc is dictating things these days?

 

[norbitonflyer]

May be things have changed, or perhaps the easy option taken, but Hampton Court shuttles (were) able to run over the down line using p4 at Surbiton. Suspect it's a case of minimum cost in crew provision etc is dictating things these days?

I think they still could, but that ties up platform 4 whilst they are turning round, so meaning all down calling trains have to use platform 3. With all up trains having to use the up fast, that would probably going to make the overall timetable even harder to recover.