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

[Snow1964]

Well done and then 1st of January SWR will retire all 455s due to their age and all 458s due to... they are 458s.... Sorry for off-topic

Might be intended as a good joke, but presumably someone is going to have to sign off a lease extension on 455s whilst probably merrily paying for 701s too.

 

[The_Train]

It will probably be on the 31st December with a 701 running a late notice 'PR' service open to the public between Clapham Junction & London Waterloo, entered on the various online services as a VSTP before running empty to the depot.

Or SWR getting one allocated to the North Pole to North Pole working so it at least appears that one is working?

 

[Class73man]

There was a rumour that these 701s have a deadline around Autumn (almost gone) or end of 2023 that if 701s didn't complete their testing by the date, the operations of 701 would stop.

 

[TEW]

And replace them with what? SWR don't realistically have any other option than 701s

 

[Class73man]

Should have enquired that but a friend of mine passed me some information from some SWR staff, must be pure wibble

 

[swr444]

Should have enquired that but a friend of mine passed me some information from some SWR staff, must be pure wibble

Almost definitely

 

[pompeyfan]

I have heard a date for the end of this month, however I’m sceptical because as far as I know, mainline driver training and guards training still hasn’t started.

 

[Goldfish62]

And replace them with what? SWR don't realistically have any other option than 701s

I have made this point several times on this thread, but clearly it keeps needing to be pointed out.

Even if the 455s stayed indefinitely and the 458/4s entered service there wouldn't be enough capacity given the way passenger numbers are increasing. The suburban network needs 10 car trains, not 8 car.

I have heard a date for the end of this month, however I’m sceptical because as far as I know, mainline driver training and guards training still hasn’t started.

From memory it wasn't until a couple of months after depot driver training had started that it was admitted on this thread that it had indeed started.

 

[47444]

4 TPH to RDG and WNR Didn't happen due to a disagreement with Network rail over an increase in track maintenance

IIRC, 4tph to Windsor was dropped in favour of retaining the through service between Weybridge and Waterloo via Hounslow. The two alternatives use the same paths between Staines and Waterloo via Hounslow.

 

[St. Paddy]

701505/514 moved to Bicester for storage to

 

[Dr_Intoxicated]

IIRC, 4tph to Windsor was dropped in favour of retaining the through service between Weybridge and Waterloo via Hounslow. The two alternatives use the same paths between Staines and Waterloo via Hounslow.

Yes they changed the plans after a user consultation. Apparently the through route between Weybridge and Isleworth was very useful for school traffic in both directions.

 

[swr444]

A 701 has made a return to Feltham depot, it’s been a while since I’ve seen one there!

 

[Goldfish62]

A 701 has made a return to Feltham depot, it’s been a while since I’ve seen one there!

Been there for a week or so.

 

[St. Paddy]

701521 moved from Derby to Eastleigh today

 

[PedroHav]

Out of interest an aerial view of Marchwood with 4 stored as of 11/11/23

 

[Sun Chariot]

Out of interest an aerial view of Marchwood with 4 stored as of 11/11/23

View attachment 146414

Fascinating view, thanks for sharing. I only know the location from ground level

 

[CHAPS2034]

A 701 has made a return to Feltham depot, it’s been a while since I’ve seen one there!

Any idea which one this was please?

 

[Snow1964]

News from France suggests that Alstom is preparing to pull out all the stops to close off the Bombardier excess inventory by end of companies year end 31 Mar to sort out the cash flow and share price crash.

Financial Times has version of this story, and it seems that UK operators delaying acceptance due to driver problems is about to be focus of attention at Alstom

About a third of the €1bn hit to cash flows came from Bombardier, half stemmed from wider challenges in managing inventory and the rest from a drop in the number of down payments on contracts. Created in the late 1920s and with roots in the eastern France’s Alsace region, Alstom had previously identified €7bn to €8bn of lossmaking contracts out of the €30bn backlog it took on from Bombardier.
The company, which competes with the likes of Siemens, Hitachi and China’s state-owned CRRC, remains saddled with roughly a quarter of those. But the problems revealed last month were from a UK contract called Aventra to build 443 electric trains. Some are already running on London’s new Elizabeth Line as well as for operators such as West Midlands Trains, but the programme has been beset by delays.

In the latest setback, some of Aventra’s customers are putting off taking delivery and paying for dozens of trains in part because they are struggling to recruit drivers for them, according to people familiar with the matter. Aventra will now not be completed until next year, the company has said.

Alstom: the French train giant battling to stay on the rails

Maker of high-speed TGV trains needs to convince investors it can make Bombardier acquisition work

www.ft.com

 

[swr444]

Any idea which one this was please?

035 I believe

 

[Peter Sarf]

News from France suggests that Alstom is preparing to pull out all the stops to close off the Bombardier excess inventory by end of companies year end 31 Mar to sort out the cash flow and share price crash.

Financial Times has version of this story, and it seems that UK operators delaying acceptance due to driver problems is about to be focus of attention at Alstom

Alstom: the French train giant battling to stay on the rails

Maker of high-speed TGV trains needs to convince investors it can make Bombardier acquisition work

www.ft.com

My bold.

You would have thought that Alstom would have wanted to "pull out all the stops" a year or two back on Aventra. What has happened that means they can do it now ?.

Since the 730s are now going into use, maybe there is really only just the 701s to concentrate on and make acceptable now ?.

 

[moley]

You would have thought that Alstom would have wanted to "pull out all the stops" a year or two back on Aventra. What has happened that means they can do it now ?.

Simply that Alstom don't want to continue employing the staff who build the trains after 31 March 2024.

The Times have quoted Alstom wanting to make circa 600 train building redundancies redundancies. With a 45 day legal consultation period and then up to 3 months notice depending upon contracts, that should take Alstom to almost the end of March 2024.

 

[Snow1964]

Simply that Alstom don't want to continue employing the staff who build the trains after 31 March 2024.

The Times have quoted Alstom wanting to make circa 600 train building redundancies redundancies. With a 45 day legal consultation period and then up to 3 months notice depending upon contracts, that should take Alstom to almost the end of March 2024.

That would only apply to employed staff.

Any subcontractors or agency staff are not Alstom's problem once they have terminated the commercial contracts and paid out any contractual notice period. There are no protections (except what's in contract) between commercial partners, unlike individuals covered by employment law.

Of course if they get sudden upturn, then finding suitable experienced staff to take on is different problem

 

[Dan G]

Are any 701s still to be built?

 

[Peter Sarf]

Are any 701s still to be built?

If not all built yet then could we the contract for 701s not being fulfilled ?. The 31st of March 2024 is not far away.

What chance of any extra 345s to cope with the TEMPORARY terminus of HS2 at Old Oak Common ?.

Overall I think closure so soon is unlikely but not completely out of the question.

MODS - perhaps a new thread ?.

 

[markglos]

have been told there a move of a 701 out of store tomorrow from Long Marston to Eastleigh

Realtime Trains | 5Q46 1145 Long Marston Gbrf to Eastleigh Trsmd | 16/11/2023

Real-time train running information for 5Q46 1145 departure from Long Marston Gbrf to Eastleigh Trsmd on 16/11/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Ian Hardy]

701522 was dragged by 47727 from Litchurch Lane to Eastleigh today (15/11/2023):
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K04636/2023-11-15/detailed#allox_id=0

 

[jwhite9185]

There was a pair of 5 cars out and about under their own steam this evening. Too dark to catch the numbers as they went past though!

 

[Invincible]

There was a pair of 5 cars out and about under their own steam this evening. Too dark to catch the numbers as they went past though!

Would this have been 5Q52 test Staines to Eastleigh?

Realtime Trains | 5Q52 1724 Staines Up Loop to Eastleigh Trsmd | 15/11/2023

Real-time train running information for 5Q52 1724 departure from Staines Up Loop to Eastleigh Trsmd on 15/11/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Or a Waterloo to Windsor test?

 

[Snow1964]

Would this have been 5Q52 test Staines to Eastleigh?

Realtime Trains | 5Q52 1724 Staines Up Loop to Eastleigh Trsmd | 15/11/2023

Real-time train running information for 5Q52 1724 departure from Staines Up Loop to Eastleigh Trsmd on 15/11/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Or a Waterloo to Windsor test?

That test route is about 200 miles, if it passes then will have done fair chunk of any fault free running.

If not doing fault free running test, what other tests (train, not staff familiarisation) are being done.

 

[Invincible]

5Q50/51/52 are still test runs with GBRF drivers.

Test runs from Clapham Yard are SWR driver instructors teaching SWR drivers and this week are :

5Q30 19+56 Clapham Yard to Waterloo arr 20+11

5Q31 20+37 Waterloo (Windsor Plat 23) to Waterloo (Main Plat 8) arr 22+17.

5Q32 23+44 Waterloo (Main Plat 8) to Waterloo (Main Plat 13) via Hounslow/Kew Bridge/Windsor arr 02+41.

5Q33 02+58 Waterloo (Main Plat 13) to Clapham Yard arr 03+26.

I was thinking of the 5Q31 Windsor Waterloo tests?

035 I believe

Still looking lonely at Feltham depot today