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

[74A]

Getting back to the issue of so few units being in service. The reason might be that if any more units are bought into use they would have to undergo regular maintenance.

I expect Wimbledon are at full capacity and can't take on any more units. So if you do bring in another 701 then one of the old ones would need to be withdrawn and scrapped.

When more drivers are trained then new units can be bought into use.

 

[Goldfish62]

Getting back to the issue of so few units being in service. The reason might be that if any more units are bought into use they would have to undergo regular maintenance.

I expect Wimbledon are at full capacity and can't take on any more units. So if you do bring in another 701 then one of the old ones would need to be withdrawn and scrapped.

When more drivers are trained then new units can be bought into use.

Yes, I read somewhere a few months ago (I forget where) that this is exactly the situation.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Getting back to the issue of so few units being in service. The reason might be that if any more units are bought into use they would have to undergo regular maintenance.

I expect Wimbledon are at full capacity and can't take on any more units. So if you do bring in another 701 then one of the old ones would need to be withdrawn and scrapped.

When more drivers are trained then new units can be bought into use.

It does seem to be the stalling of driver training that is holding things up.

Rest assured time will solve this problem as 455s become unusable due to age and give up their space.

 

[MontyP]

Getting back to the issue of so few units being in service. The reason might be that if any more units are bought into use they would have to undergo regular maintenance.

I expect Wimbledon are at full capacity and can't take on any more units. So if you do bring in another 701 then one of the old ones would need to be withdrawn and scrapped.

When more drivers are trained then new units can be bought into use.

It's almost as if no-one has ever introduced a new fleet of trains before!

It shouldn't be beyond the wit of an intelligent set of individuals to devise a plan to introduce these units taking into account the training of drivers and guards, constraints on depot space, maintenance during dual running etc. Perhaps they could talk to one of the other companies who have introduced new fleets in the last few years?

 

[tomuk]

It's almost as if no-one has ever introduced a new fleet of trains before!

It shouldn't be beyond the wit of an intelligent set of individuals to devise a plan to introduce these units taking into account the training of drivers and guards, constraints on depot space, maintenance during dual running etc. Perhaps they could talk to one of the other companies who have introduced new fleets in the last few years?

Other introductions elsewhere have been bumpy of late too but SWR seems to have created a perfect storm of a poorly performing supplier, covid and near bankruptcy with a recalcitrant workforce.

 

[swtrains]

2H77 only going as far as Teddington tonight.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:Y19723/2025-04-01/detailed#allox_id=0

 

[D365]

Getting back to the issue of so few units being in service. The reason might be that if any more units are bought into use they would have to undergo regular maintenance.

I expect Wimbledon are at full capacity and can't take on any more units. So if you do bring in another 701 then one of the old ones would need to be withdrawn and scrapped.

When more drivers are trained then new units can be bought into use.

This is not the reason. 455s are being scrapped if they are too badly corroded - irrespective of 701 introduction to service.

The situation remains that, at present, only the 701s that have been approved for entry into service can be used in passenger service.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Only five this morning - 2U07 (Windsor) operated by 2x458/4

 

[OneTrackMinded]

To absolutely no one’s surprise, the planned 701 delay press release never happened. Or maybe it’s just delayed due to a lack of trained PR staff…

 

[Goldfish62]

To absolutely no one’s surprise, the planned 701 delay press release never happened. Or maybe it’s just delayed due to a lack of trained PR staff…

With the takeover next month I think we're in "we've just given up" territory now.

 

[The_Train]

With the takeover next month I think we're in "we've just given up" territory now.

That's very kind of you to be judging that SWR didn't reach that conclusion many months ago

 

[OneTrackMinded]

With the takeover next month I think we're in "we've just given up" territory now.

They should just hand in the keys…

 

[NSEWonderer]

701013 as 5Q21 and 5Q22 today.
Some Some filming going on for 701044, looks to be accessibility wise On platform 18. Came in as 5Q44.

701013 as 5Q21 and 5Q22 today.
Some Some filming going on for 701044, looks to be accessibility wise On platform 18. Came in as 5Q44.

 

[lxfe_mxtterz]

701017 working 2H31 has just been taken out of service at Clapham Junction owing to a fault with the doors...

 

[swtrains]

701017 working 2H31 has just been taken out of service at Clapham Junction owing to a fault with the doors...

At the time of writing, it looks like 458536 will be filling in for it on 2H47 onwards.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:Y18672/2025-04-02/detailed#allox_id=0

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

You get unwelcome outcomes when you have over-simplified constraints. For example, if you are told by DfT "no additional costs" then you can't upgrade platform lighting and you can't hire more drivers. Sure, you then lose income (from cancelled services) or have additional costs (due to having duplicate rolling stock leases), but those factors weren't in the "no additional costs" part.

On a more concrete example, I talked with one of the SWR managers last year about removing a parking space outside Tolworth station, to add additional bike parking. They said that wouldn't be possible, because they can't make a change that would decrease the income from the car park. I asked if it would still be worthwhile, because instead of one fare for the driver and one payment for one car parking space, you could get six fares from six people arriving by bike, and that would be more revenue overall. He said that's not how it's calculated, the revenue from the car parking is considered in isolation, and that revenue must not be reduced. So I'm not surprised when stuff like this happens. Everything is siloed, and there's very little big-picture thinking.

The DfT had introducing 701's in the their list of requirements whence the annual business plan process came in following the move to NRC's. It was upto SWR to cost the impact of that and present to DfT what was required. DfT has signed off their business plan for those years it was upto SWR to deliver the outcome. Additionally SWR were also incentivised as this was a deliverable that would have attracted an additional bonus payment over and above the management fee.

There's no getting away from the fact that SWR have failed to deliver the outcome but nought will done about it and DfT wont have any better success unless they bring someone in from outside to reset the whole project. So given GA is coming over as well im sure they can find someone to second in who delivered the 720 programme.

 

[Bald Rick]

So given GA is coming over as well im sure they can find someone to second in who delivered the 720 programme.

The person who delivered the 720 programme is now the GA MD…

 

[swtrains]

2H77 only going as far as Teddington tonight.

Same today.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:Y19723/2025-04-02/detailed#allox_id=0

 

[norbitonflyer]

Only five again this morning - Shepperton morning peak drew the short straw - a single 458/5 which started at Strawberry Hill

 

[Bigfoot]

Only five again this morning - Shepperton morning peak drew the short straw - a single 458/5 which started at Strawberry Hill

That's due to the door failure/interlock issue yesterday, the 5 car replaced the rest of the trips and berthed overnight at Strawberry Hill Depot.

 

[NSEWonderer]

Potentially some news to be confirmed on 701 driver training resuming by the End of the month.

 

[vuzzeho]

Potentially some news to be confirmed on 701 driver training resuming by the End of the month.

Right in time for GBR to swoop in and say they did it!

 

[Kite159]

Right in time for GBR to swoop in and say they did it!

Probably just in time to say the new MD has done it. Etc

 

[NSEWonderer]

Minor stuff but 701043 has gone from being named 175 Years to Thames Racer.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Minor stuff but 701043 has gone from being named 175 Years to Thames Racer.

What's the significance of 175 years?
It hasnt (yet) taken that long to get them in service

 

[aftv]

What's the significance of 175 years?

IIRC it was something to do with Waterloo Station.

 

[The_Train]

Minor stuff but 701043 has gone from being named 175 Years to Thames Racer.

I've managed to read this 2 ways haha.
Was it formerly named "175 Years" and is now named "Thames Racer"?
Or is it just now named "175 Years to Thames Racer"?

 

[NSEWonderer]

I've managed to read this 2 ways haha.
Was it formerly named "175 Years" and is now named "Thames Racer"?
Or is it just now named "175 Years to Thames Racer"?

Sorry the later haha. Its not Thames Racer, used to be bear the honor of 175 Years written on it(then again i only managed to see one end of the unit ).

What's the significance of 175 years?
It hasnt (yet) taken that long to get them in service

Waterloo was 175 Years Old or so and was named to commemorate that.

 

[wickham]

What's the significance of 175 years?
It hasnt (yet) taken that long to get them in service

But it probably wil............

 

[Juniper Driver]

Other introductions elsewhere have been bumpy of late too but SWR seems to have created a perfect storm of a poorly performing supplier, covid and near bankruptcy with a recalcitrant workforce.

Don't blame the workforce.