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

[Goldfish62]

Until very recently there were still ongoing "behind the scenes" disputes regarding the acceptance of units for driver training and acceptance for passenger service.

Has resolution of these disputes meant that yet more mods need to be carried out on the units then? What about the ones that were already accepted for service back last year?

 

[GW43125]

looks like 701041 took over the diagram from 2j47 at 1636. This is, i think, its first time in passenger service

And means that today tghere were eleven units in service, although not all at the same time

701039 showing on 2H77 (formed off above Hampton Court diagram as a Shepperton circuit got cancelled no crew)-can anyone on the ground confirm?

 

[NSEWonderer]

701041 being the latest as mentioned to the passenger ready fleet. Good testing of the nippy performance due to various disruption on the network.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Wednesday at 08:27 ==

Few days before both were checked off as passenger ready. Know the Men and Women who've been working hard on pushing these out. Glad its gaining momentum for them.

 

[FRSZMZ56]

Massive props to everyone involved in the rollout recently. Without jinxing anything it seems to be going well (better than expected, but our expectations were low lets be honest!)

Even though only a fraction of the full fleet is actually in service still, it seems to be having quite a noticeable impact on the network already. As of this week my commute is now fully 701, which with the warmer weather is very appreciated.

I've got to say yesterday was the first time taking a 701 on the return leg of my journey and the difference was incredible. The 701s seem to be designed very well for what they need to so and they just soak up the passengers. At no point were people standing all huddled together, which was the usual on 455s or recently the 450s. Of course the extra 2 carriages help, but the extra space at the doors, extra grab poles, the walk through carriages and wider aisles make much more of a difference than what most might think.

One thing I noticed with the unit I was on (044, which I believe is still relatively new) seemed to have the network maps all falling out of their holders above the doors! Not sure if the card they are printed on is the wrong size/not thick enough or if the holders themselves don't seem to support them well enough, but I walked through the train and all but one of them that I saw were buckling/bending out of their slots!

It is nice however not having all the adverts along the carriages like the 455s though. Definitely helps make them look cleaner/more modern.

 

[mansonlo49]

Massive props to everyone involved in the rollout recently. Without jinxing anything it seems to be going well (better than expected, but our expectations were low lets be honest!)

Even though only a fraction of the full fleet is actually in service still, it seems to be having quite a noticeable impact on the network already. As of this week my commute is now fully 701, which with the warmer weather is very appreciated.

I've got to say yesterday was the first time taking a 701 on the return leg of my journey and the difference was incredible. The 701s seem to be designed very well for what they need to so and they just soak up the passengers. At no point were people standing all huddled together, which was the usual on 455s or recently the 450s. Of course the extra 2 carriages help, but the extra space at the doors, extra grab poles, the walk through carriages and wider aisles make much more of a difference than what most might think.

One thing I noticed with the unit I was on (044, which I believe is still relatively new) seemed to have the network maps all falling out of their holders above the doors! Not sure if the card they are printed on is the wrong size/not thick enough or if the holders themselves don't seem to support them well enough, but I walked through the train and all but one of them that I saw were buckling/bending out of their slots!

It is nice however not having all the adverts along the carriages like the 455s though. Definitely helps make them look cleaner/more modern.

Been on the 701s few times before, they’ve give me a good impression already, hope the 5 coaches also the same

 

[NSEWonderer]

Nothing quite matches hitting the platform at good speed with them and taking off from the platforms when driving. They're just unmatched in this department aswell as they can be rammed to the brim easily. They'll help regain some of that extra passenger growth, SWR network still to be attained, hopefully as things progress.

There's is units 25(Now the most used test unit behind 28, havent seen it on a while however), 56, 57, 13 and 18 of which have been testing somewhat regular. Id say unless I see 25 about, those would be one of the next to meet passenger service trials.

 

[norbitonflyer]

There's is units 25(Now the most used test unit behind 28, havent seen it on a while however), 56, 57, 17 and 18 of which have been testing somewhat regular.

17 has been in passenger service for a while, most recently yesterday

 

[NSEWonderer]

17 has been in passenger service for a while, most recently yesterday

Sorry I meant 13 thanks.

 

[norbitonflyer]

One thing I noticed with the unit I was on (044, which I believe is still relatively new)

Entered passenger service last week (June 9th).

 

[pompeyfan]

Nothing quite matches hitting the platform at good speed with them and taking off from the platforms when driving. They're just unmatched in this department aswell as they can be rammed to the brim easily. They'll help regain some of that extra passenger growth, SWR network still to be attained, hopefully as things progress.

From a drivers perspective would you say that the companies professional driving policy is possibly restricting the performance of the 701s? I know it’s probably true with all stock but could 701s especially justify an amended, less restrictive policy? (For clarity sake, I know the policy is there for a reason, safety and comfort, and the last thing drivers want is station overshoots, or worse SPADs or buffer stop collisions, but I wonder if the 701s have more to take advantage of without compromising safety or comfort)

 

[OneTrackMinded]

From a drivers perspective would you say that the companies professional driving policy is possibly restricting the performance of the 701s? I know it’s probably true with all stock but could 701s especially justify an amended, less restrictive policy? (For clarity sake, I know the policy is there for a reason, safety and comfort, and the last thing drivers want is station overshoots, or worse SPADs or buffer stop collisions, but I wonder if the 701s have more to take advantage of without compromising safety or comfort)

Wish this was the case. They have some great capability and yet many drivers are so slow on the power because of the policy. On LU it’s almost always 100% on the TBC.

 

[janahan]

Wish this was the case. They have some great capability and yet many drivers are so slow on the power because of the policy. On LU it’s almost always 100% on the TBC.

To be fair, (and to follow on from my comment just above yours). Its possible the policy is designed to allow the 701s to fit with operation of other stock also on the line, including the 455. Using the full performance at the moment may not be beneficial, and may actually cause further issues (infrastructure may not be designed or reactive to the greater perfromance of the 701s yet).

LU probably has a different policy as they usually have a unified stock running* so less need to be conservative togehter with greater automation, to assist with braking/safety. Also being an intense metro service, with its expectations, they may have factored in possible increased wear and maintenence for running "hard".

* indeed during times of stock transition, I have seen newer stock driven at less that full spec until all the old stock were retired, and new timetables established.

 

[WarrenTManager]

Theirs is units 25(Now the most used test unit behind 28, havent seen it on a while however), 56, 57, 13 and 18 of which have been testing somewhat regular. Id say unless I see 25 about, those would be one of the next to meet passenger service trials.

1025 is in the Park for an exam. Seen next to newly arrived 1520 in the main shed. My photo.

 

[NSEWonderer]

025 is in the Park for an exam.

Ah lovely, hadn't been too sure where it had gone. Hopefully it's one of the next out soon, for the longest I can remember it's been trialled for passenger service, but often like 28 used for various other tests.

 

[swr444]

Looks like this will be the next 701 diagram from Monday

No.11: 701 Diagram
Starts at Waterloo – 2H87 → 2H94 → 2R15 → 5Y87 → 5Y87 → 5V49 → 5V49 → 2V49 → 2H97 → 2H64 → 2H63 → 2H72 → 2H71 → 5H80 – Ends at Strawberry Hill Depot

 

[NSEWonderer]

Looks like this will be the next 701 diagram from Monday

No.11: 701 Diagram
Starts at Waterloo – 2H87 → 2H94 → 2R15 → 5Y87 → 5Y87 → 5V49 → 5V49 → 2V49 → 2H97 → 2H64 → 2H63 → 2H72 → 2H71 → 5H80 – Ends at Strawberry Hill Depot

Waiting patiently for Diagram 10 to come over to 701s.

 

[mansonlo49]

Saw a picture online, is that the amount of 701 at Long Marston now, is around 15 sets ten coaches and 4 sets four coaches

 

[800001]

Saw a picture online, is that the amount of 701 at Long Marston now, is around 15 sets ten coaches and 4 sets four coaches

There will be more than in those pictures seen online. There is another section where they are stored and it includes more ex TPE Mk5s

 

[WWTownEnth]

Looks like this will be the next 701 diagram from Monday

No.11: 701 Diagram
Starts at Waterloo – 2H87 → 2H94 → 2R15 → 5Y87 → 5Y87 → 5V49 → 5V49 → 2V49 → 2H97 → 2H64 → 2H63 → 2H72 → 2H71 → 5H80 – Ends at Strawberry Hill Depot

The rollout really seems to have hit a consistent pace now, which is great.

Any idea what happens if/when we get to mid July and all 14 diagrams have switched over?

Will another batch of diagrams then also be identified for switchover on a rolling basis?

 

[Invincible]

Todays 5q76 is 69009 from Bicester to Wimbledon with 701520 and 701522 in tow
HTH
Alan

Testing and training, coupling and uncoupling? Rather than stuck in a siding?

 

[reddragon]

I got plenty of pictures of the remaining 701s at Long Marston yesterday: -

701.008+055+060+512+519+050+052


701.512+519+050+052+045


701.045+006+010+048


701.048+007+059+030


701.030+049+011+033


The number of every visible unit is in the pictures, just hidden 701/5s missed.

At least half the units have gone now, with 323s in their place.

 

[mansonlo49]

There will be more than in those pictures seen online. There is another section where they are stored and it includes more ex TPE Mk5s

so it’s behind those TPE coaches?

 

[reddragon]

Saw a picture online, is that the amount of 701 at Long Marston now, is around 15 sets ten coaches and 4 sets four coaches

That was the status yesterday, yes, 15x 10 car and 4x 5-cars

701.006,7,8,10,11,30,33,45,48,49,50,52,55,59,60
701.512,19 + 2 hidden

 

[nctd2306]

Does anyone know where 701001 is or if it even exists? I have seen no pictures of it and heard no evidence of anyone seeing it, seems odd for supposedly the first one built!

 

[Benjwri]

Does anyone know where 701001 is or if it even exists? I have seen no pictures of it and heard no evidence of anyone seeing it, seems odd for supposedly the first one built!

It exists. There are photographs claimed to be of it on the factory floor. I assume it also was one of the units tested with a pantograph, so perhaps still undergoing works to remove that again?

 

[Goldfish62]

Does anyone know where 701001 is or if it even exists? I have seen no pictures of it and heard no evidence of anyone seeing it, seems odd for supposedly the first one built!

Reminds me of 458001, which didn't enter service until years after most of the rest of the fleet. It didn't even have any seats until not long before it entered service.

 

[NSEWonderer]

Last I knew of 701001 it was still at Derby. Isn't uncommon for the first unit to often be one of the last to appear, mostly due to it being used as a test bed unit, which then once all is good then gets completed(assuming its feasible to and not another unit built instead like the current Victoria stock had)

 

[Goldfish62]

Any idea what happens if/when we get to mid July and all 14 diagrams have switched over?

Will another batch of diagrams then also be identified for switchover on a rolling basis?

I would be very surprised if a rollout plan right through to full introduction hasn't already been devised. I can't imagine that even with SWR's apparent incompetence they'll get to mid-July and only then consider that they might want to select a further batch to go over!

 

[D365]

Does anyone know where 701001 is or if it even exists? I have seen no pictures of it and heard no evidence of anyone seeing it, seems odd for supposedly the first one built!

It exists. There are photographs claimed to be of it on the factory floor. I assume it also was one of the units tested with a pantograph, so perhaps still undergoing works to remove that again?

1001 is at Litchurch Lane as per the comment above.

 

[WWTownEnth]

I would be very surprised if a rollout plan right through to full introduction hasn't already been devised. I can't imagine that even with SWR's apparent incompetence they'll get to mid-July and only then consider that they might want to select a further batch to go over!

Yes. I agree and I’d very much hope the same thing. Just wondered when we mere mortals might get to find out about it!