Class 701 'Aventra' trains for South Western Railway

[Metal_gee_man]

When are these going to enter service now covid-19 has delayed things and which class of the current suburban stock is disappearing first from SWR?

I'm sure it'll be the first stock that has a new home the class 707s, SouthEastern are almost gagging for them already

 

[WWTownEnth]

I read somewhere that the DoT had mandated that order of withdrawal was as follows:

8 car 455 formations
8 car 450 formations
10 car 455+456 formations
10 car 458 formations
10 car 707 formations

not sure if that’s still the case.....

 

[pompeyfan]

I don’t think anyone knows any more, but certainly replacing any 8 car services with 10 gives an instant uplift. I would however imagine they’ll go on routes with poor timekeeping to begin with though as hopefully dwell times will be reduced and improve punctuality. Look at how guard operated 707s fixed the shepperton line overnight.

 

[Goldfish62]

I read somewhere that the DoT had mandated that order of withdrawal was as follows:

8 car 455 formations
8 car 450 formations
10 car 455+456 formations
10 car 458 formations
10 car 707 formations

not sure if that’s still the case.....

How recent is that?

Immediately pre-Covid the official plan was still:

458 first
455/456
707 last

 

[TEW]

Back in February this was the plan for introduction by route, but it could well have changed again.
Reading
Dorking and Hampton Court
Kingston Loop
Hounslow Loop & Weybridge
Woking, Guildford & Chessington
Windsor
Shepperton

 

[Prestige15]

 

[theironroad]

I read somewhere that the DoT had mandated that order of withdrawal was as follows:

8 car 455 formations
8 car 450 formations
10 car 455+456 formations
10 car 458 formations
10 car 707 formations

not sure if that’s still the case.....

I'd imagine that changes as the programme is going to be running way behind and the 707s are lined up for new work already and the 455/6 I believe are going for scrap. I could understand getting rid of 8 cars first when there was serious overcrowding, but obviously that's not the case now.

 

[RealTrains07]

I read somewhere that the DoT had mandated that order of withdrawal was as follows:

8 car 455 formations
8 car 450 formations
10 car 455+456 formations
10 car 458 formations
10 car 707 formations

not sure if that’s still the case.....

That was the case when the original timetable for 701 introduction was still the plan but now of course its a bit up in the air. Withdrawal wise it would make sense for the 707s to go first as they have a home and the 455/6s go last as they will most likely end up on the scrap pile

 

[London Trains]

I read somewhere that the DoT had mandated that order of withdrawal was as follows:

8 car 455 formations
8 car 450 formations
10 car 455+456 formations
10 car 458 formations
10 car 707 formations

not sure if that’s still the case.....

I'd give a quick guess and say the order is:

707s (Southeastern are in dire need)
458s
4/8 car 455s
455+456 formations
450s (run more as 12 car)

 

[fgwrich]

I did note from several videos that the first unit has a few wheel flats already. I Hope this isn't going to be a common theme with these "Aventra's", though as it uses the Flexx Eco bogie it wouldn't surprise me. (It's not a fun ride when your sat above one of them with a wheelflat)

 

[TRAX]

I did note from several videos that the first unit has a few wheel flats already. I Hope this isn't going to be a common theme with these "Aventra's", though as it uses the Flexx Eco bogie it wouldn't surprise me. (It's not a fun ride when your sat above one of them with a wheelflat)

Where do you hear this ?

 

[Domh245]

Where do you hear this ?

Trailing bogie of the second coach has a noticeably different sound, you can hear it more clearly in these videos (timestamped)

One of the leading brake force vehicles also has a bit of a flat which doesn't help!

 

[TRAX]

Ah yes indeed.
But do bear in mind that this is one of the test trains, so I would expect that this would wear a few parts in the process, wheels included.

 

[james60059]

Trailing bogie of the second coach has a noticeably different sound, you can hear it more clearly in these videos (timestamped)

It was delayed outside of East Midlands Parkway for a bit because of an axle issue, and also at Loughborough.

 

[Bald Rick]

It was delayed outside of East Midlands Parkway for a bit because of an axle issue, and also at Loughborough.

It wasn’t an axle issue.

 

[swt_passenger]

So with 701s coming in sceneare the 458s being scrapped or used elsewhere surely they could release 444s from other duties.

458/5 were derated to 75 mph suburban stock, single class, replacing 444s would be the last thing they’d ever be used for.

But there’s a separate thread for 458/5 reuse proposals in speculation, this isn’t the right place...

https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/dc-class-455-456-458-465-66-discussion-topic.203761/

 

[Bayum]

Trailing bogie of the second coach has a noticeably different sound, you can hear it more clearly in these videos (timestamped)

One of the leading brake force vehicles also has a bit of a flat which doesn't help!

Also sounds like there’s another in the second to last vehicle of the 701

 

[Goldfish62]

I'm told that the unit has no seats in it. If true, then it's the same as the first pair of 458s which were delivered for testing. They also had incomplete livery being white with red cabs.

 

[WSnook37025]

did anyone catch the coach numbers? cant find any reference to them yet, and all the YT vids arent clear enough

 

[swt_passenger]

did anyone catch the coach numbers? cant find any reference to them yet, and all the YT vids arent clear enough

It was said earlier there are no side numbers applied...

 

[WWTownEnth]

Is there any feel yet for when the first of these units will actually enter service?

 

[theironroad]

Is there any feel yet for when the first of these units will actually enter service?

If some are in service before year end, I'd see that as a good result in current environment.

 

[swt_passenger]

Certain Alton diagrams which see 444 on them. My regular Alton train was always a 444. Or can't they replace 450 diagrams so they can replace 444 to strengthen other services.

There’s been no 444s to Alton for a while now, there’s none in the Dec 2018 or May 2019 carriage working notices, may have been earlier.

It’s previously been discussed that if the 442s enter service as planned all 444 and 450 operated services will effectively be at full length. The 458/5 will not be needed.

but this is still not really the place to discuss 458/5s...

 

[TrainTube]

I'm told that the unit has no seats in it. If true, then it's the same as the first pair of 458s which were delivered for testing. They also had incomplete livery being white with red cabs.

It does have seats in it, ive got video proof. I beleive the unit was used in a demonstration at Litchurch lane of the 701 stock, people were walking through and sitting on the seats.

 

[Goldfish62]

It does have seats in it, ive got video proof. I beleive the unit was used in a demonstration at Litchurch lane of the 701 stock, people were walking through and sitting on the seats.

Thanks. The one used for the media launch was a 5-car unit.

 

[WSnook37025]

It was said earlier there are no side numbers applied...

numbers are printed on the paper in the windows, as it is a legal requirement

 

[swt_passenger]

numbers are printed on the paper in the windows

I was really thinking of the point about not being readable on E.g. YouTube videos, I doubt paper labels would be large enough to show up there.

 

[4REP]

Just a thought for a nickname for these class 701s-Snakes.

 

[TRAX]

Aren't all trains snakes (sort of) ?
Why the constant need for nicknames ?

 

[Mikey C]

Following on from the unofficial codes 4DES and 5DES for the 450 and 444, perhaps these will be the 5ADV and 10ADV!