Class 701 'Aventra' trains for South Western Railway

[Snow1964]

Seems there is a police incident closing lines between Twickenham and Teddington, expected to end of day. Don't know any details but apparently under Metropolitan police control rather than BTP.

Potentially if all sorts of chaos at Twickenham with people being asked to take local buses to/from there, then doing a launch via Twickenham today might not wisest move, as going to be disruption announcements every few minutes on the route.

 

[markle]

Seems there is a police incident closing lines between Twickenham and Teddington, expected to end of day. Don't know any details but apparently under Metropolitan police control rather than BTP.

A young man was murdered at Strawberry Hill station - desparately sad

https://www.btp.police.uk/news/btp/news/appeals/detectives-launch-murder-investigation--/

 

[norbitonflyer]

Seems to be activated now, but getting to Twickenham to meet it will be a challenge .........

 

[TEW]

Allocated 701037 too.

 

[SWT_USER]

I've lost track over the past few pages - is it this service? I'll have a wonder down if it's confrimed as a 701.

Realtime Trains | 1025 London Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside | 09/01/2024

Real-time train running information for 1025 departure from London Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside on 09/01/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[TEW]

That service, yes.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Getting very exciting now it’s even been allocated in the system! God, I wish I wasn’t in my dingy Cardiff house right now. Typical I was originally supposed to be at home in SWR land today too!

 

[Goldfish62]

That service, yes.

Now showing as operating with 701037.

 

[43OO4]

Words are being eaten, I'm impressed! With Twickenham though it won't be without disruption.

 

[Ian Hardy]

Words are being eaten, I'm impressed! With Twickenham though it won't be without disruption.

Why will there be disruption, the only lines that are closed are those between Twickenham Junction and Teddington, looking at RTT the Kingston Roundabout services are only running between Waterloo and Twickenham and terminating from the Down direction in platform 3 at TWI. They seem to be running to time so should not conflict with the Windsor and Reading services. The lines to and from Whitton are open.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...01-09/0200-0159?stp=WVS&show=all&order=actual
https://signalmaps.co.uk/#twickenham:1158

 

[markle]

Words are being eaten, I'm impressed! With Twickenham though it won't be without disruption.

Trains are operating through Twickenham onwards to W&ER / Reading without difficulty. The line closure only affects the Kingston loop.

 

[43OO4]

In which case... Bring it on! It's about bloody time!

 

[H&I]

Looks like it actually is happening. Geoff Marshall is at platform 19 right now along with Phil Sherratt from Modern Railways.

 

[Gag Halfrunt]

701037 is also booked to run 2U92 1130 Windsor to Waterloo.

Realtime Trains | 2U92 1130 Windsor & Eton Riverside to London Waterloo | 09/01/2024

Real-time train running information for 2U92 1130 departure from Windsor & Eton Riverside to London Waterloo on 09/01/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[43OO4]

701037 is also booked to run 2U92 1130 Windsor to Waterloo.

Realtime Trains | 2U92 1130 Windsor & Eton Riverside to London Waterloo | 09/01/2024

Real-time train running information for 2U92 1130 departure from Windsor & Eton Riverside to London Waterloo on 09/01/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

I thought that was a given...?

 

[Gag Halfrunt]

I'm sure you're right, but I thought that I'd point it out because it will give more opportunities to witness the miracle.

 

[H&I]

Other than Geoff and Phil, I can’t see any obvious train enthusiasts that are here for the train. If you are planning to catch it, come over to platform 19! You have until 10:20 for a 10:25 departure!

 

[traji00]

(Not calling at Sunnymeads apparently due to flooding)

Other than Geoff and Phil, I can’t see any obvious train enthusiasts that are here for the train. If you are planning to catch it, come over to platform 19! You have until 10:20 for a 10:25 departure!

I might try and get a look on its return. (Expected arrival of 2U92 12:28)

 

[nctd2306]

Do I need to book an emergency eye test or am I genuinely reading this correctly!?
About time, I hope this all goes smoothly and they can finally push on a bit with the training/introduction etc, from an enthusiasts point of view, I'll miss the motor thrash offered by the 455s but my goodness the 701s are needed desperately, as boring as Aventras may be for us enthusiasts, there's no denying that they will be a big upgrade providing they can actually provide a reliable service and not break down every few journeys

 

[Carlisle]

Geoff Marshall is at platform 19 right now

That’s as good a guarantee as anything

 

[43OO4]

Do I need to book an emergency eye test or am I genuinely reading this correctly!?
About time, I hope this all goes smoothly and they can finally push on a bit with the training/introduction etc, from an enthusiasts point of view, I'll miss the motor thrash offered by the 455s but my goodness the 701s are needed desperately, as boring as Aventras may be for us enthusiasts, there's no denying that they will be a big upgrade providing they can actually provide a reliable service and not break down every few journeys

We might have a repeat of the 458s, they may well end up completely showing up the rest of the fleet in a handful of years even with the rockiest start we've seen in a long time!

 

[H&I]

That’s as good a guarantee as anything

There’s also a bunch of management folks at the gateline now. Two train enthusiasts have shown up on the platform. I think I have to take up the task of documenting this event if no one else turns up.

 

[DanNCL]

This surely can’t be right…

How long until they’re stopped again do we reckon?

 

[43OO4]

This surely can’t be right…

How long until they’re stopped again do we reckon?

If I understand this correctly, it's a one-and-done public test.

 

[mullinsj08]

This surely can’t be right…

How long until they’re stopped again do we reckon?

It might be a few months.

From reading through the thread, we still need a driver training course to be agreed and then quite a few drivers to be put through the training course.

 

[nctd2306]

This surely can’t be right…

How long until they’re stopped again do we reckon?

Might be later on today given their reliability so far, how much are betting on it breaking down before it reaches Windsor?

 

[Cach17]

In other news, Hell has frozen over!

 

[OneTrackMinded]

My god it’s actually running!

 

[800001]

If I understand this correctly, it's a one-and-done public test.

Tweet below from Paul Clifton, saying it’s for 4 days only.

https://x.com/paulcliftonbbc/status/1744667376681951478?s=46&t=JLp3J2Up_Gl_m9cQz-au6w

 

[Dan G]

Good to see a 701 in passenger service for the first time. I hope someone gets some photos!

Realtime Trains | 2U91 1025 London Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside | 09/01/2024

Real-time train running information for 2U91 1025 departure from London Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside on 09/01/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk