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

[43096]

IIRC the SWR corporate identity was developed in a hurry after they won the franchise, because they had not really expected to win. The logo is very similar to that of the South by Southwest festival in Texas (an arrow pointing south-west).

It’s also very similar to the “pop this conversation out” icon on Skype.

 

[infobleep]

The same seats as on 700s but with improved padding on the covers as seen on Northern and ScotRail which makes all the difference and could presumably be retrofitted to GTR 387/700/717/377/6/377/7 seats. The 701s have small side tables too. X an imagine anyone using 455s and 456s to see these as a great improvement especially in summer with people using 707s not seeing so much change. However those used to 458s maybe less impressed?

Worth noting soon there will be one livery at Waterloo without the three former SWT variants

So will the seats be more comfortable than the first class seats on a class 700, those being more comfortable than standard class on a class 700?

 

[387star]

So will the seats be more comfortable than the first class seats on a class 700, those being more comfortable than standard class on a class 700?

Can't compare those two. These are essentially the 700 seats (Not sure if they are wider ?) But with improved padding and the rather posh SWR leather headrests

 

[Ethano92]

I did rather like the way the SWT livery was in different colours for different 'markets', with white intercity, blue suburban, and red urban. It was as a whole cohesive but also had variety.
The SWR livery I really don't like. For some reason it feels like a livery for some fake company in a movie or TV show.

The only problem with SWT liveries was certain routes sharing blue and white trains (such as Portsmouth) and the 458s - first white then painted blue post-refurbishment when they arguably should've been red for Hounslow/weybridge etc. I originally did think the 10 car 701s should have a dark stripe in the centre of the train straddling cars 5/6 since SWR don't have any other units that don't often work in multiple and so have a central stripe however there would be nowhere to fit the SWR logo. Still would've broken up the monotony of the light grey.

Is ASDO still on the tables for these units? I understand this was never meant to be used from the start but if we don't see passenger levels return to pre covid levels for quite some time then surely it won't be as difficult to reach short dwell times.

 

[pompeyfan]

The only problem with SWT liveries was certain routes sharing blue and white trains (such as Portsmouth) and the 458s - first white then painted blue post-refurbishment when they arguably should've been red for Hounslow/weybridge etc. I originally did think the 10 car 701s should have a dark stripe in the centre of the train straddling cars 5/6 since SWR don't have any other units that don't often work in multiple and so have a central stripe however there would be nowhere to fit the SWR logo. Still would've broken up the monotony of the light grey.

Is ASDO still on the tables for these units? I understand this was never meant to be used from the start but if we don't see passenger levels return to pre covid levels for quite some time then surely it won't be as difficult to reach short dwell times.

I assume you mean ABDO? Yes this is still planned for 2022 but will be solely at the drivers judgement so will likely not be used as drivers will end up carrying the cab for any safety of the line incident

there are 2 buttons below the Speedo/sunflower screen. One to engage and out to disable ABDO.

 

[crablab]

solely at the drivers judgement so will likely not be used as drivers will end up carrying the cab for any safety of the line incident

So what's the point of having it? Surely in this day and age we're able to have a sensible discussion between management and unions to agree a sensible way forward?

 

[GW43125]

I assume you mean ABDO? Yes this is still planned for 2022 but will be solely at the drivers judgement so will likely not be used as drivers will end up carrying the cab for any safety of the line incident

there are 2 buttons below the Speedo/sunflower screen. One to engage and out to disable ABDO.

ABDO?

 

[Train Boy]

ABDO?

Automatic braking and door opening

 

[spark001uk]

Over in the 710 thread I saw written under some linked photos of a 710 drag to Dorking, that after their spz testing is finished, 701001 is due to go down there for some driver training.
Is there a reason 001 has been kept for this? Is there anything different about it?

 

[ThameslinkUser]

Over in the 710 thread I saw written under some linked photos of a 710 drag to Dorking, that after their spz testing is finished, 701001 is due to go down there for some driver training.
Is there a reason 001 has been kept for this? Is there anything different about it?

I’m told 001 just so happened to be the designated unit for testing by ROG along this line. This has been planned for a while- before the first 701 delivery to Eastleigh, at least.

 

[infobleep]

Can't compare those two. These are essentially the 700 seats (Not sure if they are wider ?) But with improved padding and the rather posh SWR leather headrests

So with leather headrests and improved padding, that makes them better

 

[Goldfish62]

So with leather headrests and improved padding, that makes them better

And very slightly wider.

I've experienced them on Northern's 158s and 331s and they're definitely superior. Obviously it's impossible to have a truly comfortable seat though as long as DfT retain their requirements that seats must be rock hard and unnaturally upright.

 

[norbitonflyer]

I did rather like the way the SWT livery was in different colours for different 'markets', with white intercity, blue suburban, and red urban.

Colour coding so the staff knew what the contents were

White - Clients, to be Handled with care
Blue - Customers, to be Humoured
Red - Cash Cows, to be Herded

 

[spark001uk]

Blue - complainants, Where's our white ones?

 

[Bald Rick]

Colour coding so the staff knew what the contents were

White - Clients, to be Handled with care
Blue - Customers, to be Humoured
Red - Cash Cows, to be Herded

Or as someone senior st Stagecoach often said:

blue and White trains make money, the red ones don’t.

 

[Bessie]

Back on topic - when can we expect to see the first 701 in passenger service?

 

[spark001uk]

Interesting. Cancelled now, but I noticed this STP working in for today. Initially thought storage, but not very likely.
Perhaps more likely was the intention for 002 to go back up for temporary stabling, until they're ready to accept it back in for completion?

 

[TEW]

Back on topic - when can we expect to see the first 701 in passenger service?

I don't think anyone could give an accurate date right now. The last official date was Autumn 2020, but seems there is no chance of that now.

 

[Goldfish62]

Interesting. Cancelled now, but I noticed this STP working in for today. Initially thought storage, but not very likely.
Perhaps more likely was the intention for 002 to go back up for temporary stabling, until they're ready to accept it back in for completion?

Reading on a FB group, someone who clearly appears to have inside information stated that now testing is essentially complete and while Feltham depot has yet to be available units would be stored at Worksop to decluter Eastleigh, pending SWR mileage accumulation and staff training.

 

[4REP]

IIRC the SWR corporate identity was developed in a hurry after they won the franchise, because they had not really expected to win. The logo is very similar to that of the South by Southwest festival in Texas (an arrow pointing south-west).

I would of done what GNER did. Introduce a concervative livery and install a Crest on the carriages and use an old livery used by London and South western railway.

 

[KC1]

Don’t see the issue why people moan about the coloured trains by SWT, apart southeastern, (dark blue for main line, white for local commuter) no other train operator used this, all others had same livery for all routes.

 

[AverageTD]

I quite liked the SWT scheme in general, all 3 liveries looking nice on their respective trains. The markets for these liveries did get rather muddled when 458/5s turned up and began running Reading (formally "white") Windsor/Weybridge (formally "blue") and also the loop services (formally "red") but then it became more for looks rather than indicating what type of services it ran. I'm not at all a fan of the new SWR livery especially when a re-liveried 444 is partnered with a much more happy looking ex-SWT 444. At least they've improved it slightly by removing those hideous stripes found on 450111. However, considering in my opinion the 701s look like an upscaled toy train, combined with that livery I doubt they'll be winning many wins for looks. For the 3 years they've been running my local I've found the 707s to be very good and rather pretty as well so aesthetically at least I won't appreciate the change to the dull looking Aventras.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Or as someone senior st Stagecoach often said:

blue and White trains make money, the red ones don’t.

And yet they didn't seem keen on the idea of handing them over to TfL.

 

[Domh245]

when 458/5s turned up and began running Reading (formally "white"

That's more down to the 458s interloping in the wrong livery. Reading definitely isn't a "white train" tier service!

Or as someone senior st Stagecoach often said:

blue and White trains make money, the red ones don’t.

That's surprising! Presumably it applies more generally - metro trains don't make money? (Though that's off topic for here)

 

[43096]

That's more down to the 458s interloping in the wrong livery. Reading definitely isn't a "white train" tier service!

True. With the 701s coming in it is being downgraded to inner suburban “red train”, which it definitely isn’t either.

 

[Bald Rick]

And yet they didn't seem keen on the idea of handing them over to TfL.

That’s a DfT call.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Don’t see the issue why people moan about the coloured trains by SWT, apart southeastern, (dark blue for main line, white for local commuter) no other train operator used this, all others had same livery for all routes.

Not quite so - Stagecoach did the same thing with its East Midland franchise - HSTs, Meridians and 158s were white, 153 and 156 were bluehttps://i.ytimg.com/vi/qoy6iYmOU2k/maxresdefault.jpg

 

[Flange Squeal]

Not quite so - Stagecoach did the same thing with its East Midland franchise - HSTs, Meridians and 158s were white, 153 and 156 were bluehttps://i.ytimg.com/vi/qoy6iYmOU2k/maxresdefault.jpg

I think there have been other examples in the past? Northern Spirit ran blue with an italic green ‘N’ and a burgundy variant of that for Transpennine routes, before the various restructuring of the northern franchises saw a separate TPE franchise created. Chiltern also had their silver ‘Mainline’ brand, although I think the silver is now becoming the norm, with some of the 165 Turbos now having their red line replaced by a silver one?

 

[Energy]

Chiltern also had their silver ‘Mainline’ brand, although I think the silver is now becoming the norm, with some of the 165 Turbos now having their red line replaced by a silver one?

Chiltern have a 'Mainline' livery for the 168s and loco hauled sets, these have a nicer interior. The 172s and 165s have a worse interior and a different livery.

 

[Murray J]

just been sent a photo of 701006 at Southampton by a friend and the number is now on the front, with the first 3 digits on the left side of the windscreen wipers with the last 3 digits on the right side, and also the side below the driver's door.