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

[Bumpkin]

Thanks. So from Eastleigh.

Rock rail had raised charges middle of last year for eight 701s and 701019 was one of them. Now does that mean the units going for store are ones that are already accepted (to a certain extent) as opposed to units merely off the production line with no where to go ?.

Looks ominous unless SWR just want more room to do FFR (Fault Free Running) on some more 701s.

701s were getting in the way of the timetabled rolling stock plan.

I believe they were due to be moved out of the way before the December timetable change but due to strikes and various other issues that never happened. They were cluttering up sidings where berth stocked was due to go.

701s are still being built and sent from Derby but with no immediate sign of introduction they have to be put somewhere, Marchwood seems an easy and local option so it’s not too surprising it was selected by SWR.

 

[fgwrich]

701s were getting in the way of the timetabled rolling stock plan.

I believe they were due to be moved out of the way before the December timetable change but due to strikes and various other issues that never happened. They were cluttering up sidings where berth stocked was due to go.

701s are still being built and sent from Derby but with no immediate sign of introduction they have to be put somewhere, Marchwood seems an easy and local option so it’s not too surprising it was selected by SWR.

Indeed, they've overspilled from Eastleigh TMD (Arriva) to Eastleigh Works (Arlington) now too, as well as Clapham, Feltham, Virginia Water (if it's still there?) and Chessington South. A Nice little earner for the MOD too, and at least they'll be kept in safe storage there.

 

[DelW]

Has this been exacerbated by the electrical problems at Northam depot? Those were referred to in the Hook landslip discussion (post 290), where it was said that extra berthing locations were needed for units unable to get into Northam as scheduled. A timescale of 10 - 12 weeks was mentioned for obtaining parts for repairs.

 

[Flange Squeal]

Indeed, they've overspilled from Eastleigh TMD (Arriva) to Eastleigh Works (Arlington) now too, as well as Clapham, Feltham, Virginia Water (if it's still there?) and Chessington South. A Nice little earner for the MOD too, and at least they'll be kept in safe storage there.

There’s still around five in the bottom roads at Farnham depot too. There were six at one point, but I seem to recall one left recently.

 

[Goldfish62]

Indeed, they've overspilled from Eastleigh TMD (Arriva) to Eastleigh Works (Arlington) now too, as well as Clapham, Feltham, Virginia Water (if it's still there?) and Chessington South. A Nice little earner for the MOD too, and at least they'll be kept in safe storage there.

Wokingham rather than Virginia Water? There are no sidings at the latter.

 

[swr444]

Wokingham rather than Virginia Water? There are no sidings at the latter.

There’s non at chessi either. One is stabled at shepperton

 

[43096]

Indeed, they've overspilled from Eastleigh TMD (Arriva) to Eastleigh Works (Arlington) now too, as well as Clapham, Feltham, Virginia Water (if it's still there?) and Chessington South. A Nice little earner for the MOD too, and at least they'll be kept in safe storage there.

There’s none now at Feltham.

 

[3973EXL]

EH - Marchwood
5Q95 701016

Realtime Trains | 5Q95 0731 Eastleigh Trsmd to Marchwood Mod Gbrf | 26/01/2023

Real-time train running information for 5Q95 0731 departure from Eastleigh Trsmd to Marchwood Mod Gbrf on 26/01/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Siemens Staines]

Has this been exacerbated by the electrical problems at Northam depot? Those were referred to in the Hook landslip discussion (post 290), where it was said that extra berthing locations were needed for units unable to get into Northam as scheduled. A timescale of 10 - 12 weeks was mentioned for obtaining parts for repairs.

Is this also the reason for 458509 being allocated to 5Y51 from Bournemouth TMD to Wimbledon Park today. It has been at Bournemouth since last May, taking up valuable siding space?

 

[swr444]

Is this also the reason for 458509 being allocated to 5Y51 from Bournemouth TMD to Wimbledon Park today. It has been at Bournemouth since last May, taking up valuable siding space?

Either that or its parts finally arrived and has been fixed

 

[HamworthyGoods]

Either that or its parts finally arrived and has been fixed

It’s been ready to go for a little time now but the ongoing weather related issues at both Sway and Hook prevented it being moved home to Wimbledon.

 

[Siemens Staines]

Thank you for your replies

 

[3973EXL]

EH - Marchwood
5Q96 701022

Realtime Trains | 5Q96 1129 Eastleigh Trsmd to Marchwood Mod Gbrf | 26/01/2023

Real-time train running information for 5Q96 1129 departure from Eastleigh Trsmd to Marchwood Mod Gbrf on 26/01/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Peter Sarf]

It worries me - all these EMUs sat around for many months inactive and cold. Their electrics will be suffering the damp. Makes me wonder if these 701s are going to be getting more and more fault prone so that it takes longer and longer to get them through Fault Free Running and into service when the time comes.

 

[Dr_Intoxicated]

There’s still around five in the bottom roads at Farnham depot too. There were six at one point, but I seem to recall one left recently.

None there today

 

[blelic]

It worries me - all these EMUs sat around for many months inactive and cold. Their electrics will be suffering the damp. Makes me wonder if these 701s are going to be getting more and more fault prone so that it takes longer and longer to get them through Fault Free Running and into service when the time comes.

At this rate, they won’t be entering service anytime soon, so could it become a question of when the reliability of the 455s declines enough to make introducing the 701s worthwhile.

 

[Goldfish62]

037 is still at Wokingham and unfortunately has more fresh graffiti. If it's not moved soon it'll end up completely plastered.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Jan 2023 ==

At this rate, they won’t be entering service anytime soon, so could it become a question of when the reliability of the 455s declines enough to make introducing the 701s worthwhile.

The whole thing is just bizarre.

It was reported that the boot-up time was the last major issue to be resolved. I've heard from two separate sources that's been resolved. So what's the hold-up?!

 

[WarrenTManager]

Is this also the reason for 458509 being allocated to 5Y51 from Bournemouth TMD to Wimbledon Park today. It has been at Bournemouth since last May, taking up valuable siding space?

C6 overhaul complete

 

[Andy1673]

This is really annoying and alarming situation. Seems like nobody never and nowhere introduced new rolling stock type/class into service ever. What about France entering enormous amount of the new rolling stock types last years?

 

[Flange Squeal]

None there today

There's definitely five sat on the bottom roads as of 10 minutes ago - 029, 048, 034, 004 and 017 on roads 15/16/18/19/20 respectively. Were you possibly looking at the top shed and CET roads, rather than the bottom end of the yard? They can be seen from the train or, if you're local, the A325 by Wrecclesham bridge.

 

[meld3]

Can't say I'm in a hurry for them. Only today completed riding SE to add to SN and SWR so no need to go south of the river till these 701s appear, and as a brummy, will be glad to head north for a change....

 

[jackot]

There's definitely five sat on the bottom roads as of 10 minutes ago - 029, 048, 034, 004 and 017 on roads 15/16/18/19/20 respectively. Were you possibly looking at the top shed and CET roads, rather than the bottom end of the yard? They can be seen from the train or, if you're local, the A325 by Wrecclesham bridge.

Yep, I see them parked there most days and there are definitely 5 at the moment. There were 6 at one point. Every day I see them parked there I get less and less confident about them ever being introduced...

 

[Wyrleybart]

It worries me - all these EMUs sat around for many months inactive and cold. Their electrics will be suffering the damp. Makes me wonder if these 701s are going to be getting more and more fault prone so that it takes longer and longer to get them through Fault Free Running and into service when the time comes.

Alongside a damp and salty estuary. Perfect storage conditions

 

[VWRO2]

Alongside a damp and salty estuary. Perfect storage conditions

Imagine the damp and mildew on fabric surfaces with no regular airflow through the interior

 

[WarrenTManager]

This is really annoying and alarming situation. Seems like nobody never and nowhere introduced new rolling stock type/class into service ever. What about France entering enormous amount of the new rolling stock types last years?

If it helps answer your question in some way, the team involved pretty much introduced 456, 458/5, 707 fleets and deliver some good things we have like depot upgrades, more sidings, bogie drop, platform extensions.

 

[Goldfish62]

Yep, I see them parked there most days and there are definitely 5 at the moment. There were 6 at one point. Every day I see them parked there I get less and less confident about them ever being introduced...

But the trouble is there is no Plan B. The 455s are almost life expired and only capable of 8 car formations, plus any potential replacement order is unlikely to be sanctioned given the huge recent increase in new rolling stock prices.

The 701s simply need to be introduced.

 

[WarrenTManager]

701018 out and about on test today. Saw it at Woking and Clapham.

 

[3973EXL]

Alongside a damp and salty estuary. Perfect storage conditions

Not the first time new units have been stored at Marchwood.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

At this rate, they won’t be entering service anytime soon, so could it become a question of when the reliability of the 455s declines enough to make introducing the 701s worthwhile.

Given they got the Gold golden spanner award last year they have plenty of life in them yet.

 

[Dr_Intoxicated]

There's definitely five sat on the bottom roads as of 10 minutes ago - 029, 048, 034, 004 and 017 on roads 15/16/18/19/20 respectively. Were you possibly looking at the top shed and CET roads, rather than the bottom end of the yard? They can be seen from the train or, if you're local, the A325 by Wrecclesham bridge.

Sorry I see the confusion, I was talking about Feltham as there used to be 5 parked there. Misread your post