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

[_toommm_]

I'm presuming you meant 450, and from memory when the key is removed on the desiros the tail lights are automatically put on at the front of the unit (alongside the headlights)

Ah yes, 450. I didn’t look at it properly and thought it was a 458.

 

[Flange Squeal]

Slightly OT, but what’s the meaning behind headlights and taillights on that [450] please?

Putting the marker lights on alongside the tails is used as an informal visual indication/reminder to the shunter there that the stock has been prepped and good to go. If a Desiro has just reds then it probably hasn’t been prepped since arriving in the yard.

 

[Fazaar1889]

I just realised that the SWR 'Spread your wings' series of adverts, they're travelling on Class 701s. Talk about false advertising... Haha

Spread Your Wings - make the most of your day

 

[Stew27005]

701033 on 5Q50 this morning.

 

[cactustwirly]

Why are these 701s 4 years late? Crazy to think they are going from storage yard to storage yard. To think up until recently Long Marston was filled with the 196s for West Midland Railways and now the same location is being filled with 701s way out of their comfort zone. Mad world isn't it?

Bombardier are apparently unable to build them so they work satisfactorily

 

[Mollman]

Bombardier are apparently unable to build them so they work satisfactorily

Being pedantic that is true since since Bombardier no longer own Derby works

 

[XCTurbostar]

Why aren't Rock Rail cancelling the order and ordering Desiros instead?

 

[hwl]

Why aren't Rock Rail cancelling the order and ordering Desiros instead?

Effectively because they can't. SWR and DfT are partially culpable for delays.

 

[3rd rail land]

Why aren't Rock Rail cancelling the order and ordering Desiros instead?

They have accepted some units so presumably they are now stuck with them. No 3rd rail TOC wants a micro fleet so its probably best to solider on with the 701s, however long it takes to get them in revenue earning service.

 

[Invincible]

701033 on 5Q50 this morning.

Realtime Trains | 5Q51 1115 London Waterloo to Staines Up Loop | 17/04/2023

Real-time train running information for 5Q51 1115 departure from London Waterloo to Staines Up Loop on 17/04/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Looks like it made it from Eastleigh to Waterloo, then as 5Q51 back to Eastleigh, then instead of Poole (due to the fatality?), made it to Staines sidings. Then as 5Q52 is on way back to Eastleigh?

 

[Invincible]

5Q51 701? test today

Realtime Trains | 5Q51 1115 London Waterloo to Staines Up Loop | 18/04/2023

Real-time train running information for 5Q51 1115 departure from London Waterloo to Staines Up Loop on 18/04/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Box]

701010 was at Reading today (5Q46). I think it’s the first time I’ve seen one testing where they’re actually supposed to operate, maybe a sign of some progress?

 

[Invincible]

701010 was at Reading today (5Q46). I think it’s the first time I’ve seen one testing where they’re actually supposed to operate, maybe a sign of some progress?

Think they have been testing to Reading before, with two 701s on test today, maybe the software working better?
As 5Q47 back to Clapham Junction

Realtime Trains | 5Q47 1236 Reading to London Waterloo | 18/04/2023

Real-time train running information for 5Q47 1236 departure from Reading to London Waterloo on 18/04/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[3973EXL]

47749 701051

Realtime Trains | 5Q64 0709 Eastleigh Trsmd to Willesden S.W.S. | 19/04/2023

Real-time train running information for 5Q64 0709 departure from Eastleigh Trsmd to Willesden S.W.S. on 19/04/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q66 1009 Willesden S.W.S. to Long Marston Gbrf | 19/04/2023

Real-time train running information for 5Q66 1009 departure from Willesden S.W.S. to Long Marston Gbrf on 19/04/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

47749 701034

Realtime Trains | 5Q64 0709 Eastleigh Trsmd to Willesden S.W.S. | 20/04/2023

Real-time train running information for 5Q64 0709 departure from Eastleigh Trsmd to Willesden S.W.S. on 20/04/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q66 1009 Willesden S.W.S. to Long Marston Gbrf | 20/04/2023

Real-time train running information for 5Q66 1009 departure from Willesden S.W.S. to Long Marston Gbrf on 20/04/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Pompey00]

Caught photos of these 2 bad boys sat in Clapham junction sidings whilst my train had stopped on the platform.

 

[Bread & cheese]

701010 was at Reading today (5Q46). I think it’s the first time I’ve seen one testing where they’re actually supposed to operate, maybe a sign of some progress?

There have been a limited number of previous test runs to Reading. The picture shows a 701 at Wokingham on 1 November 2021.

 

[Stew27005]

Caught photos of these 2 bad boys sat in Clapham junction sidings whilst my train had stopped on the platform.

Yes, I was there yesterday evening. 014, 017 and 047 present. Not sure when/where 028 departed to.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Yes, I was there yesterday evening. 014, 017 and 047 present. Not sure when/where 028 departed to.

701 028 was definitely still there on Saturday, if that helps?

 

[Stew27005]

701 028 was definitely still there on Saturday, if that helps?

Cheers Peter

 

[STINT47]

When the trains are finally in service and have several months usage under their belts I hope a public enquiry us setup to see what has gone wrong. As a fare payer and tax payer I and others deserve to know so that future lessons can hopefully be learnt.

 

[3141]

When the trains are finally in service and have several months usage under their belts I hope a public enquiry us setup to see what has gone wrong. As a fare payer and tax payer I and others deserve to know so that future lessons can hopefully be learnt.

I wonder how long a public enquiry would take and how much it would cost. As a taxpayer I doubt I would consider it worthwhile. As a farepayer on SWR, mainly using class 159s, I might feel that the next time there's a big new order for trains on the southwestern network will be so far ahead that the people who will then be doing it will have largely forgotten about the events of 2017 - 2023.

 

[spark001uk]

047, 017, 014 on the evening of Sunday the 16th as I was there briefly.

 

[Meerkat]

I wonder how long a public enquiry would take and how much it would cost. As a taxpayer I doubt I would consider it worthwhile. As a farepayer on SWR, mainly using class 159s, I might feel that the next time there's a big new order for trains on the southwestern network will be so far ahead that the people who will then be doing it will have largely forgotten about the events of 2017 - 2023.

How public and useful would it be? Lots of it would be commercially sensitive, and everyone will be heavily lawyered into saying as little as possible to avoid creating a legal case against their employer from one of the other parties.

 

[Invincible]

How public and useful would it be? Lots of it would be commercially sensitive, and everyone will be heavily lawyered into saying as little as possible to avoid creating a legal case against their employer from one of the other parties.

Also isn't it under the present system the leasing company Angel and manufacturer Alstom taking the loss, rather than the taxpayer?. However when good they will make healthy profits (from ticket sales and subsidies) to easily cover the loss.

 

[Bumpkin]

Not sure it has been picked up here yet but, noticed on a journey through Clapham earlier, and confirmed in the picture above from @spark001uk that it seems the 701s have now be cut in electrically. The tail lamps have gone from the units in the middle roads and the tail lamps on the unit can just me made out. These units must have had the necessary capacitor alterations made by Alstom.

 

[Goldfish62]

Not sure it has been picked up here yet but, noticed on a journey through Clapham earlier, and confirmed in the picture above from @spark001uk that it seems the 701s have now be cut in electrically. The tail lamps have gone from the units in the middle roads and the tail lamps on the unit can just me made out. These units must have had the necessary capacitor alterations made by Alstom.

So well after other Aventra units. But it's at least progress I suppose.

 

[Bigfoot]

Also isn't it under the present system the leasing company Angel and manufacturer Alstom taking the loss, rather than the taxpayer?. However when good they will make healthy profits (from ticket sales and subsidies) to easily cover the loss.

It is indeed. (the leasing company for the 701 is Rock Rail not Angel)

 

[Snow1964]

Also isn't it under the present system the leasing company Angel and manufacturer Alstom taking the loss, rather than the taxpayer?. However when good they will make healthy profits (from ticket sales and subsidies) to easily cover the loss.

Next annual accounts of Rock Rail (not Angel) should be published in a few weeks, and all will become clear if they are loosing money, or being fully compensated by manufacturer

 

[3973EXL]

56098 701510/508 50007

Realtime Trains | 5Q70 0956 Worksop Down Yard to Wembley Inter City Depot | 24/04/2023

Real-time train running information for 5Q70 0956 departure from Worksop Down Yard to Wembley Inter City Depot on 24/04/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[deepeetw]

701014 just went past me leaving Clapham Yard (destination unknown), looked like a bunch of SWR bods in the cab (could see the name badges).

Can confirm that the two on the Windsor side of the yard are cut in all the time now (marker lights are a bit pathetic in daytime though!).