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

[Waterlemon]

Never mind the Aventras, I've never thought that the Networker plug doors were unacceptably slow, the delays in boarding are more down to other factors. To me it was a retrograde step to go back to sliding doors on the 376/378 and Desiro City.

Air vs Electric. Aventras are noticeably slower than something like a Networker imo

 

[Goldfish62]

Air vs Electric. Aventras are noticeably slower than something like a Networker imo

But electric is more reliable than air. That's why LU switched to electric after traditionally using air.

 

[OneTrackMinded]

Deleted

 

[wickham]

701060 which was delivered to Wimbledon 05.06.24 was noted at Waterloo at 1100 yesterday 12.06.24: This is one of very few (2 or 3 only) 701s delivered direct to Wimbledon rather than Eastleigh. Presumably it was on mileage running?

 

[Goldfish62]

Here's a comparison. Note that the time between the door beepers going off and the doors starting to close is slower on the Networker but that has been omitted in order to focus only on the door speed.
None of the clips in the video are mine however I believe this is done in good faith as it's being used for educational purposes in order to show the difference between an air and electrical door system.

Not sure what that's supposed to prove, if anything. The lack of a loud hiss suggests that this is one of the Networkers that has electric doors (either the MetCam or BREL ones do).

Electrostars and Jumpers have electric doors. The Desiro UK has air doors. The Desiro City had electric doors.

A mix of electric and air doors depending on stock has been around for a long time. Electric doors are not a recent thing.

 

[Dr_Intoxicated]

I honestly think the money to fix some of the issues isn't being signed off, I know for a fact twickenham is currently degraded due to signal glare. I believe Putney is the same too, I can't see the money being granted to move signalling equipment at all.

Weren't all these signals replaced recently under the Feltham resignalling changes? Was this problem not forseen then?

 

[Goldfish62]

Weren't all these signals replaced recently under the Feltham resignalling changes? Was this problem not forseen then?

Twickenham was part of the Feltham area resignalling scheme which was recently completed. Putney was not. It comes under Wimbledon.

 

[OneTrackMinded]

Deleted

 

[NSEWonderer]

Not sure what that's supposed to prove, if anything. The lack of a loud hiss suggests that this is one of the Networkers that has electric doors (either the MetCam or BREL ones do).

Electrostars and Jumpers have electric doors. The Desiro UK has air doors. The Desiro City had electric doors.

A mix of electric and air doors depending on stock has been around for a long time. Electric doors are not a recent thing.

I assume the BRELs still have Air powered doors

 

[Towers]

Not required as much or often as you would think, to keep up competency all that's needed essentially is 1 degraded station every 6 months.

A decent Competence Management System (CMS) will require more than one dispatch every six months; those guards signing the traction should be required to undertake a practical assessment on it periodically.

 

[Goldfish62]

I assume the BRELs still have Air powered doors

That's them!

 

[DMckduck]

A decent Competence Management System (CMS) will require more than one dispatch every six months; those guards signing the traction should be required to undertake a practical assessment on it periodically.

Traction and route knowledge at SWR expires after 6 months, you only need to work a train for 1 stop and travel across a route once within that 6 month window to keep the route/traction.

I can't imagine on a practical assessment in line with the companies assessment plan would require more than a couple of stops.

 

[TEW]

A decent Competence Management System (CMS) will require more than one dispatch every six months; those guards signing the traction should be required to undertake a practical assessment on it periodically.

Realistically guards are going to be doing it more than that. The guideline is that good practice will be once every 3 months, but it is up to the guard themselves. They have the authority to do it more frequently so that they feel comfortable.

 

[SEtrains]

Is this week the first week where 701043 hasn’t formed a passenger service?
Also the rarely used 701036 is out on passenger duties today.
Edit : allocation changed last minute and 043 is out

 

[GW43125]

You spoke too soon. RTT reporting 2U19 formed 701043. I think I'm cursed never to get 36...

 

[OneTrackMinded]

701042 at Reading today. First time in a while isn't it?

 

[swr444]

701042 at Reading today. First time in a while isn't it?

At what time? I can’t see anything on RTT or the track maps

 

[MasterPhillips]

701042 at Reading today. First time in a while isn't it?

5Q52 was there yesterday on pl.6

 

[OneTrackMinded]

5Q52 was there yesterday on pl.6

Yeah, was a miscommunication with the person who sent it to me, assumed they were talking about today

 

[Dr_Intoxicated]

Is this week the first week where 701043 hasn’t formed a passenger service?
Also the rarely used 701036 is out on passenger duties today.
Edit : allocation changed last minute and 043 is out

I saw it at Feltham this morning

 

[Goldfish62]

Yeah, was a miscommunication with the person who sent it to me, assumed they were talking about today

First time for a very long time, possibly since 2020.

PTI testing maybe.

 

[OneTrackMinded]

PTI testing maybe.

Lots of PTI testing happening around the place apparently. Just a guess but I assume Reading would be easy to sign off for DCO since it's well lit as most terminus stations are

 

[D9006]

Would these be the units I noticed alongside me at Southampton, docked on cruise ship and noticed these on opposite bank

 

[Sun Chariot]

Would these be the units I noticed alongside me at Southampton, docked on cruise ship and noticed these on opposite bank

Those are some of the units stored at MoD Marchwood. Regular drags between there and Eastleigh / Wimbledon.

The road into Marchwood passes right beside the storage roads. Annoyingly, there is a high mesh fence which limits photo opportunities.

 

[Goldfish62]

Lots of PTI testing happening around the place apparently. Just a guess but I assume Reading would be easy to sign off for DCO since it's well lit as most terminus stations are

On RTT it's showing as stopping at all stations between Staines and Reading in both directions so I reckon doing PTI testing at all of them.

 

[TEW]

Lots of PTI testing happening around the place apparently. Just a guess but I assume Reading would be easy to sign off for DCO since it's well lit as most terminus stations are

Reading itself won't be driver dispatch, it will be CD/ RA as at Waterloo.

 

[Towers]

Reading itself won't be driver dispatch, it will be CD/ RA as at Waterloo.

That’s still DCO though? Unless you mean guards will be closing the doors?

 

[Mainsideman]

https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/members...-and-extension-of-doo-swr140624/?preview=true


Rmt have agreed to full guard training roll out. Interesting part in there about guard dispatch aswell, what it means we shall see.

Anyway the roll out should now ramp up quickly I imagine.

 

[TEW]

That’s still DCO though? Unless you mean guards will be closing the doors?

It will be DCO, but as the cameras won't be being used there won't be any issues arising with lighting or glare like there are at some other stations.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Is this week the first week where 701043 hasn’t formed a passenger service?

Even if it hadn't been on today, it wouldn't have been the first such week. 043 didn't even appear until week 2, and 037 has monopolised four whole weeks, one in Feb, one in April and two in May - albeit two of those weeks were only 3 or 4 days due to bank holidays and a strike. See post 3000.