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

[PG]

Perhaps I am being a bit "thick" but what on earth is the significance of the name "Nighthawk" ?

Perhaps they meant to say Blackhawk so that whenever it failed it'd be Black Hawk Down

 

[Stephen42]

So, my councillor friend attended today and specifically asked about the roll-out. He was told:

10 more units introduced next month.
All services converted by December 2025.

He's going to hold SWR to that.

So, either we're being unduly pessimistic on this thread or SWR are telling porkies (about next month specifically).

I'm pretty sure there's a miscommunication there for next month as it's overly ambitious and doesn't match the pretty detailed plan in the SWR press release. I wouldn't be surprised if a carefully crafted line like "We've announcing our plan for 10 more units to be introduced starting next month" was prepared and somewhere along the chain the starting got missed.

The press release says 1 in December 2024, 2 in February 2025, 3 in March 2025, 1 in April 2025, 1 in May 2025, 2 in June 2025 which seems a lot more achievable.

 

[OneTrackMinded]

The press release says 1 in December 2024, 2 in February 2025, 3 in March 2025, 1 in April 2025, 1 in May 2025, 2 in June 2025 which seems a lot more achievable.

At that rate they'll be finished rolling out in a decade..

 

[SWT_USER]

At that rate they'll be finished rolling out in a decade..

They will need them all in service by then so they can start withdrawing the early ones for mid life overhaul.

 

[OneTrackMinded]

Some people are claiming that all the 455s will be gone by the end of 2025. I slightly doubt that with how slow this estimated rollout plan they've provided is looking

 

[DelW]

Perhaps I am being a bit "thick" but what on earth is the significance of the name "Nighthawk" ?

That was a nickname sometimes applied to Stuart Broad during his playing career, being a variant on "nightwatchman", a lower order player who moves to bat higher up the order if a wicket falls near close of play.

What connection that might have with class 701s is anyone's guess though. Only a cynic might suggest a link with a lower quality item substituting for a better quality one which isn't available!

 

[davews]

Well when I arrived at 10am the band was still setting up, started playing music just as I left the station. Didn't realise there would be a train on platform 19 and didn't even wander up there. When I got back at 3.30 I got my souvenir leaflet and that tasty chocky... Not sure about entering for the awards prize though.

Not a cricket fan, never heard of Stuart Broad, even less of Nighthawk/

So another 10 diagrams next week, maybe they will achieve that to quell all us doubter.

 

[pompeyfan]

10 more units next month certainly wasn't that plan very recently and just doesn't look achievable.

From memory there are 10 diagrams that become 701 in the LTP diagrams, but are then STP’d back to their current formation so I’d agree there’s a miscommunication or misunderstanding somewhere.

 

[Chriso]

I heard about all this on my way in to town for a day of rail activity so took a run through Waterloo and thought SWR had put a lot of effort in to it to be fair. I liked the fact they had the unit on platform 19 with management for questions plus the band and info area in the main concourse.

I think once the finally settle in they will be a great unit. I enjoyed my run on one from Waterloo to Fulwell last month

 

[swtrains]

So according to their website, this is the rollout plan. A bit confused by their proposals here, are these proposed diagrams only going to run at peak times, apart from the Windsor ones?

Train #	EIS date	Key areas served	Peak and key services
1-5	23 September - 25 November	Windsor Shepperton Surbiton	38 x Windsor services 10 x Shepperton services 1 x Surbiton service
6	December 2024	Shepperton Strawberry Hill Windsor & Eton Riverside	0543 Teddington - Waterloo 0642 Waterloo - Shepperton 0741 Shepperton - Waterloo 0842 Waterloo - Shepperton 1642 Waterloo - Shepperton 1741 Shepperton - Waterloo 1842 Waterloo - Shepperton
7	February 2025	Kingston Shepperton	0640 Kingston - Waterloo 0711 Shepperton - Waterloo 0812 Waterloo - Shepperton 0911 Shepperton - Waterloo 1612 Waterloo - Shepperton 1711 Shepperton - Waterloo 1812 Waterloo - Shepperton
8	February 2025	Shepperton Hounslow Loop	0615 Waterloo - Shepperton 0730 Shepperton - Waterloo 0845 Waterloo - Waterloo via Hounslow 1707 Waterloo - Waterloo via Richmond 1843 Waterloo - Shepperton
9	March 2025 - first trains to/from Epsom and Guildford	Epsom Hampton Court Guildford	0617 Epsom – Waterloo 0706 Waterloo – Hampton Court 0753 Hampton Court – Waterloo 0854 Waterloo – Guildford via Epsom 1706 Waterloo – Hampton Court 1754 Hampton Court – Waterloo 1854 Waterloo – Guildford via Epsom
10	March 2025 - first trains to/from Dorking	Dorking Epsom Hampton Court Guildford	0659 Dorking – Waterloo 0806 Waterloo – Hampton Court 0853 Hampton Court – Waterloo 1625 Guildford – Waterloo via Epsom 1806 Waterloo – Hampton Court 1854 Hampton Court- Waterloo
11	March 2025	Hounslow Loop Kingston Loop	0530 Waterloo – Waterloo via Richmond 0657 Waterloo – Waterloo via Kingston 0830 Waterloo – Waterloo via Richmond 1730 Waterloo – Waterloo via Richmond 1857 Waterloo – Waterloo via Kingston
12	April 2025	Staines Shepperton Strawberry Hill	0453 Staines – Waterloo 0557 Waterloo – Shepperton 0700 Shepperton – Waterloo 0813 Waterloo – Strawberry Hill via Twickenham 1801 Strawberry Hill – Waterloo via Twickenham 1845 Waterloo – Hounslow
13	May 2025 - first trains to/from Chessington South	Dorking Hampton Court Chessington South	0624 Waterloo – Dorking 0730 Dorking – Waterloo 0836 Waterloo – Hampton Court 0923 Hampton Court – Waterloo 1636 Waterloo – Hampton Court 1724 Hampton Court – Waterloo 1809 Waterloo – Guildford via Epsom 2300 Waterloo – Chessington South 2342 Chessington South - Waterloo
14	June 2025	Hounslow Loop Kingston Loop	0600 Waterloo – Waterloo via Richmond 0727 Waterloo – Waterloo via Kingston 0900 Waterloo – Waterloo via Richmond 1627 Waterloo – Waterloo via Kingston 1800 Waterloo – Waterloo via Richmond
15	June 2025 - first trains to/from Reading	Reading Ascot	0526 Waterloo – Reading 0709 Reading – Waterloo 1607 Waterloo - Waterloo via Hounslow 1750 Waterloo – Reading

 

[Chriso]

Wow that is really bad. They will probably fail on this too

 

[43096]

The lack of self awareness over this is really staggering. How many times has this shambles of a project been launched now? They really ought to be aware now as to what an embarrassment they are - this just serves to remind that they are four years (and counting) late.

And yet, DfT are seemingly happy for this event to take place using taxpayers' funds. It's not going to be cheap - I'm sure Stuart Broad wasn't doing it for nothing (is the next event going to see Jimmy Anderson naming one "Burnley Express"?!) - and the relevance of him and the name to this fleet is not obvious. What an utter waster of time and money.

And then I look at SWR's JourneyCheck - 24 cancellations and 17 short formations by the end of the day. That's what matters to the punters.

Advice for SWR: ditch the PR diarrhoea about this fleet (probably want to sack whoever it was that came up with today's event, too). Ditch the Arterio name (it's a bog standard commuter train, it doesn't need a stupid name). Focus on the detail of actually getting trains into service (yes, we know you struggle with this - but at least try).

At least there is one cause for celebration today: the bill to get this squalid company off the railway received Royal Assent.

 

[Bigfoot]

I thought it was Covid that meant they were chucking them out without quality control checking and then had to go back and fix them?

The ones built before COVID were just as bad as the ones during and after. Quality has never been above last place on the agenda.

 

[TEW]

They have just listed some of the key trains, many of the diagrams will run all day.

 

[OneTrackMinded]

They have just listed some of the key trains, many of the diagrams will run all day.

That’s a big relief, but something they should really clarify..

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Nov 2024 ==

I heard about all this on my way in to town for a day of rail activity so took a run through Waterloo and thought SWR had put a lot of effort in to it to be fair. I liked the fact they had the unit on platform 19 with management for questions plus the band and info area in the main concourse.

I think once the finally settle in they will be a great unit. I enjoyed my run on one from Waterloo to Fulwell last month

Yes I got the same impression. The effort was high from all parties involved and the atmosphere was nice.
The dancing session though.. not so sure about that (see video linked below)

x.com

x.com

 

[Andy1673]

So according to their website, this is the rollout plan. A bit confused by their proposals here, are these proposed diagrams only going to run at peak times, apart from the Windsor ones?

Train #	EIS date	Key areas served	Peak and key services
1-5	23 September - 25 November	Windsor Shepperton Surbiton	38 x Windsor services 10 x Shepperton services 1 x Surbiton service
6	December 2024	Shepperton Strawberry Hill Windsor & Eton Riverside	0543 Teddington - Waterloo 0642 Waterloo - Shepperton 0741 Shepperton - Waterloo 0842 Waterloo - Shepperton 1642 Waterloo - Shepperton 1741 Shepperton - Waterloo 1842 Waterloo - Shepperton
7	February 2025	Kingston Shepperton	0640 Kingston - Waterloo 0711 Shepperton - Waterloo 0812 Waterloo - Shepperton 0911 Shepperton - Waterloo 1612 Waterloo - Shepperton 1711 Shepperton - Waterloo 1812 Waterloo - Shepperton
8	February 2025	Shepperton Hounslow Loop	0615 Waterloo - Shepperton 0730 Shepperton - Waterloo 0845 Waterloo - Waterloo via Hounslow 1707 Waterloo - Waterloo via Richmond 1843 Waterloo - Shepperton
9	March 2025 - first trains to/from Epsom and Guildford	Epsom Hampton Court Guildford	0617 Epsom – Waterloo 0706 Waterloo – Hampton Court 0753 Hampton Court – Waterloo 0854 Waterloo – Guildford via Epsom 1706 Waterloo – Hampton Court 1754 Hampton Court – Waterloo 1854 Waterloo – Guildford via Epsom
10	March 2025 - first trains to/from Dorking	Dorking Epsom Hampton Court Guildford	0659 Dorking – Waterloo 0806 Waterloo – Hampton Court 0853 Hampton Court – Waterloo 1625 Guildford – Waterloo via Epsom 1806 Waterloo – Hampton Court 1854 Hampton Court- Waterloo
11	March 2025	Hounslow Loop Kingston Loop	0530 Waterloo – Waterloo via Richmond 0657 Waterloo – Waterloo via Kingston 0830 Waterloo – Waterloo via Richmond 1730 Waterloo – Waterloo via Richmond 1857 Waterloo – Waterloo via Kingston
12	April 2025	Staines Shepperton Strawberry Hill	0453 Staines – Waterloo 0557 Waterloo – Shepperton 0700 Shepperton – Waterloo 0813 Waterloo – Strawberry Hill via Twickenham 1801 Strawberry Hill – Waterloo via Twickenham 1845 Waterloo – Hounslow
13	May 2025 - first trains to/from Chessington South	Dorking Hampton Court Chessington South	0624 Waterloo – Dorking 0730 Dorking – Waterloo 0836 Waterloo – Hampton Court 0923 Hampton Court – Waterloo 1636 Waterloo – Hampton Court 1724 Hampton Court – Waterloo 1809 Waterloo – Guildford via Epsom 2300 Waterloo – Chessington South 2342 Chessington South - Waterloo
14	June 2025	Hounslow Loop Kingston Loop	0600 Waterloo – Waterloo via Richmond 0727 Waterloo – Waterloo via Kingston 0900 Waterloo – Waterloo via Richmond 1627 Waterloo – Waterloo via Kingston 1800 Waterloo – Waterloo via Richmond
15	June 2025 - first trains to/from Reading	Reading Ascot	0526 Waterloo – Reading 0709 Reading – Waterloo 1607 Waterloo - Waterloo via Hounslow 1750 Waterloo – Reading

I hope they will be able to keep this plan.

 

[RichSwitch]

This is actually the third launch for the class 701 Arterios.

The first launch, Mark Hopwood pretty much just launched the (rather clunky) name: Arterios.

The second - rather odd - launch was by Claire Mann.

And now this third launch.

Just as well it wasn’t the Titanic! Not so much Arterios; More Arteriosclerosis.

 

[Lockwood]

And if their introduction goes a bit wrong, can I be first with the 'arteriosclerosis' jokes?

I know I've quoted this before, but the prophecy was true

 

[waterboo]

This is actually the third launch for the class 701 Arterios.

The first launch, Mark Hopwood pretty much just launched the (rather clunky) name: Arterios.

The second - rather odd - launch was by Claire Mann.

And now this third launch.

Just as well it wasn’t the Titanic! Not so much Arterios; More Arteriosclerosis.

If the media reaction is anything to go by - the overwhelming majority of news outlets make no mention of the glitz and grandeur of the event at Waterloo today, but instead continue to focus on the ineptitude of the overall programme. Sure, it may be a nice occasion for those attending in person but overall this has been a spectacular own goal to invite the media to scrutinise and ridicule South Western Railway once again. Why cant the company just shut up and get on with the rollout, without generating future bad press when they once again fail to deliver on fanciful rollout schedules? This event moreover seems to be the mechanism for the mobilisation team and executives to give themselves a delusionary pat on the back, before they one again return back to their desks flapping at bulging risk registers and red RAG rated programme schedules.

 

[Wychwood93]

Hendy (I should perhaps put 'Lord' in front of the name, but decline to do so. Not worthy.) was on South Today earlier being interviewed by Paul Clifton. He came over with the usual politico weasel stuff about how wonderful it would all be and the delay was irrelevant (without actually saying that!). I think mention was made of stock that should be with us for 30 years was already 5 years late and most of it had not managed to turn a wheel in passenger service in that time. I know I should provide a link, but search BBC South Today around 18.35 ish.

 

[Goldfish62]

I'm currently on one on the way home. First time for a while and a busy train. Very competent. They'll do the job very well. Both toilets and announcements working just fine.

Nice train.

 

[Invincible]

Hendy (I should perhaps put 'Lord' in front of the name, but decline to do so. Not worthy.) was on South Today earlier being interviewed by Paul Clifton. He came over with the usual politico weasel stuff about how wonderful it would all be and the delay was irrelevant (without actually saying that!). I think mention was made of stock that should be with us for 30 years was already 5 years late and most of it had not managed to turn a wheel in passenger service in that time. I know I should provide a link, but search BBC South Today around 18.35 ish.

South Today - Evening News: 28/11/2024

The latest news, sport and weather for the South of England.

www.bbc.co.uk

16 minutes in

 

[Goldfish62]

I'm currently on one on the way home. First time for a while and a busy train. Very competent. They'll do the job very well. Both toilets and announcements working just fine.

Nice train.

Then I transferred to a 458 at Staines, which was announced as Vauxhall. Par for the course.

 

[Elorith]

Some people are claiming that all the 455s will be gone by the end of 2025. I slightly doubt that with how slow this estimated rollout plan they've provided is looking

Many of them are quite literally falling to pieces so it wouldn't be a surprise if their priority was to get rid of them as quickly as possible.

 

[fgwrich]

This is actually the third launch for the class 701 Arterios.

The first launch, Mark Hopwood pretty much just launched the (rather clunky) name: Arterios.

The second - rather odd - launch was by Claire Mann.

And now this third launch.

Just as well it wasn’t the Titanic! Not so much Arterios; More Arteriosclerosis.

Funny enough I was just thinking that earlier too. Madness. Has any other fleet had 3 launch celebrations in its history?

 

[norbitonflyer]

Perhaps I am being a bit "thick" but what on earth is the significance of the name "Nighthawk" ?

Apparentky it's a sporting theme
Nighthawk - Chris Broad - cricket (Vauxhall for the Oval)
Jockey (Ascot, Sandown Park, Kempton Park)
The Red Rose (English rugby at Twickenham)
The Aces (tennis, Wimbledon_
The Thames Racer (the University Boat race - Putney/Mortlake).

x.com

x.com

 

[swtrains]

Hendy (I should perhaps put 'Lord' in front of the name, but decline to do so. Not worthy.) was on South Today earlier being interviewed by Paul Clifton. He came over with the usual politico weasel stuff about how wonderful it would all be and the delay was irrelevant (without actually saying that!). I think mention was made of stock that should be with us for 30 years was already 5 years late and most of it had not managed to turn a wheel in passenger service in that time. I know I should provide a link, but search BBC South Today around 18.35 ish.

Excellent report by Clifton, Hendy turning a blind eye to the last 5 years entirely.
Worth noting the interview did not guarantee the end of 2025 having a full rollout complete - to quote Stuart Meek “well within the next couple of years”.

 

[D365]

Forgive me, but I was under the impression that the Class 701s already had a launch event last year.

 

[PHWO]

All I thought when I read "Nighthawk" was Allo Allo! Nighthawk calling London!

(Allo Allo was an old Sitcom for those of a younger age.....)

 

[WWTownEnth]

If they continue introducing them at a rate of one each month then they should all be in service by September 2031.