• Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!

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

S

swtrains

Member
Joined
30 May 2024
Messages
193
Location
London
Today's testing:

5T91 - Clapham Yard - Dorking - goes to Waterloo first, then down to Dorking.
5T92 - Dorking - Guildford - reverses at Epsom, then goes to Guildford.
5T93 - Guildford - Waterloo - runs direct to Waterloo, via Cobham.
5T96 - Waterloo - Guildford - goes via mainline.
5T97 - Guildford - Clapham Yard - heads back via mainline.

Very action-packed testing today, anyone know why?
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:Q40475/2025-04-29/detailed
Click to expand...
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:Q40473/2025-04-29/detailed
Click to expand...
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:Q40471/2025-04-29/detailed
Click to expand...
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:Q40694/2025-04-29/detailed
Click to expand...
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:Q40693/2025-04-29/detailed
Click to expand...
 
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R

RailUK Forums

N

Nimbus020

Member
Joined
7 Mar 2025
Messages
134
Location
SW London
Today's 1D05 / 1D14 (W'loo - Dorking & back) didn't run at all - not even in RTT - unit 037 did the honours y'day (1st 701 on this service in a while)
 
OneTrackMinded

OneTrackMinded

Member
Joined
2 Jun 2023
Messages
1,096
Location
Richmond
OneTrackMinded said:
Last figure we heard a few months ago before training stopped was 100, so 650 drivers. Likely to be slightly less now.
If we're to assume the lowest on the amount of drivers on each course and that it'll remain at a constant rate, a very very rough estimate is 54 weeks, so just over another year.
However this doesn't account for holidays or weekends so it's probably more likely to be 13 months.
Click to expand...
Re this: How many drivers are required for a diagram to run?
 
B

Bald Rick

Veteran Member
Joined
28 Sep 2010
Messages
35,874
OneTrackMinded said:
So if there are 3 courses running that’s a minimum of 12 drivers a week (ish). Not too bad.
Click to expand...

It’s more than that. AIUI, 6 day course (ie a week and a half), 24 being trained at any one time, and 16 will qualify each week.
 
Last edited:
bb21

bb21

Emeritus Moderator
Joined
4 Feb 2010
Messages
24,465
Bald Rick said:
It’s more than that. AIUI, 6 day course (ie a week and a half), 24 being trained at any one time, and 16 will qaulify each week.
Click to expand...
Sorry to butt in. My understanding from a reliable source is that 24 will pass out every 2 weeks, so average 12 per week, however the numbers are not evenly spread out over the weeks.
 
B

Bald Rick

Veteran Member
Joined
28 Sep 2010
Messages
35,874
bb21 said:
Sorry to butt in. My understanding from a reliable source is that 24 will pass out every 2 weeks, so average 12 per week, however the numbers are not evenly spread out over the weeks.
Click to expand...

I think the difference is that (I suspect) training will be suspended for some weeks when there is low availability / high leave demands. Unless something changes.
 
brad465

brad465

Veteran Member
Joined
11 Aug 2010
Messages
11,511
Location
Taunton or Kent
bb21 said:
Sorry to butt in. My understanding from a reliable source is that 24 will pass out every 2 weeks, so average 12 per week, however the numbers are not evenly spread out over the weeks.
Click to expand...
I hope they don't do this while driving a train! ;)
 
OneTrackMinded

OneTrackMinded

Member
Joined
2 Jun 2023
Messages
1,096
Location
Richmond
swr444 said:
of course, SWR drivers don't open the doors currently so need to be trained and feel confident in doing so.
Click to expand...
Don't want to sound ignorant here but surely it's as simple as pressing the button once the train has stopped? I'd assume a driver could easily get used to that from just being in the simulator.
Very different to closing the doors where you have to carefully check the cameras and be vigilant of passenger movement, something that requires considerable extra concentration and therefore real life practical experience to be comfortable with.
 
S

swr444

Member
Joined
26 Aug 2008
Messages
1,008
Location
London
OneTrackMinded said:
Don't want to sound ignorant here but surely it's as simple as pressing the button once the train has stopped? I'd assume a driver could easily get used to that from just being in the simulator.
Very different to closing the doors where you have to carefully check the cameras and be vigilant of passenger movement, something that requires considerable extra concentration.
Click to expand...
It's getting it engrained in their minds that's more the thing, you've been following one protocol for who knows how long and suddenly you have something completely different to do. You need to check you've stopped correctly and that you open the doors on the correct side. We have the same training as guards. Safety is always top priority.
 
OneTrackMinded

OneTrackMinded

Member
Joined
2 Jun 2023
Messages
1,096
Location
Richmond
swr444 said:
It's getting it engrained in their minds that's more the thing, you've been following one protocol for who knows how long and suddenly you have something completely different to do. You need to check you've stopped correctly and that you open the doors on the correct side. We have the same training as guards. Safety is always top priority.
Click to expand...
Fair enough.
 
W

WWTownEnth

Member
Joined
21 Mar 2014
Messages
747
Does anyone know the numbers of the units which are “ready” for passenger service but which have yet to make their debut? I gather there are ten of them…..
 
S

Snow1964

Established Member
Joined
7 Oct 2019
Messages
11,170
Location
West Wiltshire
swr444 said:
of course, SWR drivers don't open the doors currently so need to be trained and feel confident in doing so.
Click to expand...
Would rather struggle to access the cab of a 455 if didn't know how to open the door, and if didn't know how to open door couldn't exit onto a platform or get to a signal post phone. So using door buttons is not new.

Opening all doors is about a 1 minute conversion course (different buttons), although need to check stopped in safe place (and all SWR platforms have car stopping markers, so that's easy question of yes or not in right place).

It is door closing procedures that take lot more learning because of checking for obstructions and people still boarding etc. Then is it all safe to proceed.
 
B

Bigfoot

Established Member
Joined
2 Dec 2013
Messages
1,424
Snow1964 said:
Would rather struggle to access the cab of a 455 if didn't know how to open the door, and if didn't know how to open door couldn't exit onto a platform or get to a signal post phone. So using door buttons is not new.
Click to expand...
The irony/hilarity here is that, as a driver, you use absolutely zero buttons to open or close the door of a 455.

I think this sums up rather well just how misunderstood the whole process of training is. Drivers have made thousands and thousands of stops and that routine now needs to be broken and relearnt so it is muscle memory.
 
S

swr444

Member
Joined
26 Aug 2008
Messages
1,008
Location
London
Bigfoot said:
The irony/hilarity here is that, as a driver, you use absolutely zero buttons to open or close the door of a 455.

I think this sums up rather well just how misunderstood the whole process of training is. Drivers have made thousands and thousands of stops and that routine now needs to be broken and relearnt so it is muscle memory.
Click to expand...
Exactly this
 
N

norbitonflyer

Established Member
Joined
24 Mar 2020
Messages
5,779
Location
SW London
I believe this is the first time all eight units have been in use on the same day

701017 on the morning Shepperton diagram (starting 2H90)
701043 on the evening Shepperton diagram (starting 2H93)
701046 on the all-day Shepperton diagram (starting 2H08)

701034 on the morning Dorking service (1D05)

701036 on the morning Windsor diagram (starting 2U07)
701031 on the evening Windsor diagram (starting 2U45)
701037 and 701039 on all-day Windsors (starting 2U08 and 2U09)
 
W

WWTownEnth

Member
Joined
21 Mar 2014
Messages
747
norbitonflyer said:
I believe this is the first time all eight units have been in use on the same day

701017 on the morning Shepperton diagram (starting 2H90)
701043 on the evening Shepperton diagram (starting 2H93)
701046 on the all-day Shepperton diagram (starting 2H08)

701034 on the morning Dorking service (1D05)

701036 on the morning Windsor diagram (starting 2U07)
701031 on the evening Windsor diagram (starting 2U45)
701037 and 701039 on all-day Windsors (starting 2U08 and 2U09)
Click to expand...
Good news!
 
S

swtrains

Member
Joined
30 May 2024
Messages
193
Location
London
Today's testing:

5T91 - Clapham Yard - Waterloo - reverses at Clapham, does Hounslow loop via Hounslow, then goes to Waterloo.
5T92 - Waterloo - Waterloo - does another Hounslow loop via Hounslow.
5T93 - Waterloo - Clapham Yard - normal.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:Q40667/2025-04-30/detailed
Click to expand...
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:Q40666/2025-04-30/detailed
Click to expand...
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:Q40665/2025-04-30/detailed
Click to expand...
 
TT-ONR-NRN

TT-ONR-NRN

Veteran Member
Joined
30 Dec 2016
Messages
12,883
Location
Cambridge
norbitonflyer said:
I believe this is the first time all eight units have been in use on the same day

701017 on the morning Shepperton diagram (starting 2H90)
701043 on the evening Shepperton diagram (starting 2H93)
701046 on the all-day Shepperton diagram (starting 2H08)

701034 on the morning Dorking service (1D05)

701036 on the morning Windsor diagram (starting 2U07)
701031 on the evening Windsor diagram (starting 2U45)
701037 and 701039 on all-day Windsors (starting 2U08 and 2U09)
Click to expand...
Things are looking up.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Top