Not that they would (particularly given that they still have to contend with other trains on the network) but one has to suspect that in theory at least they could tighten up the timetable a fair bit if all their trains were this quick off the mark...
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Class 701 'Aventra' trains for South Western Railway: progress updates
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In the April 2025 issue of Modern Railways, there is a quote from Andrew Haines saying that there will be a recast of the South Western timetable in 2026 when the 701s are fully in service.
Goldfish62
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Indeed. As I've stated a couple of times on this thread.
I'm assuming at this stage it'll be based on the December 2021 timetable which was consulted on but never got introduced.
boiledbeans2
Member
Class15
Established Member
Isn’t that a contradiction?!
lewisf
Member
I don’t think the acceleration of the current 455s is the main issue on journey times. Without a conversion to something like ETCS trains will still hit the back of the queue at places like Wimbledon and Clapham junction.
Is the ABDO (Automatic Braking Door Open) that was originally planned still on the cards or is that now dead?
Is the ABDO (Automatic Braking Door Open) that was originally planned still on the cards or is that now dead?
OneTrackMinded
Member
Last I heard they were going to test the equipment, which has been installed between Putney and Richmond, then just leave it there as it’s no longer needed. It’s simply to complete the contract.
mansonlo49
Member
thought all stored at Bicester were 701/5, some 701/0 stored there also?
alanc
Member
There is a good mixture of both types still stored there - I don’t have a complete list
Can anyone share a link to anything related to the 2021 proposals?
NSEWonderer
Established Member
I've heard some trainees are being booked on courses with the first few having completed training, which is pretty big news as previously it wasn't so.
trainmania100
Established Member
OneTrackMinded
Member
Great progress. Has 455 training for new drivers stopped yet?
Really nice photo
Goldfish62
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It's long-since disappeared from their website. Quite a major public consultation was undertaken at the time (although only stakeholders and not the public were actually allowed to respond to it!). Don't get too excited though - it was pretty much a recast retaining more or less existing service levels. That's I expect for the 2026 "Arterio recast".
Peter Mugridge
Veteran Member
Anything on the Wayback Machine for it?
OneTrackMinded
Member
I agree that most services will remain the same but I’ve heard previously the 701s could allow for an increased frequency on some routes, such as the Hounslow Loop going back to 4tph. The main change however will probably be a tightening up of timings to take advantage of the quicker acceleration, braking, and dwell times of the 701s.
Goldfish62
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Hounslow loop off-peak restoration really should be a no-brainer. Nationalised SouthEastern was allowed to restore at least 4tph off peak to all Metro stations so hopefully nationalised SWR will be allowed to do the same. There's other things that need tackling as well. It's not practical to travel from the Reading direction to stations on the Hounslow loop in the AM peak, for example. This has occurred because 2tph from Reading was stripped out without altering the timings of the remaining trains, which don't connect.
Anyway, in danger of getting a bit OT...
I hope not. That creates more problems. I recall seeing trainee drivers on class 317s until a matter of weeks before they finished.
This and also the Epsom line needs its 4tph back
norbitonflyer
Established Member
Saw a trainee guard on a 458/5 last month.
From a guards perspective they are identical except for knowing a coach is missing/present.
Clapham Yard at 1100 today (Wenesday 07.05.25): 701528 + 701529 in their usual siding, up loop side of the cleaning shed (529 on the blocks and 528 London end - have they turned again?): Across the yard: 701018, 701022, 701028, 701041 with 701042 running up down the full length of "49 road" training. When first seen it was right down the Wandsworth Town end of the siding - the sight of a train down there not seen by me for a very long time. Passing during my stay (in service and ECS) 701017, 701034, 701046 and 701057:
Wimbledon at around 1400: Wimbledon Park "Top Yard" Sidings 701034: "Top Yard" Cleaning Shed: 3 x 701s unable to identify.
Rear of East Wimbledon Depot: 701036 (keeping company with 458403/530/533 & several 455s - including BR blue 5868);
East Wimbledon "New Sidings" (By the main line): 701037 & 701058:
The doors to East Wimbledon maintainance shed were open and 701510 and another with the number panel missing (but suspected to be yesterday's arrival 701053) could be seen. I was actually looking for 701517, but it was not to be seen, can anyone confirm if it is still at Wimbledon please?
Wimbledon at around 1400: Wimbledon Park "Top Yard" Sidings 701034: "Top Yard" Cleaning Shed: 3 x 701s unable to identify.
Rear of East Wimbledon Depot: 701036 (keeping company with 458403/530/533 & several 455s - including BR blue 5868);
East Wimbledon "New Sidings" (By the main line): 701037 & 701058:
The doors to East Wimbledon maintainance shed were open and 701510 and another with the number panel missing (but suspected to be yesterday's arrival 701053) could be seen. I was actually looking for 701517, but it was not to be seen, can anyone confirm if it is still at Wimbledon please?
MasterPhillips
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Off topic slightly but does the agreement of Driver open Guard close apply to other SWR stock or just the 701s.
Would be good, as some guards seem to take an age to open the doors. See recent articles by Ian Walmsley in Morden railways magazine who timed it on the class 350s which are pretty much the same as the class 450/444.
Would be good, as some guards seem to take an age to open the doors. See recent articles by Ian Walmsley in Morden railways magazine who timed it on the class 350s which are pretty much the same as the class 450/444.
There are 16 x 701/5s stored at Bicester along with 10 x 701/0 (701009/15/20/21/24/27/40/54/55/56): They have not (yet) swopped these over like the ones at Long Marston.
NSEWonderer
Established Member
455s no clue, I'd expect not as they'll still need to be driven till they're actually gone
Peter Sarf
Established Member
My bold. Could that mean that the units at Bicester are less ready for acceptance/service ?.
mansonlo49
Member
thx，wonder what is the difference between them and the one at LM，Those stores at Bicester don’t move around
I make it 11 units (all 701/0) at Marchwood and these HAVE been changed over.
43096
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It's really to do with the failure to address performance issues with the Weybridge services so the "solution" has been to have the Weybridge run ahead of the Reading. That is not a solution, it is a cop-out. The improved performace of the 701s ought to allow the former timetable to be reinstated.