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

[pokemonsuper9]

So the first entry to service of Class 701 (according to Wikipedia) was the 9/1/24 - that was a 701/0 unit, yes?

Can anyone in here provide me with the date of first entry to service of subclass 701/5, please?

They haven't yet.

 

[tfw756rider]

They haven't yet.

Ah, thanks. I thought they had started to for some reason.

 

[Peter Wilde]

Yey! Here we are on page 455 and those are still - just about - with us ….

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Yey! Here we are on page 455 and those are still - just about - with us ….

Yes how ironic

 

[markle]

Having made several 701 journeys in recent days, the AC is quite underwhelming, e.g. when compared to the 707s that SWR used to run.

Is this an operator settings issue or a more fundamental issue with the trains?

 

[norbitonflyer]

Ten in service this morning, which I think is a record - 701043 being the only one of the usual suspects that is missing.

701037 back in service for the first time since June 5th.

New diagram starting with 2D90, operated today by 701017

Is there a reason why all but one of the units that have entered passenger service so far are in such a limited range (701031-46)?

 

[D365]

Is there a reason why all but one of the units that have entered passenger service so far are in such a limited range (701031-46)?

These are the units which are in a suitable condition (modifications wise) to be accepted for passenger service.

 

[Goldfish62]

Having made several 701 journeys in recent days, the AC is quite underwhelming, e.g. when compared to the 707s that SWR used to run.

Is this an operator settings issue or a more fundamental issue with the trains?

I've yet to travel on a 701 in hot weather, but on the 345s and 710s the aircon isn't exactly chilled. But still better than the 444s and 450s!

 

[kw12]

Is there a reason why all but one of the units that have entered passenger service so far are in such a limited range (701031-46)?

These are the units which are in a suitable condition (modifications wise) to be accepted for passenger service.

Yes, but is there are a reason why all these units are in the limited range 701031-46? Why do none of the suitable units have numbers outside this limited range?

 

[OneTrackMinded]

Having made several 701 journeys in recent days, the AC is quite underwhelming, e.g. when compared to the 707s that SWR used to run.

Is this an operator settings issue or a more fundamental issue with the trains?

I've yet to travel on a 701 in hot weather, but on the 345s and 710s the aircon isn't exactly chilled. But still better than the 444s and 450s!

I was always under the impression that Aventras had unusually good AC compared to basically any other train. I remember when the 345s first entered service, people would say that they were too cold at times.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Yes, but is there are a reason why all these units are in the limited range 701031-46? Why do none of the suitable units have numbers outside this limited range?

Possibly because these units were built with some modification to the design for which the earlier ones will have to be retro-fitted, and the later ones are not yet run-in? (Maybe 701017 was the test bed for the modification?)

 

[Big Jumby 74]

Having made several 701 journeys in recent days, the AC is quite underwhelming, e.g. when compared to the 707s that SWR used to run.

Is this an operator settings issue or a more fundamental issue with the trains?

Whilst I am too long out of things, lets just say even in early Desiro days (so 20 years ago) there were traction supply issues in certain areas that meant 444/450 couldn't be used to their full potential. This was addressed to a point at the time with uprated/new substations I believe, and doubling up of power supply cables to the third rail at many places. You may see this on the conductor rail where the cables are attached, there will most likely be two cables at the same place, whereas in old slam doors days, just one cable was sufficient.
Given the advent of AC and all the other on board electronic systems, this will obviously have a greater impact on traction current supply at a base level.
People on here have commented often about the superior acceleration of the 701's over previous types, and that is with only a handful in service. You may understand where I'm going with this - when all 701's are in service, what impact will that have on traction supply, and what compromises might be required? We can only watch this space I guess?

 

[swtrains]

Today's testing:

5T91 - Clapham Yard - Clapham Yard - goes to Waterloo, then down to Chessington South, reverses, goes to Wimbledon P6, reverses, goes to Effingham Junction via Cobham, reverses, and heads back to the Yard via Cobham finishing at 1AM.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:Q57859/2025-06-16/detailed

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Jun 2025 ==

Having made several 701 journeys in recent days, the AC is quite underwhelming, e.g. when compared to the 707s that SWR used to run.

Is this an operator settings issue or a more fundamental issue with the trains?

Thought I was imagining it, especially compared to the 707s.

 

[NSEWonderer]

Whilst I am too long out of things, lets just say even in early Desiro days (so 20 years ago) there were traction supply issues in certain areas that meant 444/450 couldn't be used to their full potential. This was addressed to a point at the time with uprated/new substations I believe, and doubling up of power supply cables to the third rail at many places. You may see this on the conductor rail where the cables are attached, there will most likely be two cables at the same place, whereas in old slam doors days, just one cable was sufficient.
Given the advent of AC and all the other on board electronic systems, this will obviously have a greater impact on traction current supply at a base level.
People on here have commented often about the superior acceleration of the 701's over previous types, and that is with only a handful in service. You may understand where I'm going with this - when all 701's are in service, what impact will that have on traction supply, and what compromises might be required? We can only watch this space I guess?

Still cant use Desiros to their full potential but I assume more so now its due to maintenance reasons as they're doing quite well, derated. AC and other auxiliary systems are fine tho. 701s will be fine traction wise. They only pull hard up to about 30ish mph then it starts to taper out. They're much more energy efficent than the older and heavier Desiros of which still only give, full requested traction at 100% pbc till about 15mph before falling back to about 50% on 450 and 75% on 444.

 

[nlogax]

Never expected this thread to reach 455 pages. If it gets to 701 pages then something has gone horribly, horribly wrong.

 

[swtrains]

Never expected this thread to reach 455 pages. If it gets to 701 pages then something has gone horribly, horribly wrong.

Think we're way past that point

 

[OneTrackMinded]

Today's testing:

5T91 - Clapham Yard - Clapham Yard - goes to Waterloo, then down to Chessington South, reverses, goes to Wimbledon P6, reverses, goes to Effingham Junction via Cobham, reverses, and heads back to the Yard via Cobham finishing at 1AM.



== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Jun 2025 ==


Thought I was imagining it, especially compared to the 707s.

There must be something specifically wrong with the 701s AC compared to other Aventras. This is not a train family wide issue.

 

[Goldfish62]

There must be something specifically wrong with the 701s AC compared to other Aventras. This is not a train family wide issue.

Or maybe it's just the setting.

I find the 450's A/C to be not nearly cool enough, but I doubt if there's anything fundamentally wrong with it. It's just the setting.

 

[swr444]

I believe they’re all “set” at 22 degrees

 

[Goldfish62]

I believe they’re all “set” at 22 degrees

A bit on the warm side, for me anyway.

 

[43096]

A bit on the warm side, for me anyway.

Agreed. They should really be adjusted between summer and winter: 22degC in winter (you want a "wall of warm" when you get on in Winter) and 20degC in summer (a "wall of cool").

 

[absolutelymilk]

Agreed. They should really be adjusted between summer and winter: 22degC in winter (you want a "wall of warm" when you get on in Winter) and 20degC in summer (a "wall of cool").

I'd say the opposite - people wear much heavier clothes in winter so it's fine to have it a bit cooler!

 

[43096]

I'd say the opposite - people wear much heavier clothes in winter so it's fine to have it a bit cooler!

Definitely not - it’s a psychological reaction as to how the body reacts to the change in temperature.

 

[NCT]

I'd say the opposite - people wear much heavier clothes in winter so it's fine to have it a bit cooler!

Exactly. It's not practical to take off your winter coat on a crowded commuter train. On a hot summer's day you don't want people to wish you'd carried a jacket with them. In a temperate climate like Britain's too high a temperature difference between outside and inside is bad for health.

 

[Gateline7842]

5Q86 00:55 Twickenham - Barnes
701508

Realtime Trains | 5Q86 0055 Twickenham to Barnes | 17/06/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q86 0055 departure from Twickenham to Barnes on 17/06/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[swr444]

5Q86 00:55 Twickenham - Barnes
701508

Realtime Trains | 5Q86 0055 Twickenham to Barnes | 17/06/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q86 0055 departure from Twickenham to Barnes on 17/06/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Very odd, seems to be doing return trips all night

 

[bb21]

A few weeks ago I was listening to an Aventra engineer talk about recent modification and testing of the passenger doors on 345s. A physical modification to the door leaves was required, in conjunction with a software tweak, due to coffee cups and other detritus getting caught and preventing the door leaves from fully closing. Particularly in the Elizabeth line core.

There wasn’t any mention of an air systems being used for edge detection, but perhaps I don’t know the whole story.

These are two different issues. The one you mentioned relates to the door interlock switch AIUI.

 

[pompeyfan]

Very odd, seems to be doing return trips all night

It’s testing the ABDO, service is operated by GBRF.

 

[Goldfish62]

Looks like the honours go to 701042 for being the first 701 on a Reading to Waterloo service, operating 2C64 today, 1909 from Reading. It's formed from an extra starting from Ascot.

There's also 701042 on 1Z21, 0933 Waterloo to Bracknell and the corresponding return working, diverted from Windsor, but that appears to be it as regards 701s on Reading line services.

 

[mansonlo49]

It’s testing the ABDO, service is operated by GBRF.

operated by GBRF？so means thr 701 not handed over to SWR?