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

[markle]

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.

Personally speaking on commuter services where people rarely stay on for more than 20-30 mins I would far rather a blast of cool air on the train after breaking out a sweat walking to the station in the heat.

 

[D365]

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

Some units are still being tested by Alstom.

 

[swtrains]

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.

1Z21 is 701044

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:Q57801/2025-06-17/detailed#allox_id=0

 

[Stephen42]

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.

I'd expect 2C68 2029 Reading to Waterloo to also be a 701, it follows on from 2V53 which is usually 701 operated. It's not allocated yet as that diagram goes into Wimbledon Park between peaks and different unit can do the second half.

 

[Goldfish62]

1Z21 is 701044

Thanks for the correction. Typo on my part.

 

[NCT]

Personally speaking on commuter services where people rarely stay on for more than 20-30 mins I would far rather a blast of cool air on the train after breaking out a sweat walking to the station in the heat.

That screams cardio vascular risk.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Only nine this morning. 2J92 (surbiton peakbuster) is not running this week because to release stock for Ascot extras.

 

[NSEWonderer]

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.

1Z21 Waterloo To Bracknell seems to be 701044 rather than 701042

 

[43096]

That screams cardio vascular risk.

No it screams I want a nice cool train to travel on.

 

[Goldfish62]

1Z21 Waterloo To Bracknell seems to be 701044 rather than 701042

Yes, as per my post above stating that I made a typo.

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Only nine this morning. 2J92 (surbiton peakbuster) is not running this week because to release stock for Ascot extras.

So nine of the scheduled nine for today?

 

[mansonlo49]

Some units are still being tested by Alstom.

thanks i see and some units went into long time storage will have to go back to Alstom is it? Thanks

 

[TEW]

Yes, as per my post above stating that I made a typo.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Jun 2025 ==


So nine of the scheduled nine for today?

A 10th is still booked to come out this evening.

 

[Goldfish62]

That screams cardio vascular risk.

If that was the case then you've probably already got a serious heart condition, with being subjected to any hot weather being a mortal risk.

 

[markle]

That screams cardio vascular risk.

Cardio health is fine thanks, cycled 100km on Sunday. But thanks for your concern.

More a reflection of a 15 min walk in blazing sun in a suit and tie.

Similarly for anyone changing off the blazing heat on the tube at Waterloo / Vauxhall, a blast of AC is very welcome.

 

[FRSZMZ56]

That screams cardio vascular risk.

What an odd thing to say

 

[nctd2306]

Back on topic, 701036 is now showing as working 2C68 later, making it the third unit in service on the Reading line

 

[NCT]

Last post from me on this topic -

It's not the absolute temperature, but the rapid change in temperatures. A sudden reduction in temperature causes a rapid increase in heart rates. It's not a biggie for a young and fit person with no underlying cardiovascular conditions, but the railway should be inclusive to those with such conditions.

You are supposed to cool down before taking a cold shower. Think of a train journey as that cooling down period (which works for everyone) rather than the cold shower (which only works for a subset of the population).

 

[bb21]

Any more 701s ready to enter service soon? With 1037 out of service as mentioned above, if another diagram starts on Monday then I make that 10 diagrams from 10 units-pretty unrealistic?

There are now 12 sets authorised for passenger service, so two spares.

 

[norbitonflyer]

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

Now 456 - will certainly make it to 458!

 

[Goldfish62]

Back on topic, 701036 is now showing as working 2C68 later, making it the third unit in service on the Reading line

Thanks - I'll keep a look out for it!

 

[alanc]

Todays 5q76 is 69009 from Bicester to Wimbledon with 701520 and 701522 in tow
HTH
Alan

 

[swtrains]

701037 failure with traction equipment earlier today at Clapham (2J31).

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L50551/2025-06-17/detailed

 

[mansonlo49]

Todays 5q76 is 69009 from Bicester to Wimbledon with 701520 and 701522 in tow
HTH
Alan

Units at Bicester just come out, different to those stored at Long Marston, which will shuffle between some period of time

 

[WWTownEnth]

There are now 12 sets authorised for passenger service, so two spares.

Any idea how regularly additional units are being cleared for passenger service? Presumably at some point a shortage of units is likely to become the pinch point in the rollout (rather than the shortage of trained crew which is the main issue right now)?

 

[norbitonflyer]

701037 failure with traction equipment earlier today at Clapham (2J31).

looks like 701041 took over the diagram from 2j47 at 1636. This is, i think, its first time in passenger service

And means that today tghere were eleven units in service, although not all at the same time

 

[Goldfish62]

Any idea how regularly additional units are being cleared for passenger service? Presumably at some point a shortage of units is likely to become the pinch point in the rollout (rather than the shortage of trained crew which is the main issue right now)?

And if they do run out of trains you'd then have to ask what exactly has been done since January 2024 to commission units for passenger service. At that time training and unit introduction was expected to be full steam ahead and was only scuppered by disputes over the training.

 

[D365]

And if they do run out of trains you'd then have to ask what exactly has been done since January 2024 to commission units for passenger service. At that time training and unit introduction was expected to be full steam ahead and was only scuppered by disputes over the training.

Until very recently there were still ongoing "behind the scenes" disputes regarding the acceptance of units for driver training and acceptance for passenger service.

 

[swtrains]

Today's testing:

5T91 - Waterloo - Shepperton - goes via Richmond.
5T92 - Shepperton - Clapham Yard - goes via Wimbledon, finishing at 1AM.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:Q57858/2025-06-17/detailed

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:Q57857/2025-06-17/detailed

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Jun 2025 ==

And means that today tghere were eleven units in service, although not all at the same time

Correct!

 

[lookapigeon]

Average commuter here, having a glimpse into the future of what it could be like by having a 701 for both the outward and return journey the other day.
All very smooth and nice journey, whilst a touch warm on the inside some airconditioning is better than none (455s) or some carriages not working at all (458s, and it's night and day if you've picked the wrong carriage to sit in), and modern facilities like toilets and at seat power will make a difference for people's comfort.
It does feel as if they've picked up the pace of the rollout, I got into Waterloo the other day and all around I could see were many 701 sets.

 

[Goldfish62]

Until very recently there were still ongoing "behind the scenes" disputes regarding the acceptance of units for driver training and acceptance for passenger service.

Has resolution of these disputes meant that yet more mods need to be carried out on the units then? What about the ones that were already accepted for service back last year?