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

[nctd2306]

And onto page 458 we go!
Thank you to those up thread who replied about 1001, I hope it doesn't take too long to enter service, I always find something about the 001 unit in a class to be quite satisfying!

 

[norbitonflyer]

I would be very surprised if a rollout plan right through to full introduction hasn't already been devised.

There have probably been many since 2019! We are probably at Plan W by now. No point in publishing Plan X yet - it may not happen.

 

[mansonlo49]

Last I knew of 701001 it was still at Derby. Isn't uncommon for the first unit to often be one of the last to appear, mostly due to it being used as a test bed unit, which then once all is good then gets completed(assuming its feasible to and not another unit built instead like the current Victoria stock had)

think the 701 units 501 and 502 were also the special testing units too, which without carriage and unit numbers, also non standard livery, and without seats installed too

 

[Goldfish62]

There have probably been many since 2019! We are probably at Plan W by now. No point in publishing Plan X yet - it may not happen.

You know something the rest of us don't???

 

[mansonlo49]

Saw a path like this just now, what unit would it be? Thanks for information

 

[Devonman2014]

That was the status yesterday, yes, 15x 10 car and 4x 5-cars

701.006,7,8,10,11,30,33,45,48,49,50,52,55,59,60
701.512,19 + 2 hidden

The hidden ones were gettable from the other end down by the ROBEL maintenance train

Behind 512 was 517 and behind 519 was 509

Photo of other end of units attached

Could also get the other 769’s as well

Notice you didn’t log 701023 which was stored far end of site with Mk 5’s , got it with binos….

 

[norbitonflyer]

You know something the rest of us don't???

Not at all - but we've had so many promises of N units in service by Y month, with presumably a plan as to how that would come to pass, but Y month then coming and going but no more units in service.

 

[Stephen42]

Testing and training, coupling and uncoupling? Rather than stuck in a siding?

There's been a trend of units coming out of Bicester. Wimbledon receives them, probably with some maintenance attention and then often sent elsewhere. There are 701/5s available at Clapham Yard already and no plans to imminently bring the 701/5s into service. Stock rotation and possibly a desire to reduce the number of storage locations now the 701 rollout is in full swing.

Not at all - but we've had so many promises of N units in service by Y month, with presumably a plan as to how that would come to pass, but Y month then coming and going but no more units in service.

While the timelines may have slipped, comparing the November press release and the long term plan diagrams the services to be introduced have remained the same with the dates changing as key dependencies weren't in place. With the extra diagram next week that would be 4 diagrams behind the November press release as things stand. It's possible they might diverge from the previous sequencing if the change in training/unit pipeline makes that worthwhile.

 

[Snow1964]

There's been a trend of units coming out of Bicester. Wimbledon receives them, probably with some maintenance attention and then often sent elsewhere. There are 701/5s available at Clapham Yard already and no plans to imminently bring the 701/5s into service. Stock rotation and possibly a desire to reduce the number of storage locations now the 701 rollout is in full swing.

The 701/5s are lot easier to store on SWR metals, there are a number of sidings that can hold 5car (and upto 8car) that cannot fit a 10car unit.

As an example Wimbledon Park (not the current big Wimbledon depot on site of former Durnsford Road power station) was originally built when 3car units were common, and some sidings were originally only expected to hold 6car formations.

Parking /storing lots of 5car units end to end on long electrified sidings reduces the number of sidings available for 10car units. As there are some sidings which simply cannot fit a 10car unit, which limits number available to use. (I am not sure what longer term plan is for these shorter sidings, if intention is to mainly operate trains as fixed 10car going forward)

 

[Goldfish62]

Had the pleasure of my first trip from Reading yesterday, on 701017 on the 1909 from Reading.

Trains invariably lose a minute or two by Bracknell. Not this one though! The driver was clearly very confident with it. Very "robust" braking at stations and instantaneous door release, coupled with good acceleration meant we actually had to wait time at nearly every station.

As regards the aircon, I'd agree it's not chilliest, but still better than the 450s.

 

[Robert Carroll]

I travelled home from work yesterday on the 18:09 from Waterloo to Guildford via Epsom, which was a 701. Standing at Waterloo with the doors open, it was hot inside the unit but by the time we departed from Vauxhall the temperature and conditions inside were good. Not too cold and not to hot. I think if anything the rather dim interior lighting is more of an issue than the air-con, which seems fine to me.

 

[Goldfish62]

I think if anything the rather dim interior lighting is more of an issue than the air-con, which seems fine to me.

There's often a lot of justifiable criticism of lighting being too bright and harsh on modern trains so I think it's good that it has been toned down. If you want to see what really dim lighting looks like, though, travel on a Class 345.

 

[OneTrackMinded]

Hopefully the AC temperature will be addressed in the next software update. It was definitely better last year so clearly something has changed.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Jun 2025 ==

Has anyone else noticed the strange noise 701s make when the AC turns itself on? It comes from the centre of the carriage and starts as an air releasing noise and then an electrical humming. It turns itself off when the target temperature is met and then starts again when required. It’s quite loud and off putting for an otherwise quiet and modern sounding train.

I’ve attached a video below:

 

[Goldfish62]

Has anyone else noticed the strange noise 701s make when the AC turns itself on? It comes from the centre of the carriage and starts as an air releasing noise and then an electrical humming. It turns itself off when the target temperature is met and then starts again when required. It’s quite loud and off putting for an otherwise quiet and modern sounding train.

I’ve attached a video below:

No different to 458s where the sound of the chiller kicking in is very noticeable.

 

[OneTrackMinded]

No different to 458s where the sound of the chiller kicking in is very noticeable.

Can’t remember if such a noise was present on the 707s. Might be a sign of a cheap AC system if it wasn’t.

 

[FirstclassHST]

Can’t remember if such a noise was present on the 707s. Might be a sign of a cheap AC system if it wasn’t.

Sound happens on the class 345s as well it’s normal I guess for the family of trains

 

[Robert Carroll]

There's often a lot of justifiable criticism of lighting being too bright and harsh on modern trains so I think it's good that it has been toned down. If you want to see what really dim lighting looks like, though, travel on a Class 345.

Possibly toned down a bit too much. I find the ends of the carriages by the gangway rather dark. I have not noticed any issues with 345s but have been on them in open sections of line (as opposed to tunnels) fairly infrequently. Overall I think the 701s are pretty decent as suburban trains.

 

[OneTrackMinded]

There's often a lot of justifiable criticism of lighting being too bright and harsh on modern trains so I think it's good that it has been toned down. If you want to see what really dim lighting looks like, though, travel on a Class 345.

I agree, I quite like the interior ambience in general. I think the lighting situation is helped by the grey walls which are less harsh than the traditional white ones. Same technique employed on the 345s and 710s.

 

[Dr_Intoxicated]

701 from Twickenham to Feltham this lunchtime, running late due to staffing issues but air con was fine

 

[OneTrackMinded]

701 from Twickenham to Feltham this lunchtime, running late due to staffing issues but air con was fine

Yes the internal temperature seemed fine to me today.

 

[DavidRail]

701044 WAT - Bracknell this morning, diverted Windsor service for Royal Ascot. Non standard stopping pattern, so no auto announcements and screens just displaying the time. Surely when a non standard service is being operated, that's when information is most important?

 

[43096]

701044 WAT - Bracknell this morning, diverted Windsor service for Royal Ascot. Non standard stopping pattern, so no auto announcements and screens just displaying the time. Surely when a non standard service is being operated, that's when information is most important?

Agreed, that's when it is most important. There's not really an excuse with "digital trains" - I can see different stopping patterns on an app on my phone, but the supposedly connected train is still rooted in 2005.

 

[Fincra5]

701044 WAT - Bracknell this morning, diverted Windsor service for Royal Ascot. Non standard stopping pattern, so no auto announcements and screens just displaying the time. Surely when a non standard service is being operated, that's when information is most important?

Depends what PIS system the train uses and if a Code is programmed or available for such a Stopping Pattern...
If not, then the Guard or Driver should be making PAs.

 

[Goldfish62]

701044 WAT - Bracknell this morning, diverted Windsor service for Royal Ascot. Non standard stopping pattern, so no auto announcements and screens just displaying the time. Surely when a non standard service is being operated, that's when information is most important?

You'd expect it to be able to display / announce any non-standard stopping pattern. All modern stock is set up that way in order to comply fully with the relevant regulations. Existing SWR stock have very primitive PI systems.

On my first trip on a 701 early last year the train couldn't stop at Sunnymedes due to flooding so the driver edited it out of the stopping pattern.

 

[swr444]

You'd expect it to be able to display / announce any non-standard stopping pattern. All modern stock is set up that way in order to comply fully with the relevant regulations. Existing SWR stock have very primitive PI systems.

On my first trip on a 701 early last year the train couldn't stop at Sunnymedes due to flooding so the driver edited it out of the stopping pattern.

it's strange as the calling pattern is now set up by putting the headcode in, which has the correct calling pattern. maybe this wasn't inputted properly or the headcode wasn't registering

 

[Goldfish62]

it's strange as the calling pattern is now set up by putting the headcode in, which has the correct calling pattern. maybe this wasn't inputted properly or the headcode wasn't registering

Yes, that's reminds me of what a friend who drives IETs said. Stick in the headcode and the calling pattern is automatically generated.

 

[NSEWonderer]

it's strange as the calling pattern is now set up by putting the headcode in, which has the correct calling pattern. maybe this wasn't inputted properly or the headcode wasn't registering

Yeah if its a Non standard headcode which the Bracknells are using 1Zs then the PIS on the 701 wont be generated. PIS destination information is only initially generated by the headcode being inputted, then driver can modify the station pattern after.

Not really a major issue, as with other stock the Guard just has to announce the calling pattern. Potentially later down the line there will be a manual PIS Destination button and input incase a manual adjustment is needed.

 

[Goldfish62]

Not really a major issue, as with other stock the Guard just has to announce the calling pattern. Potentially later down the line there will be a manual PIS Destination button and input incase a manual adjustment is needed.

I'm sure all stock built after a certain date when PRM TSI superceded RVAR must be able to display the calling pattern and next stops for non-standard services and unscheduled diversions, so it will be a major issue if it's not addressed.

 

[Ian Hardy]

A cynical reason may explain why the PIS do not show correct details on special or diverted services, is that the person's (guard or driver) union wants an extra payment for operating the system in this situation and the TOCs have said go away to the union. Therefore only the proactive member's of rail staff say sod the union, it is more important that the correct information is displayed and try to set the PIS correctly, but only a minority of staff think like that.

 

[Bigfoot]

A cynical reason may explain why the PIS do not show correct details on special or diverted services, is that the person's (guard or driver) union wants an extra payment for operating the system in this situation and the TOCs have said go away to the union. Therefore only the proactive member's of rail staff say sod the union, it is more important that the correct information is displayed and try to set the PIS correctly, but only a minority of staff think like that.

The pis functionality is part of the training course for the crew on a 701, so this is not the case here.