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

[Goldfish62]

The first proper Reading diagram should go over to 701 from next week, replacing an 8-455 diagram.

2C07 0550 Waterloo to Reading
2C18 0739 Reading to Waterloo
2C21 0920 Waterloo to Reading
2C32 1109 Reading to Waterloo
2C35 1250 Waterloo to Reading
2C46 1439 Reading to Waterloo
2C49 1620 Waterloo to Reading
2C60 1809 Reading to Waterloo
2C63 1950 Waterloo to Reading
2C74 2139 Reading to Waterloo
2O75 2330 Waterloo to Kingston

Woohoo!

 

[SWT_USER]

I'm pleased for passengers on the Reading route as they really suffered under SWR, but selfishly it's really disappointing that Windsor services are having a capacity cut with a 701 diagram being removed.

 

[swr444]

I'm pleased for passengers on the Reading route as they really suffered under SWR, but selfishly it's really disappointing that Windsor services are having a capacity cut with a 701 diagram being removed.

It’s either an 8-458 on reading or Windsor! They’ll keep the 458s in service until the 455s are phased out so I’d expect the Windsor route to keep them for the foreseeable future.

 

[nctd2306]

I'm pleased for passengers on the Reading route as they really suffered under SWR, but selfishly it's really disappointing that Windsor services are having a capacity cut with a 701 diagram being removed.

I feel sorry for regular users of 2U16 and it's diagram, this was a 701 before switching to an 8-458. Unfortunately this service for whatever reason seems to be very commonly short formed when there aren't enough 458/4s (which is most days now)
Today it was cancelled entirely "due to a train fault"
That means everyone piles onto the already packed 2C18 from Staines (very good news that becomes a 701 from next week!)

 

[Siemens Staines]

I feel sorry for regular users of 2U16 and it's diagram, this was a 701 before switching to an 8-458. Unfortunately this service for whatever reason seems to be very commonly short formed when there aren't enough 458/4s (which is most days now)

It is a month now, 09/06/25, since all 27 458 diagrams of both varieties were covered by 458s and on that day it was only until the 458/5s failed at Surbiton on 2J16 0753 Hampton Court - Waterloo. Prior to that, the previous date when all 27 diagrams were covered by 458s was 29/05/25. From this, it would appear that the demands on the 458 fleet is too tough. So I am a little surprised that a diagram like 2U16 has not been given greater priority to revert to 701 but there may be other reasons why that is not possible.

 

[WWTownEnth]

Do we yet have any plans for further 701 diagrams beyond mid July and into August?

 

[norbitonflyer]

If the allocation data to RTT is correct, 701018 should be new to passenger service today
2U15 0754 Clapham Junction to Windsor & Eton Riverside

Realtime Trains | 2U15 0754 Clapham Junction to Windsor & Eton Riverside | 06/07/2025

Real-time train running information for 2U15 0754 departure from Clapham Junction to Windsor & Eton Riverside on 06/07/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

This is curious - it would be unusual to put a new unit in service for the first time on a Sunday.
And 018 does not appear to have been used on any of the regular weekday diagrams since then.

 

[NSEWonderer]

This is curious - it would be unusual to put a new unit in service for the first time on a Sunday.
And 018 does not appear to have been used on any of the regular weekday diagrams since then.

It was in service for majority of that day, probably deputised for another unit. Personally rode it myself when passing back to Waterloo.

 

[Siemens Staines]

This is curious - it would be unusual to put a new unit in service for the first time on a Sunday.
And 018 does not appear to have been used on any of the regular weekday diagrams since then.

What is even more curious is that, if the allocation was correct, 701018 appears to have ended at Strawberry Hill on Sunday night;

2V71 2320 London Waterloo to Kingston & 5V71 0031 Kingston to Strawberry Hill C.S.D.

Realtime Trains | 2V71 2320 London Waterloo to Kingston | 06/07/2025

Real-time train running information for 2V71 2320 departure from London Waterloo to Kingston on 06/07/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

but 701018 was not one of the three 701s that started from Strawberry Hill on Monday morning. Perhaps it is being used for static training?

 

[NSEWonderer]

What is even more curious is that, if the allocation was correct, 701018 appears to have ended at Strawberry Hill on Sunday night;

2V71 2320 London Waterloo to Kingston & 5V71 0031 Kingston to Strawberry Hill C.S.D.

Realtime Trains | 2V71 2320 London Waterloo to Kingston | 06/07/2025

Real-time train running information for 2V71 2320 departure from London Waterloo to Kingston on 06/07/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

but 701018 was not one of the three 701s that started from Strawberry Hill on Monday morning. Perhaps it is being used for static training?

It started from Strawverry Hill as 5U15 around 07:13 am then Clapham Junction to Windsor as 2U15 on Sunday Morning. Remainded in passenger service for most of that day.

As far as im aware it is still suppose to be berthed at Strawberry Hill Depot.

 

[Stephen42]

What is even more curious is that, if the allocation was correct, 701018 appears to have ended at Strawberry Hill on Sunday night;

2V71 2320 London Waterloo to Kingston & 5V71 0031 Kingston to Strawberry Hill C.S.D.

Realtime Trains | 2V71 2320 London Waterloo to Kingston | 06/07/2025

Real-time train running information for 2V71 2320 departure from London Waterloo to Kingston on 06/07/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

but 701018 was not one of the three 701s that started from Strawberry Hill on Monday morning. Perhaps it is being used for static training?

It would be unusual to put a training unit into public service for a day, particularly with three other 701s to pick from in the same depot (unless some short notice workings missing from RTT). Not clear from RTT how 701018 got there, possibly from Farnham on Friday which doesn't have an allocation displayed.

More likely it's an operationally convenient place out of the way where the unit can be easily retrieved when required for passenger service. With 12 from 13 at the moment and another diagram starting next week assume another unit would join the mix soon, though no idea whether 701018 or another unit that hasn't done any passenger services so far.

Edit: 10th July 5U45 was modified to start from Strawberry Hill and 701018 then picked up the usual services, ending at Feltham Depot so should be out tomorrow as well.

 

[swtrains]

All this week 2H77 and 2K77 (both 701 operated) are terminating at Surbiton with rail replacement buses to continue on from there. Why?

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L50380/2025-07-10/detailed#allox_id=0

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L50866/2025-07-09/detailed#allox_id=0

 

[swr444]

All this week 2H77 and 2K77 (both 701 operated) are terminating at Surbiton with rail replacement buses to continue on from there. Why?

It’ll be engineering works

 

[Tirov]

Todays London Waterloo Visitors so far!

017 018 025 031 034 037 039 041 042 043 044 046 12

 

[ejx2]

Can someone remind me when the current timetable ends? I'm hoping we're going to get some more 701 diagrams in the next timetable.

 

[swr444]

Can someone remind me when the current timetable ends? I'm hoping we're going to get some more 701 diagrams in the next timetable.

End of July. But the 701s will just be phased in where they can from now onwards it seems

 

[Bald Rick]

Can someone remind me when the current timetable ends? I'm hoping we're going to get some more 701 diagrams in the next timetable.

Depends what you mean by “current timetable”.

But in official timetable process, the current timetable ends on Saturday 13 December.

 

[Nimbus020]

2D90 is an 8-car 455 formation today (not the usual 701)

 

[Dstock7080]

Depends what you mean by “current timetable”.

But in official timetable process, the current timetable ends on Saturday 13 December.

There is a temporary summer SWR timetable 28 July-29 August for the Barnes bridge closure.
correction:
no changes until 13 December
(Information taken from SWR website)

 

[Goldfish62]

701034 is doing the honours on the first all-day Reading line diagram today.

 

[norbitonflyer]

701034 is doing the honours on the first all-day Reading line diagram today.

That diagram starts with 2C07. I thought the first Reading diagram was to have been 2c05, which is operated by 2x455 today.

2J92 is shown on RTT as 701051, first outing in public service for that unit

 

[nctd2306]

That diagram starts with 2C07. I thought the first Reading diagram was to have been 2c05, which is operated by 2x455 today.

2C07 was one of the all day 455 diagrams, probably better to replace that first as the 2C05 455s only do one round trip before a 450 pair takes over the diagram.

 

[Goldfish62]

That diagram starts with 2C07. I thought the first Reading diagram was to have been 2c05, which is operated by 2x455 today.

2J92 is shown on RTT as 701051, first outing in public service for that unit

See post #13,947

 

[Bigfoot]

There is a temporary summer SWR timetable 28 July-29 August for the Barnes bridge closure.

Off topic, but there's no month long closure. 23-29 August, yes, with usual STP arrangements. Certainly not a 'temporary summer timetable'.

 

[swr444]

Off topic, but there's no month long closure. 23-29 August, yes, with usual STP arrangements. Certainly not a 'temporary summer timetable'.

There are changes from the 25th July, which will most likely be another re-shuffle of units and formations. But as you said, nothing to do with Barnes bridge

 

[NSEWonderer]

So far 051, 056 and 018 ive seen regularly being used for training and testing, id be expecting one of those to unless 028 is suddenly freed up and pushed into passeger service.

Only leaves 056 out of the trio.

 

[Bigfoot]

There are changes from the 25th July, which will most likely be another re-shuffle of units and formations. But as you said, nothing to do with Barnes bridge

Amended diagrams start on the 20th with the 8 weekly PA

 

[NSEWonderer]

701051, About to depart as the 17:43 Shepperton Service

 

[davews]

Had a run on 2C21 034 this morning Martins Heron to Bracknell.



I noticed that there is nothing about short platforms (Winnersh, Winnersh Triangle and Early) on the in-train PIS (coach 5) whereas it is shown on the station PIS. Also the PIS is rather repetitive and there is nothing to distinguish 'the next station is....' played after you leave a station and 'the next station is...' as you are approaching that station. 'We are now approaching Earley' would be rather better. Overall though a positive experience

 

[Goldfish62]

Had a run on 2C21 034 this morning Martins Heron to Bracknell.

View attachment 183951View attachment 183952

I noticed that there is nothing about short platforms (Winnersh, Winnersh Triangle and Early) on the in-train PIS (coach 5) whereas it is shown on the station PIS.

As with the 444s and 450s and all recent trains the short platform advice will only play in those affected coaches, ie 9, 10.