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

[wickham]

Present at Clapham Yard at 1100 today (14.07.25):
701005 701012 701013 701021 701056 701057 701058 701528 (and another behind - must be 701529):
701025 at Wimbledon.

 

[swtrains]

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

Good to know other people have noticed this as well. It's pointless.

 

[chalky80]

Is the seating arrangement entirely uniform across the full length of a 701?

For example is there a prime spot where equipment/features cause a modification in layout.

This question follows my first commute home on a 701 yesterday*, and spending most of the 50 minutes with my arm squeezed against the window side panel wasn't what I'd hoped for in new stock. I do understand why this has been done regarding aisle width and it's basically the same as 3+2 on a 450.

 

[lawried123]

Is the seating arrangement entirely uniform across the full length of a 701?

For example is there a prime spot where equipment/features cause a modification in layout.

This question follows my first commute home on a 701 yesterday*, and spending most of the 50 minutes with my arm squeezed against the window side panel wasn't what I'd hoped for in new stock. I do understand why this has been done regarding aisle width and it's basically the same as 3+2 on a 450.

Is the seating arrangement entirely uniform across the full length of a 701?

For example is there a prime spot where equipment/features cause a modification in layout.

This question follows my first commute home on a 701 yesterday*, and spending most of the 50 minutes with my arm squeezed against the window side panel wasn't what I'd hoped for in new stock. I do understand why this has been done regarding aisle width and it's basically the same as 3+2 on a 450.

I also made one of my first journeys on a 701 from Wokingham yesterday. I bought my usual cup of tea at the station only to find there are very few seats with little tables adjacent, the few that were there had already been taken. Why no seat back tables ?
And I agree with 'chalky80', it was so uncomfortable with my arm pressed up against the side panels. And when the train got busy, I had someone sitting squashed up against me as the seats are so close together.
I can understand these trains being suitable for shorter suburban journeys, but why on earth put them on longer journeys like the 1 hour 12 minutes to Wokingham.
Our service on the Reading line seems to be deteriorating, particularly with the hourly service in the evening. The show I went to last night finished at 9:30 and I had to wait at waterloo till 10:20 before I even started on my journey home, not arriving until around 11:30.

Lawrie

 

[WWTownEnth]

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

Any idea when details of these changes are likely to be published / known to those very helpful insiders who post on here?

 

[Bigfoot]

Any idea when details of these changes are likely to be published / known to those very helpful insiders who post on here?

It's all available already, mostly stock changes.

 

[TEW]

Next week's extra diagram;
2C05 0526 Waterloo to Reading
2C16 0709 Reading to Waterloo
2V45 1607 Waterloo to Waterloo via Brentford and Richmond
2C55 1750 Waterloo to Reading
2C66 1939 Reading to Waterloo
2C69 2120 Waterloo to Reading
2C80 2309 Reading to Waterloo

 

[Goldfish62]

Next week's extra diagram;
2C05 0526 Waterloo to Reading
2C16 0709 Reading to Waterloo
2V45 1607 Waterloo to Waterloo via Brentford and Richmond
2C55 1750 Waterloo to Reading
2C66 1939 Reading to Waterloo
2C69 2120 Waterloo to Reading
2C80 2309 Reading to Waterloo

Superb. 2C69 and 2C80 in particular have been 455-operated for at least a couple of years.

 

[kennythelad]

Noted at Eastleigh Airport sidings today were 701004/09/504/520/ 5??/5??. Any help with the last two would be appreciated,
Thanks

 

[hxxxh]

I was surprised to see one of these at Reading today!

 

[Meglos]

I also made one of my first journeys on a 701 from Wokingham yesterday. I bought my usual cup of tea at the station only to find there are very few seats with little tables adjacent, the few that were there had already been taken. Why no seat back tables ?
And I agree with 'chalky80', it was so uncomfortable with my arm pressed up against the side panels. And when the train got busy, I had someone sitting squashed up against me as the seats are so close together.
I can understand these trains being suitable for shorter suburban journeys, but why on earth put them on longer journeys like the 1 hour 12 minutes to Wokingham.
Our service on the Reading line seems to be deteriorating, particularly with the hourly service in the evening. The show I went to last night finished at 9:30 and I had to wait at waterloo till 10:20 before I even started on my journey home, not arriving until around 11:30.

Lawrie

The 701's were procured as direct replacements for the 455 fleet. Hence no First Class, no folding armrests, and no seat back tables. The vast majority of passenger journeys on the routes they will run on will by under 45 minutes (the outer stations in the Reading & Weybridge routes are the only notable exceptions), and there was felt to be no need for the expense of adding these things. The improvements we did gain are toilets, and air-conditioning.

Fold down tables (and fold down armrests) tend to get broken over time, especially on heavily used stock such as this, and this was seen as a good way to keep wear and tear repair costs down.

 

[norbitonflyer]

I was surprised to see one of these at Reading today!

The first regular Reading diagram for 701s started yesterday, so you will start seeing these now

 

[Snow1964]

The 701's were procured as direct replacements for the 455 fleet. Hence no First Class, no folding armrests, and no seat back tables. The vast majority of passenger journeys on the routes they will run on will by under 45 minutes (the outer stations in the Reading & Weybridge routes are the only notable exceptions)

45 minutes on just those two routes are bit of an underestimate, rather a lot of routes are over 45 minutes.

In morning peak hour :
Windsor & Eton Riverside - Waterloo is 60 minutes
Dorking - Waterloo is 60 minutes
Shepperton - (via Richmond) - Waterloo is 63 minutes
London Road Guildford - Waterloo is 62 mins

Ok, if once all converted, they use the power and chop 25% off the timetables (returning duration to nearer 1950s-70s timings) then maybe

 

[Goldfish62]

45 minutes on just those two routes are bit of an underestimate, rather a lot of routes are over 45 minutes.

In morning peak hour :
Windsor & Eton Riverside - Waterloo is 60 minutes
Dorking - Waterloo is 60 minutes
Shepperton - (via Richmond) - Waterloo is 63 minutes
London Road Guildford - Waterloo is 62 mins

Many typical journeys on Thameslink are longer and the trains have basically the same interior configuration as the 701s, but poorer-cushioned seats, no plug sockets and the majority of units have no tables whatsoever (apart from 1st Class).

Also on all the routes listed above the 707s operated and there seemed to be a view among many enthusiasts that they were the absolute bees knees despite fundamentally being no different from the 700s or 701s.

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

I also made one of my first journeys on a 701 from Wokingham yesterday. I bought my usual cup of tea at the station only to find there are very few seats with little tables adjacent, the few that were there had already been taken. Why no seat back tables ?
And I agree with 'chalky80', it was so uncomfortable with my arm pressed up against the side panels. And when the train got busy, I had someone sitting squashed up against me as the seats are so close together.
I can understand these trains being suitable for shorter suburban journeys, but why on earth put them on longer journeys like the 1 hour 12 minutes to Wokingham.
Our service on the Reading line seems to be deteriorating, particularly with the hourly service in the evening. The show I went to last night finished at 9:30 and I had to wait at waterloo till 10:20 before I even started on my journey home, not arriving until around 11:30.

Lawrie

I don't want to stray too off-topic, and I essentially agree about the state of the Reading line in the past few years, but really it pretty much lost its outer suburban status in the 2004 SWT timetable recast when all fast services became stoppers. This added some 15-20 minutes to some journeys. It was also SWT that introduced 455s on the route back in the late 90s.

 

[mansonlo49]

There’s two 701s movements from Derby today, one to Bicester and one to Wimbledon

update：5Q79 and 5Q43 both cancelled

 

[Meglos]

45 minutes on just those two routes are bit of an underestimate, rather a lot of routes are over 45 minutes.

In morning peak hour :
Windsor & Eton Riverside - Waterloo is 60 minutes
Dorking - Waterloo is 60 minutes
Shepperton - (via Richmond) - Waterloo is 63 minutes
London Road Guildford - Waterloo is 62 mins

Ok, if once all converted, they use the power and chop 25% off the timetables (returning duration to nearer 1950s-70s timings) then maybe

Yes the whole route is longer, but not many passengers travel the whole route, many will get on and off at intermediate stops. The trains are lot busier the closer the get into Waterloo. The average passenger journey time on the 455's was measured at 30-45 minutes.

 

[FRSZMZ56]

It's all available already, mostly stock changes.

Does this mean the 701s might be operating different diagrams? I can only find the diagrams up to 19th July on the SWR FOI site

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Sorry if I've missed this but why have 450s substituting for 455 diagrams when they can be used on Readings? This enables more 701s on metro work and 450s doing the more comfortable longer-distance work

 

[Nimbus020]

Many typical journeys on Thameslink are longer and the trains have basically the same interior configuration as the 701s, but poorer-cushioned seats, no plug sockets and the majority of units have no tables whatsoever (apart from 1st Class).

Also on all the routes listed above the 707s operated and there seemed to be a view among many enthusiasts that they were the absolute bees knees despite fundamentally being no different from the 700s or 701s.

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


I don't want to stray too off-topic, and I essentially agree about the state of the Reading line in the past few years, but really it pretty much lost its outer suburban status in the 2004 SWT timetable recast when all fast services became stoppers. This added some 15-20 minutes to some journeys. It was also SWT that introduced 455s on the route back in the late 90s.

Thanks - good point about the 707s - the SWT red livery / red seats inside made them seem a lot more vibrant than the comparatively 'drab' colours inside and out of the 700s & 701s - plus compared to the much older 455s, the 707s were "state of the art" (& you always had a sense of a lot more space inside) - plus they were also fantastic on hot days! (it was always worth aiming for a 707 on a summer peak time service from Waterloo!)

 

[Goldfish62]

Yes the whole route is longer, but not many passengers travel the whole route, many will get on and off at intermediate stops.

That's why I was at pains to not compare the whole route lengths. I'm fully aware that most people won't do the whole journey, but many passengers on Thameslink will still do an hour plus.

All I was trying to point out is that similarly equipped trains are used on longer distance journeys than the 701s. That's all.

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

Thanks - good point about the 707s - the SWT red livery / red seats inside made them seem a lot more vibrant than the comparatively 'drab' colours inside and out of the 700s & 701s - plus compared to the much older 455s, the 707s were "state of the art" (& you always had a sense of a lot more space inside) - plus they were also fantastic on hot days! (it was always worth aiming for a 707 on a summer peak time service from Waterloo!)

Personally I prefer the colour schemes of the 701s to both the 700s (bland!) and the SWT 707s (garish and outdated). The 707s look better now IMHO.

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

Sorry if I've missed this but why have 450s substituting for 455 diagrams when they can be used on Readings? This enables more 701s on metro work and 450s doing the more comfortable longer-distance work

The 455 diagrams on the Reading line have started moving over to 701s.

Bear in mind that back in 2019/2020 Reading was to be the first line to converted entirely to 701 operation.

 

[DelW]

Fold down tables (and fold down armrests) tend to get broken over time, especially on heavily used stock such as this, and this was seen as a good way to keep wear and tear repair costs down.

That doesn't have to be the case if suitable seats are used though. SWR's Desiros are over twenty years old, and in my experience it's still very rare to encounter broken seat-back tables. I don't encounter so many armrests, but when I'm on 444s, they're usually intact too.

 

[Goldfish62]

That doesn't have to be the case if suitable seats are used though. SWR's Desiros are over twenty years old, and in my experience it's still very rare to encounter broken seat-back tables. I don't encounter so many armrests, but when I'm on 444s, they're usually intact too.

Indeed, I've only ever seen one broken table on a 450. Also very rare on 458/0 and /5s, which had a much flimsier design than those on the 450s.

 

[Tirov]

Todays 13 Waterloo

017 018 025 031 034 035 039 041 042 043 044 046 051 13

 

[Nimbus020]

Todays 13 Waterloo

017 018 025 031 034 035 039 041 042 043 044 046 051 13

Thanks - interesting that 046 is currently working 2J54 from H Court to Waterloo but doesn't seem to be working the next part of its diagram (2D53 to Guildford) - maybe being taken out of service at Waterloo for some reason? (based on RTT anyway)

 

[swr444]

Thanks - interesting that 046 is currently working 2J54 from H Court to Waterloo but doesn't seem to working the next part of its diagram (2D53 to Guildford) - maybe being taken out of service at Waterloo for some reason? (based on RTT anyway)

seems to stop after 2J54 1734 off HMC and then pick up 2J65 at 2106 from WAT

 

[Nimbus020]

seems to stop after 2J54 1734 off HMC and then pick up 2J65 at 2106 from WAT

Thanks - well spotted! - 2D53 has been taken off RTT entirely today

 

[mansonlo49]

Noticed there’s a Bicester drag tomorrow, from Derby Litchurch Lane, think is the one which got cancelled today

 

[Siemens Staines]

Thanks - well spotted! - 2D53 has been taken off RTT entirely today

2D53 is on RTT, but you have to select CAN in detailed mode to find out that it is a VSTP cancellation;

Realtime Trains | 2D53 1809 London Waterloo to Guildford | 16/07/2025

Real-time train running information for 2D53 1809 departure from London Waterloo to Guildford on 16/07/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

From journeycheck

18:09 London Waterloo to Guildford due 19:19 will be cancelled.
19:45 Guildford to London Waterloo due 20:55 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:16/07/2025 16:11

 

[Nimbus020]

2D53 is on RTT, but you have to select CAN in detailed mode to find out that it is a VSTP cancellation;

Realtime Trains | 2D53 1809 London Waterloo to Guildford | 16/07/2025

Real-time train running information for 2D53 1809 departure from London Waterloo to Guildford on 16/07/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

From journeycheck

18:09 London Waterloo to Guildford due 19:19 will be cancelled.
19:45 Guildford to London Waterloo due 20:55 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:16/07/2025 16:11

Many thanks! - good to know about CAN!

 

[markle]

Is the seating arrangement entirely uniform across the full length of a 701?

For example is there a prime spot where equipment/features cause a modification in layout.

This question follows my first commute home on a 701 yesterday*, and spending most of the 50 minutes with my arm squeezed against the window side panel wasn't what I'd hoped for in new stock. I do understand why this has been done regarding aisle width and it's basically the same as 3+2 on a 450.

FWIW, my view is:

Best:
Aisle "priority" seat

Middling:
Aisle for all other seats
Window "priority" seat
Tip down seats by toilets (good personal space but risk of odour)

Poor:
Window seats in all other locations (due to the issue you describe; obviously may be more attractive if you are of slight build)

Very poor:
Seats in the four corners of the carriage (due to the slight taper of the carriage and solid panel)

Separately - acceleration and braking on this morning's 2H14 was very "confident" which resulted in the service arriving at Waterloo 2.5 mins early. Completely unheard of, especially with midweek passenger volume. Good indication of how the timetable could be improved as experience and confidence grows.