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

[mansonlo49]

Saw yesterday 5Q79 Derby to Bicester drag cancelled, today seems to be operating, anyone going to watch it? Thanks

 

[Craig1122]

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.

Very noticeable on Windsor services that the timekeeping is much better and that it's possible to catch up odd minutes of lateness. By comparison 450's in particular struggle to keep to the timetable because of the very slow door opening/closing

 

[DMckduck]

Very noticeable on Windsor services that the timekeeping is much better and that it's possible to catch up odd minutes of lateness. By comparison 450's in particular struggle to keep to the timetable because of the very slow door opening/closing

Also important to remember that there is an awful lot of padding in the timetable between richmond and Waterloo, and outside of peak hours departures from Clapham onwards should be to time but are often minutes earlier than scheduled.

All stock performs well in making up time on the up windsor timetable.

 

[swtrains]

2J33 and 2J40 cancelled due to a fault with the doors.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L50561/2025-07-17/detailed

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 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!)

Nothing beats a 707.

 

[alanc]

Saw yesterday 5Q79 Derby to Bicester drag cancelled, today seems to be operating, anyone going to watch it? Thanks

69009 + 701518 (mk1 eyeball)
HTH
Alan

 

[mansonlo49]

69009 + 701518 (mk1 eyeball)
HTH
Alan

ok thanks

 

[Bikeman78]

2J33 and 2J40 cancelled due to a fault with the doors.



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


Nothing beats a 707.

701039. It was five late into Wimbledon, though half that delay was down to following other late trains. It then ran non stop to Waterloo, then out of service. 701025 took up the diagram from 1454.

 

[Craig1122]

Also important to remember that there is an awful lot of padding in the timetable between richmond and Waterloo, and outside of peak hours departures from Clapham onwards should be to time but are often minutes earlier than scheduled.

All stock performs well in making up time on the up windsor timetable.

Not so much on the down though where 450 operated Windsor's and Weybridge's are consistently 2-3 minutes late. Hopefully once the full felt is in a few minutes can be shaved off. Honestly though I'd rather have a bit of padding than the constant late running that plagued the old TT.

 

[norbitonflyer]

yesterday was, I beleive, the first day when fourteen 701s were in passnger service (albeit not all at once)

And today fifteen were out and about - that is all of those which have seen passenger service to date, with the exception of 701028 which hasn't been in passenger service since February last year,

 

[Concorde9289]

Was at Waterloo yesterday - it was evident that the 701s had really started to pick up the pace. On platforms 1-4, less than 2 months ago when I was last there was taken completely by 455s, was now taken up by 3 701s and a 450 with no 455s in sight. Definitely a sign of things to come.

 

[GW43125]

Not so much on the down though where 450 operated Windsor's and Weybridge's are consistently 2-3 minutes late. Hopefully once the full felt is in a few minutes can be shaved off. Honestly though I'd rather have a bit of padding than the constant late running that plagued the old TT.

When I used to commute via Chertsey, the difference in timekeeping between a 458/450 operated stopper and a 707 operated stopper was a solid two or three minutes: a 458 would hold its delay but a 707 could be 5 down at Barnes and RT at stained. From what I've seen so far 701s it's promising

 

[Goldfish62]

When I used to commute via Chertsey, the difference in timekeeping between a 458/450 operated stopper and a 707 operated stopper was a solid two or three minutes: a 458 would hold its delay but a 707 could be 5 down at Barnes and RT at stained. From what I've seen so far 701s it's promising

Completely agree. The other morning a Reading-bound 701 on the 10:20 from Waterloo left Clapham Junction four minutes late. That would normally be a signal that it would get later and by Ascot would typically be 7-8 min late (down Reading services have trouble keeping to time anyway). However, by Ascot it was back on time. That's unheard of in my experience.

 

[chalky80]

FWIW, my view is:

Best:
Aisle "priority" seat

Thanks @markle that's a starting point. I'll need to work on the etiquette issue of sitting in an aisle seat with a window spare given my morning commute starts on a near empty train.

It will be interesting to see what the 701 capacity can achieve in reality on the ~07:45 run from Epsom to Raynes park. Not unusual to see people give up and wait due to lack of space on a 2x455 after Worcester Park on Tuesday/Wednesdays. Still solidly 455s in the plan at the moment.

 

[FRSZMZ56]

Thanks @markle that's a starting point. I'll need to work on the etiquette issue of sitting in an aisle seat with a window spare given my morning commute starts on a near empty train.

It will be interesting to see what the 701 capacity can achieve in reality on the ~07:45 run from Epsom to Raynes park. Not unusual to see people give up and wait due to lack of space on a 2x455 after Worcester Park on Tuesday/Wednesdays. Still solidly 455s in the plan at the moment.

The 0746 from Epsom on weekdays is already a 701 and has been for a while no? Unless i've misunderstood and you're referring to the 0737 just before it.

Either way I get that 0746 for my commute and its vastly improved since moving to 701 operation, both in space onboard and punctuality.

 

[chalky80]

I'm usually on the 0737 Epsom dep, but I'm coming from further out. So that's 2D14 and regularly full*. Even the earlier 2D12 gets well loaded.

To be fair to SWR the "how busy is my train" has been updated to include the planned 701s. Might take a few weeks for people to realise before they change their commuting default. Half tempted to get off and wait 10 minutes for some air-con if this humidity carries on!

(* Based only on where I usually sit and can see, so I'm at risk of using anecdote as data)

 

[FRSZMZ56]

I'm usually on the 0737 Epsom dep, but I'm coming from further out. So that's 2D14 and regularly full*. Even the earlier 2D12 gets well loaded.

To be fair to SWR the "how busy is my train" has been updated to include the planned 701s. Might take a few weeks for people to realise before they change their commuting default. Half tempted to get off and wait 10 minutes for some air-con if this humidity carries on!

(* Based only on where I usually sit and can see, so I'm at risk of using anecdote as data)

The 10 minutes is well worth the wait. Thankfully we get that extra service in the morning but I've been actively avoiding 2D14 in favour of 1D14 whilst its been hot, especially as the former occasionally gets short formed (although not as often anymore). I also get off before Waterloo so appreciate actually being able to move towards the doors on the 701.

Thanks for pointing out the updates to the How busy is my Train feature. I hadn't yet noticed the little Arterio tags on it now!

 

[Siemens Staines]

If the data to RTT is correct, then 701020 shoiuld be the next one to enter passenger service this evening on the 1800 Kingston loop

Realtime Trains | 2O53 1800 London Waterloo to London Waterloo | 18/07/2025

Real-time train running information for 2O53 1800 departure from London Waterloo to London Waterloo on 18/07/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[meld3]

If the data to RTT is correct, then 701020 shoiuld be the next one to enter passenger service this evening on the 1800 Kingston loop

Realtime Trains | 2O53 1800 London Waterloo to London Waterloo | 18/07/2025

Real-time train running information for 2O53 1800 departure from London Waterloo to London Waterloo on 18/07/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Now showing as 701039

 

[Siemens Staines]

No showing as 701039

The usual kiss of death when I happen to notice an allocation for a 701 that is new to passenger service!

 

[bb21]

If the data to RTT is correct, then 701020 shoiuld be the next one to enter passenger service this evening on the 1800 Kingston loop

Realtime Trains | 2O53 1800 London Waterloo to London Waterloo | 18/07/2025

Real-time train running information for 2O53 1800 departure from London Waterloo to London Waterloo on 18/07/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

020 is nowhere near close to being fit for passenger service.

There are eight units authorised for training use at the moment so it should be one of them which will be next to enter service.

 

[Siemens Staines]

020 is nowhere near close to being fit for passenger service.

In which case, it seems a bit strange as to how 020 could ever have come up allocated to 2O53 in the first place. I suppose 2 and 3 are next to each other on a keyboard as are 0 & 9?

 

[NSEWonderer]

020 is nowhere near close to being fit for passenger service.

There are eight units authorised for training use at the moment so it should be one of them which will be next to enter service.

Indeed, still expecting 056 to ideally be next up. Completes the previous trial trio (051 and 18 being the other two).

 

[bb21]

Indeed, still expecting 056 to ideally be next up. Completes the previous trial trio (051 and 18 being the other two).

056 isn't one of the eight unfortunately. It is still going through the inspection process.

yesterday was, I beleive, the first day when fourteen 701s were in passnger service (albeit not all at once)

And today fifteen were out and about - that is all of those which have seen passenger service to date, with the exception of 701028 which hasn't been in passenger service since February last year,

028 is not authorised for passenger service at the moment. It is only authorised for training activities currently.

 

[Tirov]

Surely SWR are at the point with enough trained drivers and approved trains to introduce 2 new diagrams each week?

 

[Goldfish62]

Surely SWR are at the point with enough trained drivers and approved trains to introduce 2 new diagrams each week?

Steady on! It was suggested previously on this thread that introducing one per week would an unrealistic proposition...

 

[Big Jumby 74]

Surely SWR are at the point with enough trained drivers and approved trains to introduce 2 new diagrams each week?

The summer months do (did) prove an extra strain on resources, due to a greater number of requests for leave (staff with families/summer hols), and so those months were often harder to cover on a day by day basis. With the add on of training for a new fleet type (crews and trainers), that will likely add to the challenge for the roster office people. Not being negative, just a fact learnt from experience.

 

[Goldfish62]

The summer months do (did) prove an extra strain on resources, due to a greater number of requests for leave (staff with families/summer hols), and so those months were often harder to cover on a day by day basis. With the add on of training for a new fleet type (crews and trainers), that will likely add to the challenge for the roster office people. Not being negative, just a fact learnt from experience.

Which is presumably the reason for SWR's "Summer (ie reduced) timetable" on a number of routes.

 

[WWTownEnth]

Which is presumably the reason for SWR's "Summer (ie reduced) timetable" on a number of routes.

I would have thought the real block on an acceleration of rollout was the lack of available units for passenger service

 

[Big Jumby 74]

Which is presumably the reason for SWR's "Summer (ie reduced) timetable" on a number of routes.

Quite possibly? I did see mention of that (on here) a couple of days back, but know nothing of it myself. Back in the day, we just covered the service as best we could. May be this type of situation has now crossed a line , and so the industry has had their hand forced in matters public timetable perhaps?

 

[FRSZMZ56]

Quite possibly? I did see mention of that (on here) a couple of days back, but know nothing of it myself. Back in the day, we just covered the service as best we could. May be this type of situation has now crossed a line , and so the industry has had their hand forced in matters public timetable perhaps?

From the Plan my Journey section:

"We are implementing a temporary summer timetable between Monday 28 July and Friday 29 August, with some minor alterations to services in our suburban area.
This amended timetable includes the reduction of a small number of quieter, off-peak services during the summer holiday, when fewer customers are looking to travel.
The amended timetable will run on the following routes:

· Alton
· Chessington South
· Guildford via Cobham & Stoke D’Abernon
· Guildford via Woking
· Hampton Court
· London Waterloo via Richmond
· Reading
· Shepperton
· Weybridge via Chertsey
· Windsor & Eton Riverside
· Woking (stopping services)"