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

[Benjwri]

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)"

It’s a shame they don’t enforce the same definition of off peak when enforcing tickets.

 

[MasterPhillips]

I have started a new thread on the timetable here

 

[bb21]

701012 is now (I am reliably informed) passed for passenger service but not seen any evidence of it yet. That makes the pool up to 16 I think.

 

[MasterPhillips]

I believe 701025 failed at Clapham Junction today working 2u24. Had problems at Putney it would seem.

 

[wickham]

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.

Can you kindly say which 8 units are currently authorised for training - the situation has obviously changed since this was last mentioned.

 

[bb21]

Can you kindly say which 8 units are currently authorised for training - the situation has obviously changed since this was last mentioned.

Only seven now: 005, 013, 021, 028, 053, 057, 058 if I'm reading it right.

 

[NSEWonderer]

One of the 50s id have thought was next up, good stuff if they've started working on more of the 10s, surprised 56 has fallen back do much.

 

[adc82140]

Can anyone briefly explain to me the main factors that would form the difference between a unit being passed for training and being passed for passenger use?

 

[reddragon]

Which units are in service and in training?

Skimming back many pages doesn't really answer!

 

[GW43125]

Which units are in service and in training?

Skimming back many pages doesn't really answer!

https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/701-operation.279842/ the first page of this thread is updated with the first and most recent dates for each unit in service.

 

[bb21]

Which units are in service and in training?

Skimming back many pages doesn't really answer!

Current situation AFAIK:
Passed for training (7) - 005, 013, 021, 028, 053, 057, 058
Passed for passenger service (16) - 012, 017, 018, 025, 031, 034-037, 039, 041-044, 046, 051

 

[norbitonflyer]

Current situation AFAIK:
Passed for training (7) - 005, 013, 021, 028, 053, 057, 058
Passed for passenger service (16) - 012, 017, 018, 025, 031, 034-037, 039, 041-044, 046, 051

Of which, as far as I am aware, 012 is the only one passed for passenger service but has not yet been used.

028 was briefly in passenger service for three days in February last year. There is some mystery over whether it was used in error, or something happened to it which caused it to be returned to the training pool.

 

[WWTownEnth]

How long and complex a feat is it to get a unit from passed for training to passed for passenger service?

 

[NSEWonderer]

Realtime Trains | 2V45 1607 London Waterloo to London Waterloo | 21/07/2025

Real-time train running information for 2V45 1607 departure from London Waterloo to London Waterloo on 21/07/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

701012 just passed me
First time in use i assume.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Realtime Trains | 2V45 1607 London Waterloo to London Waterloo | 21/07/2025

Real-time train running information for 2V45 1607 departure from London Waterloo to London Waterloo on 21/07/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

701012 just passed me
First time in use i assume.

Looks like it. That's a new 701 diagram today too

 

[NSEWonderer]

Having a look at the July Carriage Working Notices and there's some more 701 diagrams:

2C05 05.26 off waterloo will be a 701
2V45 1607 off waterloo + 2C55 1750 off Waterloo will be a 701
2C69 2120 off Waterloo

Yeah mentioned here.

 

[davews]

701012 on the Reading line this evening (along with 034)

Realtime Trains | 2C66 1939 Reading to London Waterloo | 21/07/2025

Real-time train running information for 2C66 1939 departure from Reading to London Waterloo on 21/07/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[norbitonflyer]

Having a look at the July Carriage Working Notices and there's some more 701 diagrams:

2C05 05.26 off waterloo will be a 701
2V45 1607 off waterloo + 2C55 1750 off Waterloo will be a 701
2C69 2120 off Waterloo

That's all one diagram - 2C05-2C16/stable at Wimbledon/2V45-2C55-2C66-2C69-2C80

Although it i not unusual for two different units to do the morning and evening shifts - in this case 701018 and 701012 - the latter making its debut in passenger service

 

[Goldfish62]

That's all one diagram - 2C05-2C16/stable at Wimbledon/2V45-2C55-2C66-2C69-2C80

Although it i not unusual for two different units to do the morning and evening shifts - in this case 701018 and 701012 - the latter making its debut in passenger service

Part of that diagram - 2C69/2C80 - has been the longest running 455 working on Reading services, for over two years. Farewell, you won't be missed.

 

[bb21]

That's all one diagram - 2C05-2C16/stable at Wimbledon/2V45-2C55-2C66-2C69-2C80

Although it i not unusual for two different units to do the morning and evening shifts - in this case 701018 and 701012 - the latter making its debut in passenger service

It is quite common as these would be the turns used to switch/swap units out for exams/checks, etc.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Jul 2025 ==

How long and complex a feat is it to get a unit from passed for training to passed for passenger service?

Sorry can't really say as I'm not au fait with that part of the exercise so wouldn't want to give any misleading information.

 

[Tirov]

Todays Waterloo Visitors so far all 15 of them

012 017 018 025 031 034 036 037 039 041 042 043 044 046 051

 

[swr444]

Looks like 2H89/96 is going back to 701 operation next week.
And a first! We've got a 701 on the 2S services to Weybridge via Hounslow. First one seems to be 2S25.
Looks like 2C19 is also going 701. I can't figure out if it's a whole diagram though.
2R43 also switching over to 701.

Apologies for it being a bit broken, i'm just going through the crew diagrams for next week

 

[Class15]

Looks like 2H89/96 is going back to 701 operation next week.
And a first! We've got a 701 on the 2S services to Weybridge via Hounslow. First one seems to be 2S25.
Looks like 2C19 is also going 701. I can't figure out if it's a whole diagram though.
2R43 also switching over to 701.

Apologies for it being a bit broken, i'm just going through the crew diagrams for next week

Why the Weybridge trains I wonder, considering they are currently operated by the recently-refurbished 458/4s? I would’ve thought get rid of 455s first then do Weybridge last?!

 

[swr444]

Why the Weybridge trains I wonder, considering they are currently operated by the recently-refurbished 458/4s? I would’ve thought get rid of 455s first then do Weybridge last?!

it'll just be diagramming, I presume instead of sending a 701 to the depot post peak time, they're utilising the 701 vice 458/4

 

[Goldfish62]

it'll just be diagramming, I presume instead of sending a 701 to the depot post peak time, they're utilising the 701 vice 458/4

And I also wonder if it's a bit of temporary rejigging to do with the Summer holidays service cuts that start next week.

 

[TEW]

I think the daytime Weybridge services may be rejigging with the temporary timetable. The morning Shepperton is the 15th diagram though, which does include an evening Weybridge.

2H90 0523 Shepperton to London Waterloo
2H89 0645 London Waterloo to Shepperton
2H96 0800 Shepperton to London Waterloo
2C19 0850 London Waterloo to Reading
2C30 1039 Reading to London Waterloo
2C33 1220 London Waterloo to Reading
2C44 1409 Reading to London Waterloo
2R43 1545 London Waterloo to London Waterloo via Richmond and Brentford
2C53 1720 London Waterloo to Reading
2C64 1909 Reading to London Waterloo
2S67 2052 London Waterloo to Weybridge
2S76 2233 Weybridge to London Waterloo
2O77 London Waterloo to Strawberry Hill

 

[norbitonflyer]

I think the daytime Weybridge services may be rejigging with the temporary timetable. The morning Shepperton is the 15th diagram though, which does include an evening Weybridge.

2H90 0523 Shepperton to London Waterloo
2H89 0645 London Waterloo to Shepperton
2H96 0800 Shepperton to London Waterloo
2C19 0850 London Waterloo to Reading
...................

Curously, 2H90/89/96 was originally shown as the same diagram as 2H93 (with a midday layover) but as far as I am aware the morning shift has never actually been a 701

 

[Goldfish62]

I think the daytime Weybridge services may be rejigging with the temporary timetable. The morning Shepperton is the 15th diagram though, which does include an evening Weybridge.

2H90 0523 Shepperton to London Waterloo
2H89 0645 London Waterloo to Shepperton
2H96 0800 Shepperton to London Waterloo
2C19 0850 London Waterloo to Reading
2C30 1039 Reading to London Waterloo
2C33 1220 London Waterloo to Reading
2C44 1409 Reading to London Waterloo
2R43 1545 London Waterloo to London Waterloo via Richmond and Brentford
2C53 1720 London Waterloo to Reading
2C64 1909 Reading to London Waterloo
2S67 2052 London Waterloo to Weybridge
2S76 2233 Weybridge to London Waterloo
2O77 London Waterloo to Strawberry Hill

Those morning / early PM Reading services are currently on a different diagram to the evening ones, so this does suggest something temporary.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Jul 2025 ==

it'll just be diagramming, I presume instead of sending a 701 to the depot post peak time, they're utilising the 701 vice 458/4

It's replacing a pair of 450s rather than 458/4s.

 

[TEW]

Those morning / early PM Reading services are currently on a different diagram to the evening ones, so this does suggest something temporary.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Jul 2025 ==


It's replacing a pair of 450s rather than 458/4s.

That becoming a 701 diagram despite currently being parts of different diagrams currently has always been part of the plan and should continue after the Summer timetable. I assume it was done deliberately to get a 701 on the 1720 Reading.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Jul 2025 ==

The other Weybridge 701s are part of another diagram which currently goes to Wimbledon Park Depot between the peaks.

2H87 0615 London Waterloo to Shepperton
2H94 0730 Shepperton to London Waterloo
2R15 0845 London Waterloo to London Waterloo via Richmond and Brentford
2S25 1022 London Waterloo to Weybridge
2S34 1203 Weybridge to London Waterloo
2S39 1352 London Waterloo to Weybridge
2S48 1533 Weybridge to London Waterloo
2V49 1707 London Waterloo to London Waterloo via Brentford and Richmond
2H97 1843 London Waterloo to Shepperton
2H64 1936 Shepperton to London Waterloo
2H63 2042 London Waterloo to Shepperton
2H72 2141 Shepperton to London Waterloo
2H72 2242 London Waterloo to Shepperton

 

[Goldfish62]

That becoming a 701 diagram despite currently being parts of different diagrams currently has always been part of the plan and should continue after the Summer timetable. I assume it was done deliberately to get a 701 on the 1720 Reading.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Jul 2025 ==

The other Weybridge 701s are part of another diagram which currently goes to Wimbledon Park Depot between the peaks.

2H87 0615 London Waterloo to Shepperton
2H94 0730 Shepperton to London Waterloo
2R15 0845 London Waterloo to London Waterloo via Richmond and Brentford
2S25 1022 London Waterloo to Weybridge
2S34 1203 Weybridge to London Waterloo
2S39 1352 London Waterloo to Weybridge
2S48 1533 Weybridge to London Waterloo
2V49 1707 London Waterloo to London Waterloo via Brentford and Richmond
2H97 1843 London Waterloo to Shepperton
2H64 1936 Shepperton to London Waterloo
2H63 2042 London Waterloo to Shepperton
2H72 2141 Shepperton to London Waterloo
2H72 2242 London Waterloo to Shepperton

Thanks for the detail. The 1720 going over is welcome.