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

[brad465]

001 I think is further into September.

Not often the first unit in production is one of the last to enter service (but then we are talking about 701s after all).

 

[Goldfish62]

Not often the first unit in production is one of the last to enter service (but then we are talking about 701s after all).

458001 was the last to enter service, around 5 years after the first unit.

 

[NSEWonderer]

Could be 001, bare in mind these trains are a few years late so really and truly the usual delay of the first unit coming pretty much last to the party, might not really work out here.

 

[Bigfoot]

Which would leave Wanborough without any service, as the GWR North Downs trains don't call there.

Don't call there or don't call very often?

7 services on a weekday and 3 on a Saturday...

 

[DelW]

Don't call there or don't call very often?

7 services on a weekday and 3 on a Saturday...

Okay, there's a handful of GWR calls, mainly early morning or late night, nothing between 8.30 and 17.30. Meanwhile SWR has around 70 calls per weekday.

 

[Peter Sarf]

There's a Derby to Wimbledon move in for next week; would this likely be one of 701 001 or 701 003 being delivered?

I assume the Derby to Wimbledon move is this on Wednesday ?.

Realtime Trains | 5Q45 1247 Derby Litchurch Lane to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 27/08/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q45 1247 departure from Derby Litchurch Lane to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 27/08/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

I note there is also an STP in on Tuesday for a (usual-ish) delivery from Bicester. Most likely 701027 as that is the only 701/0 left at Bicester afaikt.

Realtime Trains | 5Q76 1618 Bicester Mod Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 26/08/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q76 1618 departure from Bicester Mod Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 26/08/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

If these do not get cancelled than that will be two 701/0s delivered, maybe the pace is picking up. The 455s scrap move is getting quite regular.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I assume the Derby to Wimbledon move is this on Wednesday ?

I think so, I deleted the e-mail before I thought to check the date...!!!

As far as I know it's only 701 001 and 701 003 at Derby and it's highly unlikely that 455 868 will ever return to Wimbledon isn't it?

 

[OneTrackMinded]

As far as I know it's only 701 001 and 701 003 at Derby and it's highly unlikely that 455 868 will ever return to Wimbledon isn't it?

455868 is off lease so will not be returning to Wimbledon. It has (apparently) been bought by Network Rail, which will send some carriages to Basingstoke ROC as a static display, while the others will go to a fire training school.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Not often the first unit in production is one of the last to enter service (but then we are talking about 701s after all).

It is not uncommon, because various tests and assessments and snagging are made on the first one before the rest are built. If there are major issues the first unit may need modifying before entering service. I seem to recall an extreme case where it was more economic to build an extra unit and scrap the first one.

 

[mansonlo49]

It is not uncommon, because various tests and assessments and snagging are made on the first one before the rest are built. If there are major issues the first unit may need modifying before entering service. I seem to recall an extreme case where it was more economic to build an extra unit and scrap the first one.

which was the case like this? Scrap the first one?

 

[w11_supremecy]

2F29 12:20 to Woking is formed with 037, does this make it the first Woking bay service ran with a 701? (Assuming it leaves Waterloo, it's currently being delayed for some reason).

 

[43096]

which was the case like this? Scrap the first one?

Victoria line 2009 stock.

 

[swtrains]

2F29 12:20 to Woking is formed with 037, does this make it the first Woking bay service ran with a 701? (Assuming it leaves Waterloo, it's currently being delayed for some reason).

Fault with the doors, as usual.

 

[jwhite9185]

037 just pulled into Woking - first time I've seen a 701 in passenger service here.

Edit: Not the best pics in the world, but you get the idea.

 

[NSEWonderer]

Its part of the two new diagrams mentioned previously.

 

[bluegoblin7]

which was the case like this? Scrap the first one?

Happened with the LUL 2009 stock, also built at Derby. The first two units produced were scrapped and replaced with standard 'production' units.

 

[mansonlo49]

Happened with the LUL 2009 stock, also built at Derby. The first two units produced were scrapped and replaced with standard 'production' units.

wow didn’t know that the 2009 stock have scrapped units

 

[NSEWonderer]

Looks like 701037 earlier on in the day had an issue that forced it to terminate early, before ending up on the Woking.

Realtime Trains | 2M23 1047 London Waterloo to Raynes Park | 25/08/2025

Real-time train running information for 2M23 1047 departure from London Waterloo to Raynes Park on 25/08/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Peter Mugridge]

wow didn’t know that the 2009 stock have scrapped units

The replacements were given the same numbers, so it's not obvious.

 

[OneTrackMinded]

There’s a rumour going around at the moment saying that the 701/5s are going to be leaving SWR due to their software issues (and “compatibility”). Is there any truth to this claim?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

There’s a rumour going around at the moment saying that the 701/5s are going to be leaving SWR due to their software issues (and “compatibility”). Is there any truth to this claim?

Going around where?

 

[Bigfoot]

There’s a rumour going around at the moment saying that the 701/5s are going to be leaving SWR due to their software issues (and “compatibility”). Is there any truth to this claim?

There's also a rumour they are going to go back to be converted into 701/0 ten car formations.

The railway loves a rumour with no evidence to support it.

 

[Goldfish62]

There's also a rumour they are going to go back to be converted into 701/0 ten car formations.

The railway loves a rumour with no evidence to support it.

There's all sorts of rumours about the 701/5s over on Facebook including from armchair experts who who don't seem to realise that there's more than one 701/0 in daily service now.

 

[WWTownEnth]

Do we have any passenger service debuts today?

 

[GW43125]

Do we have any passenger service debuts today?

Unfortunately I think it's the opposite-2C16 is 8/458 this morning

 

[43096]

Do we have any passenger service debuts today?

701053 on 2K09. Don’t remember that one being reported before?

 

[swr444]

Unfortunately I think it's the opposite-2C16 is 8/458 this morning

It’s booked like that until Friday

 

[ejx2]

Do we have any passenger service debuts today?

Yep. Route wise it appears that 035 is doing the 2G16 service

Realtime Trains | 2G16 0734 Guildford to London Waterloo | 26/08/2025

Real-time train running information for 2G16 0734 departure from Guildford to London Waterloo on 26/08/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[GW43125]

5T91 reading road driver trainer is 701028 this morning

 

[WrongRoad]

There’s a rumour going around at the moment saying that the 701/5s are going to be leaving SWR due to their software issues (and “compatibility”). Is there any truth to this claim?

I’ve heard it a few times that they will never see service with SWR