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

[vuzzeho]

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

Who said that?

 

[WrongRoad]

Who said that?

Rumours and talk at the TOC

 

[mansonlo49]

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

Heard somewhere that the 701/5s will work some services that'll split and go to two different destinations, think it was guildford and Epsom route??

 

[Bumpkin]

Heard somewhere that the 701/5s will work some services that'll split and go to two different destinations, think it was guildford and Epsom route??

But at Epsom and Leatherhead (where it would make the most sense to attach/detach) the signalling doesn't allow for permissive working, and therefore no attaching and detaching can take place.

 

[FRSZMZ56]

Heard somewhere that the 701/5s will work some services that'll split and go to two different destinations, think it was guildford and Epsom route??

Seems unnecessary to split for Dorking/Guildford. The priority should be making it back to pre-covid 4tph on that whole line (Dorking and Guildford back up to 2tph. Currently 1tph). After Ashtead/Leatherhead down to Dorking/Guildford the trains are significantly more empty. The overcrowding issues are further up the line.

 

[norbitonflyer]

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

2O07 and 2O09 are also 701s for the first time (five diagrams out of of seven on the roundabout - 701018/034/042/053/057)

It is 701053's debut, and nineteen in public service for the first time (043 having the day off)

 

[mansonlo49]

Seems unnecessary to split for Dorking/Guildford. The priority should be making it back to pre-covid 4tph on that whole line (Dorking and Guildford back up to 2tph. Currently 1tph). After Ashtead/Leatherhead down to Dorking/Guildford the trains are significantly more empty. The overcrowding issues are further up the line.

So the crowding issues Waterloo to Dorking then got much empty?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Aug 2025 ==

But at Epsom and Leatherhead (where it would make the most sense to attach/detach) the signalling doesn't allow for permissive working, and therefore no attaching and detaching can take place.

Oh maybe I memorised wrong, perhaps somewhere else

 

[Peter Sarf]

I have just re-discovered this thread for the (speculation over the) future of 701/5s.

Could the 701/5s go elsewhere?

Given these units are effectively surplus to SWR's requirements, even if some of the withdrawn services do return in the future, and they are effectively "non standard" alongside the masses of 5-car 444s, 4-car 450s and 10-car 701s, could these units potentially go to another operator? Its must...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[norbitonflyer]

It is 701053's debut, and nineteen in public service for the first time (043 having the day off)

Update - 701043 is shown on RTT as working 1h90 this evening, so that's all 21 in passenger service today

 

[mansonlo49]

there’s another unit coming out today, but instead going to Eastleigh

 

[WombleGuard]

.

 

[alanc]

there’s another unit coming out today, but instead going to Eastleigh

5q77, 69010 taking 701027 to Eastleigh

 

[mansonlo49]

5q77, 69010 taking 701027 to Eastleigh

thanks，so no more 701/0 at Bicester？

 

[Mag_seven]

Can we stick to known facts in this thread, please. We do have a speculative thread which can be found here:

Could the 701/5s go elsewhere?

Given these units are effectively surplus to SWR's requirements, even if some of the withdrawn services do return in the future, and they are effectively "non standard" alongside the masses of 5-car 444s, 4-car 450s and 10-car 701s, could these units potentially go to another operator? Its must...

www.railforums.co.uk

Edit: and another one here:

Could services and reslience on the SWR network be improved?

Moderator note: Split from https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/class-701-aventra-trains-for-south-western-railway-progress-updates.148717 With more recent signalling upgrades, details of which I am no longer aware of, is permissive working still available at Staines? I'm thinking...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[Juniper Driver]

Saw 701002 in Clapped Out Yard this morning, the lowest numbered 701 I have seen.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Aug 2025 ==

Update - 701043 is shown on RTT as working 1h90 this evening, so that's all 21 in passenger service today

Amazing.I thought there were a lot of the 701s about.

 

[spark001uk]

What's the status of 001, anyone know? Last I heard was many moons ago when there was rumour of it being taken to Horsham for overnight testing/traction training?

---

@WWTownEnth For your records, 508 was dragged back to Litchurch last week. (mk1 eyeball)

 

[Peter Sarf]

What's the status of 001, anyone know? Last I heard was many moons ago when there was rumour of it being taken to Horsham for overnight testing/traction training?

---

@WWTownEnth For your records, 508 was dragged back to Litchurch last week. (mk1 eyeball)

Last I heard 701001 went to Worksop over a year ago !.

 

[Kite159]

701001 was at Derby last month when it was the open day, hidden near the Test Track

 

[Snow1964]

701001 was at Derby last month when it was the open day, hidden near the Test Track

I think unit 001 was the 10car unit that Rock Rail hadn't accepted, their accounts say at 31 December 2024 they had accepted 59 ten car and 28 five car units.

Don't know if the other 2 missing units (5car) have subsequently been brought up to production spec, ran their acceptance runs, and been accepted. Perhaps they have been retained to iron out software and coupling compatibility. I am guessing if unit 001 is still at Derby, it hasn't made it onto SWR metals for acceptance runs, and therefore still in manufacturers hands.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Amazing.I thought there were a lot of the 701s about.

Yes. there are, but only twenty are in passenger service. (The 21st is 701028 which ran in service for one week eighteen months ago)

701012 701013 701017 701018
701025
701031 701034 701035 701036 701037 701039
701041 701042 701043 701044 701046
701051 701053 701057 701058

 

[OneTrackMinded]

Such a shame about the loud HVAC buzzing noise on these units when the refrigerator turns on, ruins the ambience and makes it seem like it’s a lot older than it actually is.

 

[GW43125]

RTT being coy but can confirm via MK1 eyeball that 701005 has made its passenger service debut on 2U45.

 

[swr444]

Next weeks new diagrams:

5M05 Clapham Yd - WAT
2M05 WAT-CSS
2M12 CSS-WAT
2D11 WAT-GLD
2D24 GLD-WAT
2J25 WAT-HMC
2J32 HMC-WAT
2D31 WAT-GLD
2D44 GLD-WAT
2J45 WAT-HMC
2J52 HMC-WAT
1D51 WAT-DKG
5Y54 DKG-WIM PARK DEPOT


5R05 FEL DEPOT-TWI
2R05 TWI-WAT
2C15 WAT-RDG
2C26 RDG-WAT
2S29 WAT-WYB
2S38 WYB-WAT
2S43 WAT-WYB
2S52 WYB-WAT
2V53 WAT-TWI
5V53 TWI-FELTHAM DEPOT

There may be some other alterations to other diagrams post the Barnes Bridge closure which I havent picked up on.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Aug 2025 ==

RTT being coy but can confirm via MK1 eyeball that 701005 has made its passenger service debut on 2U45.

Indeed it is, according to our internal site

 

[mansonlo49]

701001 was at Derby last month when it was the open day, hidden near the Test Track

is the pantograph still mounted or remived？

 

[Gateline7842]

2V53 WAT-TWI
5V53 TWI-FELTHAM DEPOT

This diagram was a 701 before the Barnes Bridge closure.

 

[swr444]

This diagram was a 701 before the Barnes Bridge closure.

Yes, but using a different service diagram. I was posting the full new diagram which includes 2V53.

 

[Goldfish62]

Yes, but using a different service diagram. I was posting the full new diagram which includes 2V53.

Thanks for the update. Looks like that diagram is a bit of a mish-mash as 2C15/2C26 are currently on an all-day Reading 450 diagram, which in turn was 455 from May until fairly recently.

 

[swr444]

Thanks for the update. Looks like that diagram is a bit of a mish-mash as 2C15/2C26 are currently on an all-day Reading 450 diagram, which in turn was 455 from May until fairly recently.

Not sure if this is any use, but from next week from Reading: 2C18, 2C26, 2C30, 2C32, 2C44, 2C46, 2C60, 2C64 & 2C74 will be 701s. This is not including the diagrams which went over in the July LTPs which were posted a while back.

 

[Goldfish62]

Not sure if this is any use, but from next week from Reading: 2C18, 2C26, 2C30, 2C32, 2C44, 2C46, 2C60, 2C64 & 2C74 will be 701s. This is not including the diagrams which went over in the July LTPs which were posted a while back.

Many thanks for that. So basically the same as now during the middle of the day, but looks like a slight reduction in the peaks and the evenings. I'm sure it'll all change again very soon!

 

[OneTrackMinded]

Many thanks for that. So basically the same as now during the middle of the day, but looks like a slight reduction in the peaks and the evenings. I'm sure it'll all change again very soon!

So the new diagrams are actually a reduction in service? What?