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

[mansonlo49]

Confirmed as 701001 moving today.

I remember seeing pictures of a ten coach unit fitted with pantograph, think is this one

 

[markle]

Yes, worrying. If the PIS has been so poorly designed/implemented/tested, it doesn't inspire confidence that safety critical systems are any better.

I mean generally one would rather an organisation prioritised safety critical systems vs non-safety critical systems such as PIS.

 

[WWTownEnth]

Any new diagrams stating next week? One would hope so considering there weren’t any this week.

Normally if we miss a new diagram one week, we get two the next. Here’s hoping!

 

[Snow1964]

Confirmed as 701001 moving today.

Fairly sure this one has never been handed over (the other 59 10car units have to Rock Rail). Don't even think it has done its acceptance mileage on SWR mainline.

Any new diagrams stating next week? One would hope so considering there weren’t any this week.

Not sure if more diagrams are now being limited by staff not trained (must eventually get to a point where all suburban crews know them) or if limiting factor is dragging them from storage and passing them for service.

Lack of siding space in South West London was a limiting factor for a while, but with recent withdrawals of 455s, unlikely to be factor now.

Don't think there has been any paired circuits to speed things up (Wimbledon to Newport with scrap 455s, Long Marston to Wimbledon collecting new one), to refill the emptied siding at Wimbledon.

 

[swr444]

The diagram forming 2K03 goes over to 701 next week

 

[DMckduck]

I mean generally one would rather an organisation prioritised safety critical systems vs non-safety critical systems such as PIS.

PIS could be classed as a safety critical system as the PA system falls under its umbrella.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

Don't think there has been any paired circuits to speed things up (Wimbledon to Newport with scrap 455s, Long Marston to Wimbledon collecting new one), to refill the emptied siding at Wimbledon.

Ref my thoughts on the withdrawn stock thread, condemned 455's (in 8 car format) may well be parked up in sidings that can't accommodate 10 car 701's, particularly at Wimbledon/Clapham where many sidings come under that umbrella, so potentially a bit of a catch 22 if Newport (Sims) is struggling to keep up with conversions to bake bean tins!

 

[Goldfish62]

PIS could be classed as a safety critical system as the PA system falls under its umbrella.

In which case the 458s and their hopeless PIS and PA have been a safety critical failure since their introduction a quarter of a century ago.

 

[TEW]

The extra diagram next week.

2K03 0557 London Waterloo to London Waterloo via Wimbledon and Richmond
2O11 0730 London Waterloo to London Waterloo via Richmond and Wimbledon
2K15 0857 London Waterloo to London Waterloo via Wimbledon and Richmond
2O23 1030 London Waterloo to London Waterloo via Richmond and Wimbledon
2K27 1157 London Waterloo to London Waterloo via Wimbledon and Richmond
2O35 1330 London Waterloo to London Waterloo via Richmond and Wimbledon
2K39 1457 London Waterloo to London Waterloo via Wimbledon and Richmond
2O47 1630 London Waterloo to London Waterloo via Richmond and Wimbledon
2K51 1757 London Waterloo to London Waterloo via Wimbledon and Richmond
2O59 1930 London Waterloo to London Waterloo via Richmond and Wimbledon
2K63 2057 London Waterloo to London Waterloo via Wimbledon and Richmond
2O71 2230 London Waterloo to London Waterloo via Richmond and Wimbledon
2K77 0012 London Waterloo to Strawberry Hill
5K77 0101 Strawberry Hill to Strawberry Hill Depot

2K77/5K77 come off another diagram to balance the units out.

The following revert to 458/4 which is what they are booked, but have been covered by a 701 for the past few weeks.

2S25 1022 London Waterloo to Weybridge
2S34 1203 Weybridge to London Waterloo
2S39 1352 London Waterloo to Weybridge
2S48 1533 Weybridge to London Waterloo

 

[DMckduck]

Considering training has moved onto outer depots now and its only the 1 diagram next week.

I suspect we are getting into the realms of unit availability holding up the expedited rollout.

 

[WWTownEnth]

Considering training has moved onto outer depots now and its only the 1 diagram next week.

I suspect we are getting into the realms of unit availability holding up the expedited rollout.

Which in turn is being caused by the lack of space on the SWR to bring units in for testing (thanks to the glacial pace of scrap moves)

 

[OneTrackMinded]

Which in turn is being caused by the lack of space on the SWR to bring units in for testing (thanks to the glacial pace of scrap moves)

Maybe they should consider using a different scrap agency rather than Newport Sims? There’s always that place they scrapped the 458s at.

 

[Olivine]

Which in turn is being caused by the lack of space on the SWR to bring units in for testing (thanks to the glacial pace of scrap moves)

Hardly, when there have been genuine struggles to get the training moving forward (for the rights and wrongs of it). It’s an almost impossible balance to achieve between siding availability, stock scrapping and new units.

It’s hardly like they can just walk out into the yard one morning and pick a train to scrap and call another unit in and expect it to occur within a morning.

 

[TEW]

No diagrams this week, and one next week is as planned. Should continue at roughly one unit a week for the remainder of the year at least.

 

[NSEWonderer]

About 2hr and a few ago I saw a Diesel pulling a 701/0 towards Twickenham. Didn't catch the unit number as I was preoccupied with my own vehicle. I assume its 001 then?

 

[BigB]

About 2hr and a few ago I saw a Diesel pulling a 701/0 towards Twickenham. Didn't catch the unit number as I was preoccupied with my own vehicle. I assume its 001 then?

Yep, 69009 hauling 701001 according to Railcam

Realtime Trains | 5Q45 1247 Derby Litchurch Lane to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 10/09/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q45 1247 departure from Derby Litchurch Lane to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 10/09/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[PG]

Which in turn is being caused by the lack of space on the SWR to bring units in for testing (thanks to the glacial pace of scrap moves)

Maybe they should consider using a different scrap agency rather than Newport Sims? There’s always that place they scrapped the 458s at.

Or move scrap 455s into (temporary) storage at Long Marston?

 

[OneTrackMinded]

Or move scrap 455s into (temporary) storage at Long Marston?

Yes, good point.

 

[mansonlo49]

Or move scrap 455s into (temporary) storage at Long Marston?

Think did the 456s went into Long Marston before to scrap

 

[OneTrackMinded]

Some of the 701 gangways need oiling.. I’ve been on two units now that have squeaking problems - 701037 and 701053.

 

[Snow1964]

Some of the 701 gangways need oiling.. I’ve been on two units now that have squeaking problems - 701037 and 701053.

Oiling or spraying with silicone lubricant ?

 

[OneTrackMinded]

Oiling or spraying with silicone lubricant ?

The latter probably.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Yep, 69009 hauling 701001 according to Railcam

Realtime Trains | 5Q45 1247 Derby Litchurch Lane to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 10/09/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q45 1247 departure from Derby Litchurch Lane to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 10/09/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Confirmed with Mk1 eyeball.
Glimpsed end number of 701001 (caught in a lineside light) as 5Q45 arrived early at Wimbledon depot from a passing 455 going over the flyover (thank you to opening hopper windows). At the other/London end a silhouette of a 69.

 

[BigB]

Does anyone have a feel for how long it takes for a unit to enter service once at WD? Is this one/two weeks for example?

 

[alanc]

Does anyone have a feel for how long it takes for a unit to enter service once at WD? Is this one/two weeks for example?

As a small example, 701056 left Bicester 10 June, went to WD, just gone into service - 3 months?
Alan

 

[BigB]

As a small example, 701056 left Bicester 10 June, went to WD, just gone into service - 3 months?
Alan

Thanks - so just in time for Christmas then??
Hopefully it will still be at WD at the end of the month (and visible!)

 

[WarrenTManager]

Does anyone have a feel for how long it takes for a unit to enter service once at WD? Is this one/two weeks for example?

lf this question is pointed at 001 I’m not so sure. It needs extra work before FFR even starts.

 

[bb21]

Does anyone have a feel for how long it takes for a unit to enter service once at WD? Is this one/two weeks for example?

They do not enter service in the order of arrival, so could be from a couple of weeks to several months depending on test run requirements and progress of various work to make them fit.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

Hopefully it will still be at WD at the end of the month (and visible!)

At WD very likely, but visible very unlikely initially, depending (as bb21 says) on work required to make the unit ready for public service..

 

[BigB]

At WD very likely, but visible very unlikely initially, depending (as bb21 says) on work required to make the unit ready for public service..

Thanks for the replies - I’m down at the end of the month and wondered if I’d catch it. I’d not really been following the time between movements and introductions to service that carefully.
One day I will come down to London and they will all be in service, but I wonder who will be Prime Minister or POTIS when that happens….