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

[Peter Sarf]

Is this a 701 move from Eastleigh to Wimbledon today ?.

Light Loco 69009 already on its way to Eastleigh from Leicester.

Realtime Trains | 0O10 0730 Leicester L.I.P. to Eastleigh Trsmd | 15/09/2025

Real-time train running information for 0O10 0730 departure from Leicester L.I.P. to Eastleigh Trsmd on 15/09/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

UPDATE @ 12:10 The above has terminated at Dudding Hill and is apparently going back to Leicester.
(so maybe the 701 will do it all by itself OR it is yet another cancellation)
/UPDATE

Eastleigh to Wimbledon.

Realtime Trains | 5Q14 1419 Eastleigh Trsmd to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 15/09/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q14 1419 departure from Eastleigh Trsmd to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 15/09/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Light loco back to Leicester.

Realtime Trains | 0M14 1731 Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs to Leicester L.I.P. | 15/09/2025

Real-time train running information for 0M14 1731 departure from Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs to Leicester L.I.P. on 15/09/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

If it is a 701 then I make it a choice of :-
701009 (resident since 05/06/2025),
701027 (resident since 26/08/2025) or
701060 (resident since 11/08/2025).

If it isn't a 701 then I can get on with the gardening .

UPDATE 09:50 16/09/2025
Transpires a delivery did happen. The was a 5Q96 mk2 under TOC "SW" (so not "ZZ") where 701060 propelled itself from Eastleigh to Wimbledon.
/UPDATE

 

[GW43125]

Absolute nightmare on the Reading road this morning. Both Farnhams cancelled, 2C14 cancelled no unit, and 2C16 (701037) decided to sit down at Richmond for 45 minutes...

 

[OneTrackMinded]

Are we expecting a debutant today?

A new diagram, yes.

 

[nctd2306]

Absolute nightmare on the Reading road this morning. Both Farnhams cancelled, 2C14 cancelled no unit, and 2C16 (701037) decided to sit down at Richmond for 45 minutes...

2C16 was announced as a passenger being taken ill by the guard on my train, plus a signal failure at Ash Vale, not a great combination!

 

[OneTrackMinded]

Today's 701 has a dodgy mic so you only get every other syllable of the pointless announcement.

You'll find me in the second carriage of this 10 carriage train.

It’s not dodgy, it’s just the mics on 701s use noise cancellation technology so the technique required is very different to they on a traditional.

 

[wickham]

Is this a 701 move from Eastleigh to Wimbledon today ?.

Light Loco 69009 already on its way to Eastleigh from Leicester.

Realtime Trains | 0O10 0730 Leicester L.I.P. to Eastleigh Trsmd | 15/09/2025

Real-time train running information for 0O10 0730 departure from Leicester L.I.P. to Eastleigh Trsmd on 15/09/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Eastleigh to Wimbledon.

Realtime Trains | 5Q14 1419 Eastleigh Trsmd to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 15/09/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q14 1419 departure from Eastleigh Trsmd to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 15/09/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Light loco back to Leicester.

Realtime Trains | 0M14 1731 Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs to Leicester L.I.P. | 15/09/2025

Real-time train running information for 0M14 1731 departure from Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs to Leicester L.I.P. on 15/09/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

If it is a 701 then I make it a choice of :-
701009 (resident since 05/06/2025),
701027 (resident since 26/08/2025) or
701060 (resident since 11/08/2025).

If it isn't a 701 then I can get on with the gardening .

Very likely a 701, but if so why is it being loco hauled, those at Eastleigh are usually in working order.

 

[NSEWonderer]

Very likely a 701, but if so why is it being loco hauled, those at Eastleigh are usually in working order.

Availability of those with the route competency and traction competency to complete the move, most likely. Also would still need to be first checked and deemed worthy of running reliably down, which im not sure how many times the said unit has moved under its own steam in the last few months, hence why its probably easier to loco hau it.

 

[GW43125]

2C16 was announced as a passenger being taken ill by the guard on my train, plus a signal failure at Ash Vale, not a great combination!

I've heard that was the line on 2C18, but I was on 2C16 and can assure you it was a door! (Or at least that's what little we were told)

 

[bb21]

Are we expecting a debutant today?

021 will be the next one out, not necessarily today.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Sep 2025 ==

What is the point of the announcements then? They just repeat the automated ones, but less concise and unnecessarily wordy. I do not need to know the name of the guard on the metro service which is stopping every minute or so, this isn’t an intercity train… they should just be carrying out the safety critical parts and that’s it.

On ThamesLink you don’t get the driver going “Hello my name is Rob, I will be your driver today - you can find me at the front of the train during this 30 second journey between City Thameslink and Blackfriars.”

Even if you don't care where the guard is, there are plenty of people who do need assistance in various matters and it is those minority whose needs should be catered for.

There is plenty of fair criticism in this thread about things like PIS and the unnecessary repetition of calling patterns, but this one is just ridiculous.

 

[norbitonflyer]

A new diagram, yes.

The new diagram is the one starting 2K03 (Kingston roundabout). 701057 doing the honours, currently on 2O23 passing Kingston.

 

[Kite159]

The minor issue I have with the PIS is with the rounders announcing the destination as London Waterloo even when the train is sitting at Waterloo about to depart towards Kingston.

Surely having the ability for the PIS to announce a 'false' destination hasn't been lost to technology.

 

[Peter Sarf]

The minor issue I have with the PIS is with the rounders announcing the destination as London Waterloo even when the train is sitting at Waterloo about to depart towards Kingston.

Surely having the ability for the PIS to announce a 'false' destination hasn't been lost to technology.

If the PIS said
"Waterloo via Richmond then Kingston" OR
"Waterloo via New Maldon then Kingston"
It would indicate the service is going somewhere and also if it is clock wise or anti clockwise.

Compare and contrast with the 700/0s going round the Sutton-Wimbledon loop.

EDIT
Looks like todays move from Eastleigh to Wimbledon is unlikely, see my post upthread (no. 14,641).
Unless it really does not need a loco.

 

[Kite159]

If the PIS said
"Waterloo via Richmond then Kingston" OR
"Waterloo via New Maldon then Kingston"
It would indicate the service is going somewhere and also if it is clock wise or anti clockwise.

Compare and contrast with the 700/0s going round the Sutton-Wimbledon loop.

EDIT
Looks like todays move from Eastleigh to Wimbledon is unlikely, see my post upthread (no. 14,641).
Unless it really does not need a loco.

And would stop people boarding the train at Vauxhall when they see a train on P8 announcing it's for Waterloo when they actually want Waterloo.

 

[bb21]

If the PIS said
"Waterloo via Richmond then Kingston" OR
"Waterloo via New Maldon then Kingston"
It would indicate the service is going somewhere and also if it is clock wise or anti clockwise.

Compare and contrast with the 700/0s going round the Sutton-Wimbledon loop.

EDIT
Looks like todays move from Eastleigh to Wimbledon is unlikely, see my post upthread (no. 14,641).
Unless it really does not need a loco.

I have never been a fan of false destinations. It is far better for some people to inadvertently end up on a slower service, but still getting to their destination eventually, than people getting confused as to where a train is going and missing their train, especially considering the plethora of cheap Advance fares on slower services.

Those who inadvertently end up on a slower service can be partially mitigated against by having a more prescriptive destination and via designation.

 

[MotCO]

I have never been a fan of false destinations. It is far better for some people to inadvertently end up on a slower service, but still getting to their destination eventually, than people getting confused as to where a train is going and missing their train, especially considering the plethora of cheap Advance fares on slower services.

Those who inadvertently end up on a slower service can be partially mitigated against by having a more prescriptive destination and via designation.

Can they not refer to it as the Waterloo circular route via Kingston / Twickenham / Hounslow as appropriate?

 

[Kite159]

701021 has entered service it seems on a Hampton Court service.

Sorry for the rubbish quality photo, the sun was in the wrong place at Surbiton.

 

[norbitonflyer]

UPDATE @ 12:10 The above has terminated at Dudding Hill and is apparently going back to Leicester.
(so maybe the 701 will do it all by itself OR it is yet another cancellation)

Noty sure how a 701 could move from Dudding Hill?

 

[Flange Squeal]

Either way, if it’s them doing it on their own accord or the training, it’s completely unnecessary for the services being operated.

Ah, so despite your insinuations about these people and what they "should" be doing, you now admit you don't actually know whether they are in fact doing things correctly as per their training/policy? Thank you for clarifying this.

 

[Bikeman78]

I have never been a fan of false destinations. It is far better for some people to inadvertently end up on a slower service, but still getting to their destination eventually, than people getting confused as to where a train is going and missing their train, especially considering the plethora of cheap Advance fares on slower services.

Those who inadvertently end up on a slower service can be partially mitigated against by having a more prescriptive destination and via designation.

It's rather different when the train is heading in the opposite direction. No one at Clapham Junction or Vauxhall going to Waterloo wants a detour via Kingston or Hounslow. The 40 year old 508s got it right on Merseyrail on tge loop trains. The destination changed at James Street on the way in.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

It's rather different when the train is heading in the opposite direction. No one at Clapham Junction or Vauxhall going to Waterloo wants a detour via Kingston or Hounslow. The 40 year old 508s got it right on Merseyrail on tge loop trains. The destination changed at James Street on the way in.

Slightly OT, but a lesson from history perhaps, when I was first involved in such matters, the Kingston rounders (as one example) were advertised on the boards at Waterloo as (IIRC?) Teddington on the main line side, and Kingston on the Windsor side, with the intension that this would prevent passengers travelling to the likes of New Malden or Twickenham (as two random examples) from having a longer (time wise) journey than was necessary. But this was in SUB/EPB days. Have no idea if/how the PIS design/thinking relates to same in todays world. Technology can perhaps be too clever for its intended purpose?

 

[talldave]

It’s not dodgy, it’s just the mics on 701s use noise cancellation technology so the technique required is very different to they on a traditional.

Noise cancellation done properly doesn’t need "a technique". It's not a good look, new trains with lousy GPS that don't know where they are, PA systems not fit for purpose. It's ironic that all the passengers have a phone in their hands that does it all better than a multi-million pound train.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Slightly OT, but a lesson from history perhaps, when I was first involved in such matters, the Kingston rounders (as one example) were advertised on the boards at Waterloo as (IIRC?) Teddington on the main line side, and Kingston on the Windsor side, with the intension that this would prevent passengers travelling to the likes of New Malden or Twickenham (as two random examples) from having a longer (time wise) journey than was necessary. But this was in SUB/EPB days.

Still done now at Waterloo, Strawberry Hill on the main side, Teddington on the Winsdor side, although as they are scheduled to pass between those two stations, and the fare to Strawberry Hill is higher via Wimbledon is higher (as it passes through Zone 6) the best train to get for Teddington is the "Strawberry Hill" one and vice versa.

From Wimbledon the clockwise ones are advertised to Richmond, and from Norbiton all the way to Waterloo. Not sure where the changes takes place going the other way, but at Twickenham they are advertsised as far as Wimbledon

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Sep 2025 ==

701021 has entered service it seems on a Hampton Court service.

Looks like it took over a diagram from 701053

 

[Peter Sarf]

Noty sure how a 701 could move from Dudding Hill?

It was the fact that 69009 was not making it to Eastleigh but instead cancelled at Dudding Hill that led me to suppose that the idea some had that the 701 could make it on its own from Eastleigh to Wimbledon was the only option left.

In fact there was a VST entry two yours earlier from Eastleigh that might have been for getting a 701 from Eastleigh to Wimbledon on its own. But that was long before cancelled/not-activated.

This one :-

Realtime Trains | 5Q96 1219 Eastleigh Trsmd to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 15/09/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q96 1219 departure from Eastleigh Trsmd to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 15/09/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

It does seem that recently these 701 moves are more likely to be cancelled than happen.
Is it a case that the easiest to commission 701s have been done already and now what is left are more of a struggle ?.
It does make sense that the last few of a fleet to commission will be the hardest ones (I say "last few" BUT I know 25 of the 10car 701/0s are yet to make it out of store !).

 

[swr444]

Still done now at Waterloo, Strawberry Hill on the main side, Teddington on the Winsdor side, although as they are scheduled to pass between those two stations, and the fare to Strawberry Hill is higher via Wimbledon is higher (as it passes through Zone 6) the best train to get for Teddington is the "Strawberry Hill" one and vice versa.

From Wimbledon the clockwise ones are advertised to Richmond, and from Norbiton all the way to Waterloo. Not sure where the changes takes place going the other way, but at Twickenham they are advertsised as far as Wimbledon.

The change happens at Wandsworth town. Announcing it as a Kingston train. At Mortlake it is then announced as a Wimbledon via Kingston train.

 

[mansonlo49]

It was the fact that 69009 was not making it to Eastleigh but instead cancelled at Dudding Hill that led me to suppose that the idea some had that the 701 could make it on its own from Eastleigh to Wimbledon was the only option left.

In fact there was a VST entry two yours earlier from Eastleigh that might have been for getting a 701 from Eastleigh to Wimbledon on its own. But that was long before cancelled/not-activated.

This one :-

Realtime Trains | 5Q96 1219 Eastleigh Trsmd to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 15/09/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q96 1219 departure from Eastleigh Trsmd to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 15/09/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

It does seem that recently these 701 moves are more likely to be cancelled than happen.
Is it a case that the easiest to commission 701s have been done already and now what is left are more of a struggle ?.
It does make sense that the last few of a fleet to commission will be the hardest ones (I say "last few" BUT I know 25 of the 10car 701/0s are yet to make it out of store !).

Realtime Trains | 5Q96 1219 Eastleigh Trsmd to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 15/09/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q96 1219 departure from Eastleigh Trsmd to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 15/09/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

it did went to wimbledon on another 5Q96

 

[NSEWonderer]

Anyone spotted one of the 701/0s with a 701/5 data plate on the end of the Driver motor car yet?

 

[lxfe_mxtterz]

It’s not dodgy, it’s just the mics on 701s use noise cancellation technology so the technique required is very different to they on a traditional.

Are you able to provide any tips on said technique please? Genuine question. I still haven't figured out how to use the GOP PA without it stuttering and cutting out every few seconds.

 

[OneTrackMinded]

Are you able to provide any tips on said technique please? Genuine question. I still haven't figured out how to use the GOP PA without it stuttering and cutting out every few seconds.

It’s hard to explain it without doing a visual demonstration. There are quite a few guards now that are pretty good at it, so if you ask around I’m sure someone can show you. Essentially you need to have it a certain distance from your mouth, and unlike a normal mic, it doesn’t require you to raise your voice much - you should talk into it as if you were having a conversation with someone, not too quiet but not too loud either.

 

[wickham]

Realtime Trains | 5Q96 1219 Eastleigh Trsmd to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 15/09/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q96 1219 departure from Eastleigh Trsmd to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 15/09/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

it did went to wimbledon on another 5Q96

5Q96 Eastleigh Depot to WPS definatly ran - must have been a 701, but can anyone say which one please?

 

[Gordonman]

5Q96 Eastleigh Depot to WPS definatly ran - must have been a 701, but can anyone say which one please?

701060