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

[lxfe_mxtterz]

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.

Thanks, I'll have a play around using what you've said next time I'm working one.

 

[Peter Sarf]

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

+

701060

I see it now !. Thanks. I should have searched for TOC as SW or ALL rather than the usual ZZ. That will make searching harder !.

Realtime Trains | Departures from Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs between 1400 and 1630 on 15/09/2025

Train information at Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs between 1400 and 1630 on 15/09/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Behold the cancelled 5Q96 and another 5Q96 right next to it if you do not narrow the search down to TOC ZZ !.

 

[norbitonflyer]

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

Interesting. So at Mortlake there are trains advertised to Wimbledon, but no trains at Wimbledon are advertised as going to Mortlake (only Richmond)

 

[Matt Taylor]

701021 made its debut on 2J31 1236 to Hampton Court.

 

[Gateline7842]

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

I did notice on 701017 (i think? maybe 018) that the coach number in coach 2 or 3 has a * next to it, same as for the middle-of-the-train designation

 

[bb21]

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.

Ideally I would expect these issues to be mitigated against at relevant stations (eg. Vauxhall, Clapham Junction) by prominent signs and on PIS boards, however it is never an exact science and would need adapting to local needs/travel habits/behaviour.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Ideally I would expect these issues to be mitigated against at relevant stations (eg. Vauxhall, Clapham Junction) by prominent signs and on PIS boards, however it is never an exact science and would need adapting to local needs/travel habits/behaviour.

Not really a problem at either station, as the relevant platforms at those stations are a long way apart and there are clear signs pointing you to platform 8 at Vauxhall, and to platfom 11 at Clapham Junction, for stations to Strawberry Hill via Kingston, and to platforms 3/4 and 5/6 respectively for trains via Richmond. Once on the relevant platform you will not hear or see any announcements for the other side of the station

 

[SEtrains]

Any ideas on which 701 will next see service now that 021 has entered service?

 

[Kite159]

Not really a problem at either station, as the relevant platforms at those stations are a long way apart and there are clear signs pointing you to platform 8 at Vauxhall, and to platfom 11 at Clapham Junction, for stations to Strawberry Hill via Kingston, and to platforms 3/4 and 5/6 respectively for trains via Richmond. Once on the relevant platform you will not hear or see any announcements for the other side of the station

Vauxhall on the Windsor line side is ok as the platform islands for up & down trains are different, but I would imagine platform 7 & 8 could cause confusion by those not used to using trains or that station and simply go by what the train is displaying & announcing.

Never underestimate the ability of someone to board the wrong train

 

[swr444]

701002 doing test runs today

Realtime Trains | 5Q02 0928 Clapham Yard Sidings to London Waterloo | 16/09/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q02 0928 departure from Clapham Yard Sidings to London Waterloo on 16/09/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[NSEWonderer]

One of the lovely 701/0s is running around with these two data plates.

 

[mansonlo49]

View attachment 188504
One of the lovely 701/0s is running around with these two data plates.

701/5？when was this

 

[MotCO]

Is it possible to exchange a carriage from the middle of a 701/0 with a carriage from a 701/5, or are they mutually exclusive? If you can, maybe a 701/0 carriage needs considerable attention so was swapped with a 701/5 to get another rake into service.

 

[NSEWonderer]

If you have time to spot 701046 the GBR liveried unit. You'll see on one of its driver motor carriages the mysterious data plate above. Have no clue if its an actual 701/5 swapped in as the DM.

 

[Snow1964]

If you have time to spot 701046 the GBR liveried unit. You'll see on one of its driver motor carriages the mysterious data plate above. Have no clue if its an actual 701/5 swapped in as the DM.

Although photo in #14,681 does appear to show data plate on a panel that appears to have screws/bolts. Could it be that someone swapped the panels with another unit.

 

[PG]

Although photo in #14,681 does appear to show data plate on a panel that appears to have screws/bolts. Could it be that someone swapped the panels with another unit.

I've not seen these particular data plates but from looking on other rolling stock I'd always thought that these were either stenciled or heavy duty stickers. Your point still stands that the entire panel could have been swapped.

 

[NSEWonderer]

Although photo in #14,681 does appear to show data plate on a panel that appears to have screws/bolts. Could it be that someone swapped the panels with another unit.

Possible but as to why they'd need to swap the panels and not check the stickers on it are correct, is something confusing.

 

[Anis M]

Is it possible to exchange a carriage from the middle of a 701/0 with a carriage from a 701/5, or are they mutually exclusive? If you can, maybe a 701/0 carriage needs considerable attention so was swapped with a 701/5 to get another rake into service.

In theory it would be possible if you kept the formation the same as indeed there are a couple 172s, 175s and 350s with swapped carriages, but for 701s in practice I doubt. The 701/0s throw a hissy fit and when split you can't couple half of 036 to half of 037 for example, the train will go into a meltdown. Most likely just a swapped plate, 1046 has been carrying that for months now.

Easiest way to tell is by looking at the individual carriage numbers. For example, the first DM from 701001 would be 480001 while the first DM from 701501 would be 480101

 

[mansonlo49]

In theory it would be possible if you kept the formation the same as indeed there are a couple 172s, 175s and 350s with swapped carriages, but for 701s in practice I doubt. The 701/0s throw a hissy fit and when split you can't couple half of 036 to half of 037 for example, the train will go into a meltdown. Most likely just a swapped plate, 1046 has been carrying that for months now.

Easiest way to tell is by looking at the individual carriage numbers. For example, the first DM from 701001 would be 480001 while the first DM from 701501 would be 480101

What’s hissy fit or meltdown may I ask please? Because I know some trains can be mixed formed, for example the emus in Hong Kong? As I heard of back in September 2020, one set of the IKK trains on the East Rail Line were cross coupled, E205/E215, due to train shortage and some units needed overhaul

I put the image below, the two sets which have cross coupled (M216 originally belong to 213/215 and H206 originally belong to 205/207)

 

[WarrenTManager]

What’s hissy fit or meltdown may I ask please? Because I know some trains can be mixed formed, for example the emus in Hong Kong? As I heard of back in September 2020, one set of the IKK trains on the East Rail Line were cross coupled, E205/E215, due to train shortage and some units needed overhaul

Not being an expert on the TCMS but I imagine it does similar to 458s where you have to do a lot of work to make a hybrid. We made one on 8518/8501 when a coach of 8518 had a sideswipe and 8501 was out of action because of the fire. I suggested it and it was done but it was a pain in the proverbials and we never did a hybrid again.

 

[87015]

Not being an expert on the TCMS but I imagine it does similar to 458s where you have to do a lot of work to make a hybrid. We made one on 8518/8501 when a coach of 8518 had a sideswipe and 8501 was out of action because of the fire. I suggested it and it was done but it was a pain in the proverbials and we never did a hybrid again.

Shouldn't be, Aventra can do it easily - currently is a 710 with coaches swapped between units, no drama.

 

[OneTrackMinded]

Driver of 701039 on the 1630 out of waterloo really driving the unit well, full power acceleration out of stations and fast braking.

 

[WarrenTManager]

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== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Sep 2025 ==

Shouldn't be, Aventra can do it easily - currently is a 710 with coaches swapped between units, no drama.

​

Change a couple of IP addresses rather than hitting and swearing at things?

 

[mansonlo49]

Shouldn't be, Aventra can do it easily - currently is a 710 with coaches swapped between units, no drama.

710 swapped？which set was it？

 

[wickham]

View attachment 188504
One of the lovely 701/0s is running around with these two data plates.

Although it is clearly headed up 701/5, is not the rest of the data correct for either type ?

 

[Peter Sarf]

Although it is clearly headed up 701/5, is not the rest of the data correct for either type ?

Unit length and number of seats will be wrong. That unit length could be very embarrassing if a driver reverses it down a less than ten car length siding expecting it to fit - not to hit the buffers !.

New arrival 701060 visible outside the London end shed at Wimbledon, main line side, this afternoon circa 16:00.

 

[OneTrackMinded]

Unit length and number of seats will be wrong. That unit length could be very embarrassing if a driver reverses it down a less than ten car length siding expecting it to fit - not to hit the buffers !.

New arrival 701060 visible outside the London end shed at Wimbledon, main line side, this afternoon circa 16:00.

Also the weight is incorrect. Possibly might lead to a newbie at the depot inputting the wrong values for a lift, which I can’t imagine would be very good.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Also the weight is incorrect. Possibly might lead to a newbie at the depot inputting the wrong values for a lift, which I can’t imagine would be very good.

Are units routinely lifted as a whole, rather than just the one carriage?

 

[OneTrackMinded]

Are units routinely lifted as a whole, rather than just the one carriage?

I’m not sure but either way, the worker is likely to read the first carriage’s plate.

 

[800001]

I’m not sure but either way, the worker is likely to read the first carriage’s plate.

Do workers even read them? Surely they know the length of units they are working with?