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

[Flange Squeal]

Previously when unit availability appeared to be ahead of driver availability several nearly ready for service 701s ended up at Farnham. They got driven back to London a couple of days before entering service. Don't think any are currently there.

From a peak of six, it's down to a steady one of late. From memory when last passing by, the current unit at Farnham is 701004.

 

[Snow1964]

Well availabilility of 701s has been relied upon to be quite high. So a pause is prudent.

But also I think you are right about the need to keep crewing simple by handing over to whole groups to 701s.

So is the pause because :
1) more crew need to be trained,
or 2) because too many units that could be used are stored elsewhere
or 3) because stored units have not been prepared for passenger service
or 4) servicing teams cannot cope with more 701s in service at current time
or possibly a combination of these.

Of course next question (and hopefully someone can advise), what is being done to tackle each of 1-4 above, or are we entering a period of temporary paralysis in introduction.

 

[norbitonflyer]

2M05 (W'loo - Chess S) & return 2M12 (Chess S - W'loo) cancelled today "due to an issue with the train crew (TG)" (RTT) - so maybe crew issues are having an impact as well as unit availability

The rerst of the diagram ran though. Whether with the original crew or a substitute, who can say?

 

[Peter Sarf]

I make it thirteen 701s that are floating around SWR - mostly London.
701001,
701002,
701004,
701009,
701015,
701020,
701024,
701026,
701027 (Eastleigh),
701040,
701054,
701059 &
701060.
That is 50% the size of the fleet in service. So there must be some ready.

Even if say 50% of the above are not ready I suggest there would still be six available by now. So either things are really difficult commissioning wise or it is drivers / groups-of drivers. OR hopefully the number of units dedicated to driver training is boosted to allow an increase in driver training (post summer holiday season !).

 

[mansonlo49]

I make it thirteen 701s that are floating around SWR - mostly London.
701001,
701002,
701004,
701009,
701015,
701020,
701024,
701026,
701027 (Eastleigh),
701040,
701054,
701059 &
701060.
That is 50% the size of the fleet in service. So there must be some ready.

Even if say 50% of the above are not ready I suggest there would still be six available by now. So either things are really difficult commissioning wise or it is drivers / groups-of drivers. OR hopefully the number of units dedicated to driver training is boosted to allow an increase in driver training (post summer holiday season !).

027 still haven’t move yet?

 

[Peter Sarf]

027 still haven’t move yet?

My guess is that as it (701027) was delivered to Eastleigh it might need more attention than others.

 

[mansonlo49]

My guess is that as it (701027) was delivered to Eastleigh it might need more attention than others.

the unit have serious issues??

 

[Peter Sarf]

the unit have serious issues??

Not necessarily serious. No idea how serious at all but I suspect some units will have more issues than others. Could be nothing major but still time consuming to identify and sort out. That is new trains for you - they are not as simple as new cars. Of course some of us think storage will have added more issues (but they have been "looked after" in some locations at least).

 

[Big Jumby 74]

they are not as simple as new cars

Or trains from yesteryear (SUB's/EPBs/VEPs etc)....

 

[Peter Sarf]

Or trains from yesteryear (SUB's/EPBs/VEPs etc)....

Indeed. Oh how we have progressed (some would say backwards). Trains are so complicated nowadays.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

Indeed. Oh how we have progressed (some would say backwards). Trains are so complicated nowadays.

A bit like the paperless world many of us still remember we were promised with the advent of computers.......but don't get me going, and I'm veering OT (again!)..

 

[Peter Sarf]

Just noticed on RTT for today/soon 47727 with another 701 presumably. It is 14:47 5Q77 Long Marston to Eastleigh TRSMD. A "VSTP" aka "VST" (Very Short Term Plan).

Realtime Trains | 5Q77 1447 Long Marston Gbrf to Eastleigh Trsmd | 03/10/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q77 1447 departure from Long Marston Gbrf to Eastleigh Trsmd on 03/10/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[mansonlo49]

Not necessarily serious. No idea how serious at all but I suspect some units will have more issues than others. Could be nothing major but still time consuming to identify and sort out. That is new trains for you - they are not as simple as new cars. Of course some of us think storage will have added more issues (but they have been "looked after" in some locations at least).

some？so not looked after at some places then?

 

[Peter Sarf]

some？so not looked after at some places then?

No not necessarily poorly looked after at other locations. Some locations have had 701s stored for longer so less likely to have seen SWR recently (if ever) of course. I only know about some locations BUT it would make sense that all locations are looking after the stored 701s the same/similar way, I just cannot be sure of all (which is why I said "some locations at least").

Main thing is however perhaps Marchwood, being closer to the sea, is exposing them to more salty air. Another factor is some units will have more issues than others just because nothing is consistent in life !.

 

[mansonlo49]

Noticed there's another drag out of Long Marston today, which lucky unit will be?

 

[St. Paddy]

Noticed there's another drag out of Long Marston today, which lucky unit will be?

Reported elsewhere as 701055

 

[mansonlo49]

Reported elsewhere as 701055

Sounds like this was the one cancelled yesterday

 

[D365]

I make it thirteen 701s that are floating around SWR - mostly London.
701001,
701002,
701004,
701009,
701015,
701020,
701024,
701026,
701027 (Eastleigh),
701040,
701054,
701059 &
701060.
That is 50% the size of the fleet in service. So there must be some ready.

Even if say 50% of the above are not ready I suggest there would still be six available by now. So either things are really difficult commissioning wise or it is drivers / groups-of drivers. OR hopefully the number of units dedicated to driver training is boosted to allow an increase in driver training (post summer holiday season !).

the unit have serious issues??

Not to sound blunt but I don’t understand the point in this speculation? There are plenty people that are employed to manage the entry into service of the Class 701 fleet - that being technical modifications and engineering/crew acceptance.

 

[Bigfoot]

Not to sound blunt but I don’t understand the point in this speculation? There are plenty people that are employed to manage the entry into service of the Class 701 fleet - that being technical modifications and engineering/crew acceptance.

I think if you removed posts with speculation from this thread and forum the number of posts would reduce by 75%!

 

[Recessio]

I think if you removed posts with speculation from this thread and forum the number of posts would reduce by 75%!

But isn't that just speculation?

Finally managed to go on a 701 the other day from London Road now they've started serving this line. Definite improvement over the 455s, and boy do they accelerate like something off of a shovel! Hoping the introduction keeps up pace. Thanks to all those providing updates in this thread.

 

[Bigfoot]

But isn't that just speculation?

Are you speculating on my speculation like I am speculating on yours?

 

[Class15]

You can’t avoid speculation in a thread like this, otherwise it gets very dull with simply one update every time there’s a new diagram/unit.

 

[London Trains]

You can’t avoid speculation in a thread like this, otherwise it gets very dull with simply one update every time there’s a new diagram/unit.

Same for every single thread on the entire forum, you may as well delete the whole forum and just have a "notice board" for official updates if you don't want any speculation.

 

[D365]

apologies… there are good people working on the Class 701 fleet introduction and I may have been reading too much into the above postings. Agree that speculation and questions are a very natural part of any rolling stock discussion

And ’on the ground’ updates from those that are in a position to share them are always appreciated of course.

 

[norbitonflyer]

RTT has 701042 working a Guildford (via Cobham) and Woking diagram today. I think this is new ground for the class (they are regulars to Guildford via Epsom of course)

 

[Kite159]

RTT has 701042 working a Guildford (via Cobham) and Woking diagram today. I think this is new ground for the class (they are regulars to Guildford via Epsom of course)

I'm sure I saw a Guildford via Cobham service on the 15th September

 

[TEW]

They've been doing Woking and Guildford via Cobham for a bit now, although the weekday diagram gives them relatively limited runs. The Saturday diagram is booked and has more runs, but it's very much subject to variation due to engineering work.
It's just Ascot to Farnham that hasn't seen a 701 in service now.

 

[norbitonflyer]

They've been doing Woking and Guildford via Cobham for a bit now, although the weekday diagram gives them relatively limited runs. The Saturday diagram is booked and has more runs, but it's very much subject to variation due to engineering work.
It's just Ascot to Farnham that hasn't seen a 701 in service now.

Mea culpa. Yes, they are hard to find on a weekday - looks like Woking gets three round trips (One extended to Guidford) and the Cobham line just one and a half (as it goes out via Epsom)

 

[Stephen42]

Small incremental progress, Shepperton on Sunday was entirely 701 which I think was the first time a location has had a 100% 701 service day.

Also continuation of 701/0s leaving Long Marston, one to Wimbledon Park (via Willesden) and the other to Eastleigh (assuming it is also a 701) later this week.

Realtime Trains | 5Q70 1435 Long Marston Gbrf to Willesden S.W.S. | 08/10/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q70 1435 departure from Long Marston Gbrf to Willesden S.W.S. on 08/10/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q81 1959 Willesden S.W.S. to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 08/10/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q81 1959 departure from Willesden S.W.S. to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 08/10/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q77 1450 Long Marston Gbrf to Eastleigh Trsmd | 09/10/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q77 1450 departure from Long Marston Gbrf to Eastleigh Trsmd on 09/10/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[swr444]

Small incremental progress, Shepperton on Sunday was entirely 701 which I think was the first time a location has had a 100% 701 service day.

Which means the Kingston Rounders 2Kxx/2Oxx were all 701s too on sunday, as they interwork with the Sheppertons