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Class 701 'Aventra' trains for South Western Railway: progress updates
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Robert Carroll
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- 24 Nov 2017
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Thanks for the information.
Okay we've gone very off-topic with the digression into the extension of platforms to allow 10-car running (which I refuse to accept was so long ago now). Can we please stick to the subject of 701s on this thread.
As has been noted before there's no harm in starting spin-off threads when interesting, but off-topic, questions are asked. You can even quote the post you want to use to start the spin-off by pressing on the "+Quote" button on the post that you want to reply to, going to the appropriate Forum, clicking the "Post Thread" button and then you will see an "Insert Quotes" button at the bottom of the text editor.
As has been noted before there's no harm in starting spin-off threads when interesting, but off-topic, questions are asked. You can even quote the post you want to use to start the spin-off by pressing on the "+Quote" button on the post that you want to reply to, going to the appropriate Forum, clicking the "Post Thread" button and then you will see an "Insert Quotes" button at the bottom of the text editor.
slicedbread
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- 11 Oct 2012
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- 52
You may think that was a long time ago but the 1st post on this thread predates the platform extensions.
Don't tempt me to reach for the ban hammer for pointing that out...
Bessie
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Now several have been in use for a few months what‘s the verdict from drivers and guards on this forum? As a Waterloo-Reading line commuter I appreciate their quicker acceleration and their crowd busting qualities at Clapham Junction when changing trains. PIS seems a bit hit and miss.
Might this be a good sign - getting ready for service perhaps?
Are they all visible from the bridge at Campbell Rd.
Off topic but were the 2 class18s visible in the works. Coming south next weekend and bought a ticket to Eastleigh.
NSEWonderer
Established Member
Guards and Drivers opinions will differ greatly. But I enjoy driving them. Nippy units especially 701058 which so far is for me the star of the current avaliable fleet and performs slightly above the rest.
Must be more aware of what the train speed is in reference to speed restrictions as it picks up speed faster than most, especially Desiro, super noticeable leaving Feltham where you can get to 70 with 701 at Feltham depot building but the Desiro will just about get to 60 before the Junction leading towards Hounslow.
Its also fun to see differences in drivers who've yet to master the braking with 701 in the last few mph before stopping.
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Big Jumby 74
Established Member
159's not dissimilar back in the day, but won't say any more....
NSEWonderer
Established Member
Haha159's not dissimilar back in the day, but won't say any more....
No, none of the 701s are visible from Campbell Road Bridge, but they are visible from the car park along the main road - some 200 to 300 yards along the main road from the bridge. The two Class 18s are NOT visible from Campbell Road as they are behind the "Arlington" building. They may possibly be visible from passing trains on the Fareham line, but I can not confirm this.
Brilliant thanks. Didnt know of car park so very useful thanks.
lxfe_mxtterz
Member
As a guard, I think they're decent enough trains which could be great but are let down by a few glaring issues (from a guard's perspective; although they do also have a few issues from the passenger perspective too such as the poor legroom and cramped seating).
The main issue is the lack of a centre cab (or guard's office) which is problematic for both safety and convenience reasons, as when working from the standard position between coaches 5 and 6 you're a long way from a "safe space" should you need one and also if you need to access any equipment from your bag which is stored in the rear cab.
Stemming from that, I personally find them rather tiring to work as you aren't able to sit down as freely - of course you can sit on the passenger seats but on busy services this isn't an option, and if you're on the same unit for say five hours at a time then it can be rather harsh on the knees. This isn't a "laziness excuse" but rather the reasonable expectation to be able to rest your feet for a little while after having completed your duties onboard.
The saloon GOP PA, which I believe has been extensively discussed on this thread, is also another issue. Whilst I seem to be slowly getting better at the "technique" for using the PA handsets, it's obvious that they aren't as easy to use as those on other stock, and even on the same unit, some handsets produce a notably poorer quality sound than others (see also "audio cutting in and out" as discussed previously).
To a lesser extent, the staggered position of the GOPs is also troublesome, particularly on busier trains and/or at stations where the platform could be on either side, but this is probably the least of the issues, and merely a minor inconvenience.
Aside from the issues outlined, I do think they are nice enough units, but would be so much better with a centrally-located "safe space" (of sorts), some better PA handsets and GOPs at every doorway.
southerngtr
Member
701041 sadly has graffiti on a few coaches
Goldfish62
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This morning morning 0739 Reading to Waterloo is 8 455 vice 10 701 and 0809 Reading to Waterloo is 4 455 vice 5 458/5, but nothing on Journeycheck for formation changes so I assume these are actually new 455 diagrams!!!!!
Or maybe a shortage of available 701s this morning given failures in service last week?
Phillipimo
Member
There was significant engineering work on the Windsor lines out of Waterloo at the weekend so it could be a Monday only planned alteration, though some other short forms are showing on journey check, plus a broken down freight train at Twickenham so it won't be a good morning!
Goldfish62
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Just relooked at RTT and they're both showing as LTP diagrams M-F through to December rather than just alterations for today.
Phillipimo
Member
I don't think RTT knows about unit diagrams, only allocation for each service, this is a LTP schedule which could be operated by any class of unit.
Goldfish62
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But it isn't shown as a short formation on Journeycheck. If it was a one-off substitution it would be showing as 8 coaches instead of 10.
Phillipimo
Member
Yes I see what you mean, I guess it depends whether Journey check compares to the long term plan or the short term plan (plan for today). I don't know the answer to that and apologies if this is off topic.
The 0739 is still a 701 diagram and the 0809 still a 458/5 diagram. Journeycheck isn't always perfect. I'm not sure when the 458/5 diagram was last a 458/5 mind.
Goldfish62
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Siemens Staines
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I have down the last day that this diagram was a 458/5 as Thu 02.10.25 which was also the last day 458535 was in service. Since then it has been a single 455 bar 06.10 when it was a single 458/4 - all subject to the data to RTT being correct of course!
By my reckoning I think that this morning there are
21 701s in service for 23 diagrams (from 24 units)
21 458/4 in service for 24 diagrams (from 28 or 25* units)
2 458/5 in service for 3 diagrams (from 3 units)
* Two units seemingly being used as a source of spares, and one unit at Bournemouth for overhaul.
The shortfall being taken up by three 4v8 458/4 diagrams (as mentioned), two 2*455 vice 701 and one 455 vice 458/5. So five extra 455s on top of their booked 23 diagrams which are all covered.
I stand to be corrected if any of my assumptions are incorrect.
Many thanks - 455 709 & 455 729 are doing this new 701 diagram today (so far anyway):
5M03 0556 Wimbledon Park Depot to Wimbledon
2M03 0609 Wimbledon to Chessington South
2M10 0634 Chessington South to London Waterloo
2M09 0720 London Waterloo to Chessington South
2M16 0804 Chessington South to London Waterloo
2F15 0850 London Waterloo to Woking
2F24 1003 Woking to London Waterloo
2G25 1103 London Waterloo to Guildford
2G36 1234 Guildford to London Waterloo
2M35 1347 London Waterloo to Chessington South
2M42 1434 Chessington South to London Waterloo
2F41 1520 London Waterloo to Woking
2F50 1633 Woking to London Waterloo
2J51 1736 London Waterloo to Hampton Court
2J58 1824 Hampton Court to London Waterloo
1D57 1924 London Waterloo to Dorking
1D66 2030 Dorking to London Waterloo
2J67 2136 London Waterloo to Hampton Court
2J74 2224 Hampton Court to London Waterloo
1D73 2310 London Waterloo to Dorking
5Y70 0009 Dorking to Wimbledon Park Depot
WWTownEnth
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Is it still realistic to expect that enough 701s will be in traffic by the end of the year to allow all 455s to go off lease?
Snow1964
Established Member
Marginal, the mid December timetable change is normally taken as a key date, little tends to happen around Christmas, and Waterloo has major engineering works between Christmas and start of January.
Unless there is sudden influx of new units ready for passengers, in next 2 months, (rather than available for training, but not ready for service) then more realistically late Jan or early Feb