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

[class701]

Not sure if this incident yesterday was a 701, but I have not seen it mentioned on here yet. Wasn't there a problem a few years ago similar to this before the 701 entered service?

Commuters flee train after ‘loud bang and smoke’ in west London

Ongoing investigation disrupting trains between Shepperton and Teddington

www.independent.co.uk

 

[Big Jumby 74]

Compare the 24 from 25 units that the 701s are currently expected to achieve with the first few years of the 458s when it was 24 units from a total of 30!

Talking of traffic availability in general, but with 701s in mind, I did a quick back of a fag packet calculation for 701's based on the service level in place at the time of their procurement, ie pre covid, which would have been the driving factor in the number of units ordered. The following would (will) be required to cover (that) level of service;

701/0: 56 from 60, so approx 94%.

701/5: 27 from 30, so 90%.

Given the size of each sub fleet, that is exactly what I would have expected, having worked with same scenarios myself, be it VEPs or 707's.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Oct 2025 ==

Not sure if this incident yesterday was a 701

It was 455 related. It is mentioned in the SWR withdrawls thread as per below.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Oct 2025 ==

Here's a screenshot of it for you.

Looks a bit more than just normal arcing; maybe some debris got caught in the shoegear?

Accessibility statement: Image shows the affected train with an extremely bright arcing coloured light under the entire front carriage forward of the rear bogie and reaching up to the lower edge of the windows in places.

 

[Stephen42]

There has generally been a slight build up of 701s on SWR. As in fewer going to store than coming out of store. At the moment the increase in 701s does not seem to be matched by an increase in use. BUT the two factors are not simply linked. Furthermore SWR are diagraming 701s with only one spare - very ambitious. Also I can imagine there will be times when a whole block of services switch over to 701s when a critical mass of drivers at any one depot/service-group is reached.

If one of the drivers rostered to drive part of a 701s diagram for the day is not passed to drive 701s then there is a risk the whole diagram has to be covered by something more familiar - 455s.

Units with defects could easily be simple things like wheelflats. It is the leaf fall season after all and this always adversely affects unit availability. There are not enough wheel lathes to get units back quickly at this time of year. But as @Bigfoot says - not really much evidence of 701s suffering wheelflats.

For 701/0s there haven't been any movements into store for several months with a slow stream coming out of store. Most have gone to Wimbledon with a few going to Eastleigh first. There's been a slower progression of units into passenger service, the numbers have increased by 5 since two months ago.

There have been a lot of crew related cancellations recently. Several diagrams have had trips cancelled with the unit parked at Wimbledon during that time. That specific 701s have been out for a while points to unit availability rather than train crew related issues.

On the plus side, with current allocations it looks like either 22 or 23 701s will be out at once this afternoon which would be a new high.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Not sure if this incident yesterday was a 701, but I have not seen it mentioned on here yet. Wasn't there a problem a few years ago similar to this before the 701 entered service?

Commuters flee train after ‘loud bang and smoke’ in west London

Ongoing investigation disrupting trains between Shepperton and Teddington

www.independent.co.uk

No it wasn't. The picture used by the Independent of a 701 at Waterloo is almost irrelevant (I say "almost" because at least it was the right TOC)

It was actually a 455 at Fulwell. The Metro covered it rather better - article here

MSN

 

[Peter Sarf]

For 701/0s there haven't been any movements into store for several months with a slow stream coming out of store. Most have gone to Wimbledon with a few going to Eastleigh first. There's been a slower progression of units into passenger service, the numbers have increased by 5 since two months ago.

There have been a lot of crew related cancellations recently. Several diagrams have had trips cancelled with the unit parked at Wimbledon during that time. That specific 701s have been out for a while points to unit availability rather than train crew related issues.

On the plus side, with current allocations it looks like either 22 or 23 701s will be out at once this afternoon which would be a new high.

Indeed. Looking at my (probably correct) records :-

Last 701 going into store was 701055 from Wimbledon to Long Marston on 11/06/2025 and that has since returned to SWR Eastleigh on 03/10/2025. A bit odd that it has left the London area for Eastleigh via two months at Long Marston. I wonder if that is warmer storage at Eastleigh for a 701 that was ready but not needed yet ?. Certainly a tellingly short storage away from SWR. But I am risking conjecture here if I think/say more.

There is also the arrival on SWR from Marchwood. Eight 701s there arrived 04/04/2025 - 21/12/2024. The ninth (701026) arrived much later on 28/05/2025 and has since returned to Wimbledon on 25/09/2025.

Last I had leaving SWR for storage was as recent as 06/08/2025 to Long Marston. That is (only) two months ago but now I look at the detail that was a pair of 701/5s so we cannot really count them in the same discussion ?.

There has been a steady stream of 455s to meet their maker at Sims in Newport. That will be releasing siding space in the London area of SWR.

Which is why I feel there is a build up of 701s on SWR occurring.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Twenty three out and about today. the only ones to have been ion passenger service having a rest today being 018, 028 (of course) and 036.

Total number of outings since Feb 2024 has now passed the 3,000 mark

 

[Goldfish62]

Not sure if this incident yesterday was a 701, but I have not seen it mentioned on here yet. Wasn't there a problem a few years ago similar to this before the 701 entered service?

Commuters flee train after ‘loud bang and smoke’ in west London

Ongoing investigation disrupting trains between Shepperton and Teddington

www.independent.co.uk

The photo of the 455 with flames coming from underneath was widely circulated on news social media sites. It was a frying pigeon.

The 458s have had several "thermal incidents". Maybe that's what you were thinking of.

 

[Pippy1505]

Another 701 Drag for Thursday 23/10/2025 5Q70 1435 Long Marston - Wimbledon

 

[NSEWonderer]

Several 701 running about Clapham on test, 701060 and 701002 doing the usual driver training runs 060 via Hounslow.

 

[TEW]

Next week's new diagram:

5H11 0547 Strawberry Hill Depot to Shepperton
2H12 0641 Shepperton to London Waterloo
2H11 0742 London Waterloo to Shepperton
2H20 0841 Shepperton to London Waterloo
2H19 0942 London Waterloo to Shepperton
2H28 1040 Shepperton to London Waterloo
2H27 1142 London Waterloo to Shepperton
2H36 1240 Shepperton to London Waterloo
2H35 1342 London Waterloo to Shepperton
2H44 1441 Shepperton to London Waterloo
2H43 1542 London Waterloo to Shepperton
2H52 1641 Shepperton to London Waterloo
2H51 1742 London Waterloo to Shepperton
2H98 1850 Shepperton to London Waterloo via Twickenham
5Y30 1948 London Waterloo to Clapham Yard

 

[Goldfish62]

Next week's new diagram:

5H11 0547 Strawberry Hill Depot to Shepperton
2H12 0641 Shepperton to London Waterloo
2H11 0742 London Waterloo to Shepperton
2H20 0841 Shepperton to London Waterloo
2H19 0942 London Waterloo to Shepperton
2H28 1040 Shepperton to London Waterloo
2H27 1142 London Waterloo to Shepperton
2H36 1240 Shepperton to London Waterloo
2H35 1342 London Waterloo to Shepperton
2H44 1441 Shepperton to London Waterloo
2H43 1542 London Waterloo to Shepperton
2H52 1641 Shepperton to London Waterloo
2H51 1742 London Waterloo to Shepperton
2H98 1850 Shepperton to London Waterloo via Twickenham
5Y30 1948 London Waterloo to Clapham Yard

Thanks for the update.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Thanks for the update.

This will make all but one of the four Shepperton diagrams 710s, along with all but one of the six Kingston roundabout diagrams

(also 2/5 Windsor and 3/7 Reading - other diagrams cover a mixture of routes)

 

[Goldfish62]

This will make all but one of the four Shepperton diagrams 710s, along with all but one of the six Kingston roundabout diagrams

(also 2/5 Windsor and 3/7 Reading - other diagrams cover a mixture of routes)

I remember back in the day it was stated that the Reading line would be the first to be converted in its entirety. That then switched to the Shepperton line, and it looks like at long last at least that bit of the old plan is close to coming to fruition!

 

[wickham]

The changing scene: Waterloo at about 1100 today (22/10) 4 x 701s side by side in the main surburban platforms with another arriving on the Windsor side at the same time - not a 455 in sight (but 458535+33 did arrive too):

 

[60159]

Change indeed. In London last weekend for the first time since March and on Sunday 15 at Clapham and 6 at Wimbeldon and not many 455s around.

 

[mansonlo49]

47727 on the way to Long Marston to collect a 701 unit（if it does operate）

 

[St. Paddy]

47727 on the way to Long Marston to collect a 701 unit（if it does operate）

Reported as 701033

 

[The_Train]

Reported as 701033

To Wimbledon?

 

[St. Paddy]

To Wimbledon?

Yes

 

[The_Train]

Yes

Thank you

 

[davews]

Just a passing comment. Unlike SWR's other trains there is no advertising inside the carriages of 701 trains or provision of panels for it. Is this a deliberate decision or something that has been overlooked?

 

[NSEWonderer]

Just a passing comment. Unlike SWR's other trains there is no advertising inside the carriages of 710 trains or provision of panels for it. Is this a deliberate decision or something that has been overlooked?

The side screens near the doors are suppose to eventually allow digital advertisement that can be updated real time. You still have paper based advertisement panels dotted about.

 

[Malcolmffc]

The side screens near the doors are suppose to eventually allow digital advertisement that can be updated real time. You still have paper based advertisement panels dotted about.

I see, so when SWR are running late as usual they can helpfully advertise a local taxi firm?

 

[NSEWonderer]

I see, so when SWR are running late as usual they can helpfully advertise a local taxi firm?

That wouldn't be a half bad idea

 

[WWTownEnth]

How is it all going today? Many 701 diagrams cancelled or being served by 455s?

 

[Nimbus020]

How is it all going today? Many 701 diagrams cancelled or being served by 455s?

Today's 2M03 onwards diagram was due to be 455-worked (vice 701) but this was cancelled anyway due to Wimbledon issues early this morning - not sure if the diagram was picked up later in the day. This seems a common occurrence for this diagram on Mondays anyway (455s replacing a 701).

 

[OneTrackMinded]

The side screens near the doors are suppose to eventually allow digital advertisement that can be updated real time. You still have paper based advertisement panels dotted about.

I’ve also heard they’re supposed to show a moving map.

 

[Siemens Staines]

Today's 2M03 onwards diagram was due to be 455-worked (vice 701) but this was cancelled anyway due to Wimbledon issues early this morning - not sure if the diagram was picked up later in the day. This seems a common occurrence for this diagram on Mondays anyway (455s replacing a 701).

5728 + 5737 picked up this diagram from 2M09 0720 London Waterloo to Chessington South and are still on it AFAIK.

I think that there were only 24 701 diagrams today as a consequence of the Reading - Wokingham closure which reduced the number of Reading diagrams by one and also consequently altered all of their diagrams. The number of diagrams for 458 and 450 looked to be the same, so 701s were the chosen fleet to loose a diagram. It was quite hard to follow because the Staines - Windsor closure also had an impact, but I think that the number of "Windsor" diagrams is the same, just that the trains run to Ascot or Bracknell.

 

[Juniper Driver]

New one (for me) seen out today...701009.

 

[norbitonflyer]

I think that there were only 24 701 diagrams today

I'm only aware of 23 units out today, 013 and 039 being the absentees.