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

[norbitonflyer]

A good day for 701s on the Wimbledon side today, apparently.

Did random searches at Kingston, Chessington South, Ewell West and Hampton Court for around about 8pm, and everything showing was a 701.

And then even Raynes Park, 12 out of consecutive 13 departures 701. The odd one out was a pair of 450s.

There were also a lot on the Windsor Lines to help with the rugby traffic at Twickenham

Twenty units in service altogether

 

[HMTrains]

Hopefully one of the things that will be eliminated by the forthcoming software upgrade.

Will they get rid of celia in this update?

 

[Goldfish62]

Will they get rid of celia in this update?

No idea. The impending upgrade was reported on this thread several pages ago.

 

[mansonlo49]

Next week's new diagram is a bit more complicated as it does involve a change to a current one;
5N92 0635 Farnham Shed to Farnham
1N92 0646 Farnham to London Waterloo
Then works 2C19, 0850 to Reading from a current diagram.

2H96, 0800 Shepperton to London Waterloo on a current diagram now forms;
2O17 0900 London Waterloo to London Waterloo via Richmond and Wimbledon
2K21 1027 London Waterloo to London Waterloo via Wimbledon and Richmond
2O29 1200 London Waterloo to London Waterloo via Richmond and Wimbledon
2K33 1327 London Waterloo to London Waterloo via Wimbledon and Richmond
2O41 1500 London Waterloo to London Waterloo via Richmond and Wimbledon
2K45 1627 London Waterloo to London Waterloo via Wimbledon and Richmond
1N95 1813 London Waterloo to Aldershot
5A96 1951 Aldershot to Clapham Yard

A 701 is berthed at Farnham Shed with the ECS from 2F71, 2250 London Waterloo to Woking running there.

701057 doing 1N92, the first arterio Passenger Service from Farnham

 

[Warrior2852]

Will they get rid of celia in this update?

Why is the version of Celia on the 701s different to normal Celia? Some bits of her lines sound a bit weird compared to the lines that used to be on everything else, I don't know why they would have changed it.

 

[swr444]

Why is the version of Celia on the 701s different to normal Celia? Some bits of her lines sound a bit weird compared to the lines that used to be on everything else, I don't know why they would have changed it.

It will most likely be changed to Elinor which is used on the rest of the fleet now, that's what they're asking

 

[444013]

701057 doing 1N92, the first arterio Passenger Service from Farnham

 

[Warrior2852]

It will most likely be changed to Elinor which is used on the rest of the fleet now, that's what they're asking

I know, but my question is why is the version of Celia currently on the 701s different to the version of Celia that used to be on all of SWR's other stock before Elinor? It's not the same Celia recordings, her voice says things differently in them.

 

[swr444]

I know, but my question is why is the version of Celia currently on the 701s different to the version of Celia that used to be on all of SWR's other stock before Elinor? It's not the same Celia recordings, her voice says things differently in them.

It was called "new Celia" as they were re records done by her. The audio files were also used on the refurbed 442s

 

[DMckduck]

Travelled on the Overground version of the Aventras at the weekend, fully expecting announcement overload similar to the like on SWR 701s.

Was quite surprised it was the opposite, also a quite bizarre one I've noticed is at some stations with short platforms, the doors will not open in this coach (which of course they will open).

Also a delay with announcing the station at some stops and a blank screen, the new year software update has lots of work to do.

 

[bb21]

701050 is now cleared for service

 

[FRSZMZ56]

701050 is now cleared for service

Would this be the 30th 701/0 to run in passenger service when it makes its debut? (including the brief appearance from 028).

Half of the /0s to carry passengers is encouraging!

 

[bb21]

Would this be the 30th 701/0 to run in passenger service when it makes its debut? (including the brief appearance from 028).

Half of the /0s to carry passengers is encouraging!

Seems to be so, yes.

 

[Nimbus020]

701050 is now cleared for service

Yes, saw it being driven out of W'don depot @ about 7:30am this morning (seen from 701 021)

 

[mansonlo49]

Would this be the 30th 701/0 to run in passenger service when it makes its debut? (including the brief appearance from 028).

Half of the /0s to carry passengers is encouraging!

but 701028 haven’t seen any services since last February, if so, is it just makes it 29 in service?

 

[Peter Sarf]

701050 is now cleared for service

That is almost six weeks since leaving Long Marston. I think that is maybe quicker than many of them ?.

 

[norbitonflyer]

27 in service today - a new record. 701005 the only absentee

 

[mansonlo49]

there’s should be another 701 drag this Thursday, if it does go on track

Realtime Trains | Departures from Marchwood Mod Gbrf between 0900 and 1200 on 20/11/2025

Train information at Marchwood Mod Gbrf between 0900 and 1200 on 20/11/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[43096]

701050 is now cleared for service

And is into service this morning on 2C05 0526 London Waterloo to Reading

 

[WWTownEnth]

That‘s good news. We can’t be far off having 50% of the 10 car fleet in traffic.

 

[southern442]

Why is the version of Celia on the 701s different to normal Celia? Some bits of her lines sound a bit weird compared to the lines that used to be on everything else, I don't know why they would have changed it.

I'm not exactly sure of the reason but she re-recorded everything between around 2016-2018 - her 'new' announcements were first seen on the 442s and the 484s, and she also re-recorded all of her station announcements at this time as well, but these were only in use for a couple of years at select stations before being replaced with the ATOS system.

 

[wickham]

That‘s good news. We can’t be far off having 50% of the 10 car fleet in traffic.

I make this the 31st into passenger service, if we include701036 which ran for about 3 days - possibly in error ! Even if it was in service in error it DID run in passenger service, so should be included.

 

[pompeyfan]

I’ve heard there are issues with the Farnham ending diagram? Something to do with there being no one to dispatch the train ECS into the shed? Can anyone confirm?

 

[FRSZMZ56]

I make this the 31st into passenger service, if we include701036 which ran for about 3 days - possibly in error ! Even if it was in service in error it DID run in passenger service, so should be included.

It would be the 30th to carry passengers when it enters.

I think you are referring to 028 which ran for 3 days in Feb 2024. 036 has done 312 days in passenger service

 

[Goldfish62]

I’ve heard there are issues with the Farnham ending diagram? Something to do with there being no one to dispatch the train ECS into the shed? Can anyone confirm?

Well if there is a problem it's not stopping the use of a 701 on the diagram. Perhaps it just sits outside the shed overnight!

 

[DMckduck]

I’ve heard there are issues with the Farnham ending diagram? Something to do with there being no one to dispatch the train ECS into the shed? Can anyone confirm?

701s are mandatory dispatch from all stations by either a guard or platform staff currently, I'm unsure on local knowledge, do Farnham guards sign the shed?

 

[TEW]

I’ve heard there are issues with the Farnham ending diagram? Something to do with there being no one to dispatch the train ECS into the shed? Can anyone confirm?

The Farnham ending diagram goes ECS from Woking at the moment which won't be an issue as it can be dispatched by platform staff there.

 

[MasterPhillips]

701s are mandatory dispatch from all stations by either a guard or platform staff currently, I'm unsure on local knowledge, do Farnham guards sign the shed?

Surely then guards would have to travel with trains down the depot if the nearest station doesn’t have a dispatcher. That must be a headache.
also, what makes a 701 different from other SWR stock?

 

[NSEWonderer]

Surely then guards would have to travel with trains down the depot if the nearest station doesn’t have a dispatcher. That must be a headache.
also, what makes a 701 different from other SWR stock?

Its not just 701s. But 701s are longer in general than most other fleet and the whole fact that as of the moment, drivers don't self dispatch themselves.

 

[MasterPhillips]

Its not just 701s. But 701s are longer in general than most other fleet and the whole fact that as of the moment, drivers don't self dispatch themselves.

So how would, for example, a driver leave Staines if heading to the sidings or Feltham depot at around 1am if the dispatch staff have finished.
I’m not 100% sure when dispatch staff finish so perhaps they are always there at that time.