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

[wickham]

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

You are correct I did meen 028 - sorry my error, but I still make it 31 units, I think 028 DID carry passengers.

 

[DMckduck]

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.

Under the current dispatch plan, they wouldn't. Dispatch staff are present now until at least close of service.

Guards could dispatch the train into the up loop at Staines in practice, but that wouldn't be for an extended time because they don't sign the walking route back from there, so would have to come back on the train, also dont sign the sidings or Feltham depot (Don't think there is any plans either for them to).

This will all change of course, when/if DCO returns.

 

[FRSZMZ56]

You are correct I did meen 028 - sorry my error, but I still make it 31 units, I think 028 DID carry passengers.

028 did indeed carry passengers, but would still be included in the 30. There is a great thread here keeping track of the ones that have been in service so far: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/701-operation.279842/

 

[mansonlo49]

Besides there’s another Marchwood move this week, perhaps they want to get the units out as soon as possible? On the other hand haven’t seen any Long Marston movements yet

 

[MasterPhillips]

Under the current dispatch plan, they wouldn't. Dispatch staff are present now until at least close of service.

Guards could dispatch the train into the up loop at Staines in practice, but that wouldn't be for an extended time because they don't sign the walking route back from there, so would have to come back on the train, also dont sign the sidings or Feltham depot (Don't think there is any plans either for them to).

This will all change of course, when/if DCO returns.

Thank you for the reply, sorry for going off topic

Back on topic, 1N95 which should be 701 operated, has been cancelled today due to “more trains than usual needing repair”.

 

[GW43125]

Thank you for the reply, sorry for going off topic

Back on topic, 1N95 which should be 701 operated, has been cancelled today due to “more trains than usual needing repair”.

I think something failed this morning, 2C17 which should be 701 was 2x455 this morning, they found a 701 for the back half of the diagram.

 

[wickham]

Besides there’s another Marchwood move this week, perhaps they want to get the units out as soon as possible? On the other hand haven’t seen any Long Marston movements yet

There appear to be two Marchwood trips booked this week, but I bet only one runs !
19.11.25 5Q81 1119 Marchwood to WPS
20.11.25 5Q84 1119 Marchwood to WPS
WPS is running the risk of being overstretched for capacity.

 

[Meglos]

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

Expect 701013 to be out of service for a day soon. I saw it at Twickenham this evening, and it had some graffiti on the side of the 6th carriage.
SWR have previously tried to run 701's without graffiti.

 

[Peter Sarf]

There appear to be two Marchwood trips booked this week, but I bet only one runs !
19.11.25 5Q81 1119 Marchwood to WPS
20.11.25 5Q84 1119 Marchwood to WPS
WPS is running the risk of being overstretched for capacity.

I think it possible that SIMS at Newport might be more overstretched than WPS (Wimbledon Park Sidings) !.

Last week there were three movements of 701s
12/11/2025 701010 to Wimbledon from Long Marston
13/11/2025 701016 to Eastleigh from Marchwood
14/11/2025 701019 to Wimbledon from Marchwood

So I am wondering if Long Marston is sending a 701 to Eastleigh this week ?.
I feel unlikely and that Marchwood is getting cleared out, particularly of more ready 701s.

EDIT 22:32
They are both 5Q84.
There is no light loco in the system (yet) for the loco to return from Wimbledon to Eastleigh / Marchwood after the 19/11 delivery so I wonder if that is a rogue entry.

 

[mansonlo49]

I think it possible that SIMS at Newport might be more overstretched than WPS (Wimbledon Park Sidings) !.

Last week there were three movements of 701s
12/11/2025 701010 to Wimbledon from Long Marston
13/11/2025 701016 to Eastleigh from Marchwood
14/11/2025 701019 to Wimbledon from Marchwood

So I am wondering if Long Marston is sending a 701 to Eastleigh this week ?.
I feel unlikely and that Marchwood is getting cleared out, particularly of more ready 701s.

Haven't seen any long marston yet, maybe later will havr

 

[Goldfish62]

Expect 701013 to be out of service for a day soon. I saw it at Twickenham this evening, and it had some graffiti on the side of the 6th carriage.
SWR have previously tried to run 701's without graffiti.

It's currently on 2U17 to Windsor.

 

[FRSZMZ56]

034 was sounding incredibly noisy from the motors this morning, and looks like it has failed at Raynes Park: 1D14 0728 Dorking to Raynes Park

 

[WWTownEnth]

There are, according to another thread, 16 units on the SWR network but not in passenger service. Link here

701 operation

Don't know how much longer I'm going to keep this up, but two landmarks were passed today. First day with 23 units in passenger service Aggregate total of 3,000 days.

www.railforums.co.uk

Given it seems to be taking 6-8 weeks to have such units cleared for passenger service can we expect the majority of these to be in use by Christmas?

 

[mansonlo49]

5Q84 did operated today, however two hours late departed Marchwood

Realtime Trains | 5Q84 1119 Marchwood Mod Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 19/11/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q84 1119 departure from Marchwood Mod Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 19/11/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[St. Paddy]

5Q84 did operated today, however two hours late departed Marchwood

Realtime Trains | 5Q84 1119 Marchwood Mod Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 19/11/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q84 1119 departure from Marchwood Mod Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 19/11/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Reported elsewhere as 701047

 

[TEW]

Like last week's, next week's new diagram involves an alteration to current diagrams.
5F84 0625 Woking Up Yard to Woking
2F84 0641 Woking to London Waterloo
2G11 0733 London Waterloo to Guildford
2F20 0846 Guildford to London Waterloo
2G21 1003 London Waterloo to Guildford
2G32 1134 Guildford to London Waterloo
2M31 1247 London Waterloo to Chessington South
2M38 1334 Chessington South to London
Then forms 1D37, 1424 London Waterloo to Dorking from current diagram.

2J38, 1324 Hampton Court to London Waterloo from current diagram now forms:
2F37 1420 London Waterloo to Woking
2F46 1533 Woking to London Waterloo
2G47 1633 London Waterloo to Guildford
2D56 1744 Guildford to London Waterloo
2J57 1906 London Waterloo to Hampton Court
2J64 1954 Hampton Court to London Waterloo
2M63 2047 London Waterloo to Chessington South
2M70 2134 Chessington South to London Waterloo
2F69 2220 London Waterloo to Woking
5F69 2312 Woking to Woking Up Yard

 

[norbitonflyer]

You are correct I did meen 028 - sorry my error, but I still make it 31 units, I think 028 DID carry passengers.

In order of entry to service, grouped in fives for ease of counting. If do you know of another one, do please let us know

701037,701039,701043,701028,701036
701031,701017,701046,701034,701042
701035,701044,701041,701025,701018
701051,701012,701013,701058,701057
701053,701005,701056,701021,701020
701009,701060,701026,701048,701050

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Like last week's, next week's new diagram involves an alteration to current diagrams.
5F84 0625 Woking Up Yard to Woking
2F84 0641 Woking to London Waterloo
2G11 0733 London Waterloo to Guildford
2F20 0846 Guildford to London Waterloo
2G21 1003 London Waterloo to Guildford
2G32 1134 Guildford to London Waterloo
2M31 1247 London Waterloo to Chessington South
2M38 1334 Chessington South to London
Then forms 1D37, 1424 London Waterloo to Dorking from current diagram.

2J38, 1324 Hampton Court to London Waterloo from current diagram now forms:
2F37 1420 London Waterloo to Woking
2F46 1533 Woking to London Waterloo
2G47 1633 London Waterloo to Guildford
2D56 1744 Guildford to London Waterloo
2J57 1906 London Waterloo to Hampton Court
2J64 1954 Hampton Court to London Waterloo
2M63 2047 London Waterloo to Chessington South
2M70 2134 Chessington South to London Waterloo
2F69 2220 London Waterloo to Woking
5F69 2312 Woking to Woking Up Yard

Leaving, if I’m not much mistaken, three all day pair (Wimbledon side), two peak only pair (Wimbledon side) and one single 455 (Windsor side) diagrams?

 

[wickham]

In order of entry to service, grouped in fives for ease of counting. If do you know of another one, do please let us know

701037,701039,701043,701028,701036
701031,701017,701046,701034,701042
701035,701044,701041,701025,701018
701051,701012,701013,701058,701057
701053,701005,701056,701021,701020
701009,701060,701026,701048,701050

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Nov 2025 ==

Re; Units in passenger service: My error, I had 701046 listed twice !

 

[OneTrackMinded]

Leaving, if I’m not much mistaken, three all day pair (Wimbledon side), two peak only pair (Wimbledon side) and one single 455 (Windsor side) diagrams?

Wow.

 

[WWTownEnth]

Wow.

On the basis of this, it seems highly possible that all 455 diagrams will indeed be gone by year end.

 

[DMckduck]

On the basis of this, it seems highly possible that all 455 diagrams will indeed be gone by year end.

Almost inevitable, I think we will see a much larger allocation move over timed with the annual December timetable change.

 

[LambicHedgehog]

I think 2F20 next week might be the first time a 701 service calls at Worplesdon?

 

[GW43125]

I think 2F20 next week might be the first time a 701 service calls at Worplesdon?

Have none covered the 2Fs on Sundays yet?

Edit: one two weeks ago at least https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L49484/2025-11-02

 

[TEW]

Leaving, if I’m not much mistaken, three all day pair (Wimbledon side), two peak only pair (Wimbledon side) and one single 455 (Windsor side) diagrams?

The diagrams have swapped around a little bit, likely necessary to balance the stock, so it's 4 all day pairs, 1 peak pair and 1 peak single. Should be down to 3 pairs by the December timetable change on the 14th December.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

The diagrams have swapped around a little bit, likely necessary to balance the stock, so it's 4 all day pairs, 1 peak pair and 1 peak single. Should be down to 3 pairs by the December timetable change on the 14th December.

Ah, it was stated on the 455 diagrams thread by HamworthyGoods that there’ll be no booked diagrams from the TT change, just STP cover.

 

[TEW]

There are 3 booked LTP in the December timetable change but the plan is that they will only run for the first week. Then it's Christmas and in the New Year they will be replaced.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

There are 3 booked LTP in the December timetable change but the plan is that they will only run for the first week. Then it's Christmas and in the New Year they will be replaced.

Cool, thanks so much for the information.

 

[Snow1964]

There are 3 booked LTP in the December timetable change but the plan is that they will only run for the first week. Then it's Christmas and in the New Year they will be replaced.

Thank you, makes sense, can probably get away with some shorter formations (450 or 458 ?) Mon 22 - Wed 24 Dec

Then there are engineering works and full service doesn't really resume until Mon 5 Jan. I wonder how many sets will be passed for passenger service by this date, I would guess around 37 based on current commissioning rate.

 

[WWTownEnth]

Is there any more clarity yet on whether the 458/4s or the 450s will be the next units to be displaced by the 701s?

The main line could certainly do with some strengthening of 450 (and, by cascade, 444) services.