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

[Goldfish62]

Am I mistaken or didn’t TEW mention them already

I can't see anything. It was mentioned last week that there'd be two new diagrams next week, but no details.

 

[WWTownEnth]

I can't see anything. It was mentioned last week that there'd be two new diagrams next week, but no details.

I think it was one new diagram next week and two the week after (with the winter timetable commencement)

 

[SWT_USER]

Is the 'swap' between fast and slow lines between Barnes and Clapham (in that direction only) in any way related to the 701 introduction? An issue with one of the platforms?

Unsure how long it's been going on but everything from Windsor has been using Putney platform 1 today at least, with slower services using P2. Apologies if I have missed any discussion over the last few pages.

 

[TEW]

Am I mistaken or didn’t TEW mention them already

No, but it is the diagram that went back to 455 this week going back over to 701.

 

[Goldfish62]

Is the 'swap' between fast and slow lines between Barnes and Clapham (in that direction only) in any way related to the 701 introduction? An issue with one of the platforms?

Unsure how long it's been going on but everything from Windsor has been using Putney platform 1 today at least, with slower services using P2. Apologies if I have missed any discussion over the last few pages.

Between the peaks one or other of the lines in either direction is often closed, presumably for track inspections.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Dec 2025 ==

I think it was one new diagram next week and two the week after (with the winter timetable commencement)

Ah right, thanks.

 

[Bigfoot]

Is there a reason two units couldn't be stabled in Wimbledon station itself overnight? There's enough pointwork either side for whatever runs in the middle of the night (1-5AM) to get around them.

Many reasons. Wimbledon is not a suitable location to leave units on the running line. The list of locations is quite small in the grand scheme of stations

 

[WWTownEnth]

Any signs of new units entering passenger service this week?

 

[SWT_USER]

Between the peaks one or other of the lines in either direction is often closed, presumably for track inspections.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Dec 2025 ==


Ah right, thanks.

Yes - in this case neither line was closed. According to RTT the Windsor trains have been calling at Putney P1 all day - can confirm it was the case on the two services I was on (0711 and 1611 from Ashford).

 

[swr444]

Yes - in this case neither line was closed. According to RTT the Windsor trains have been calling at Putney P1 all day - can confirm it was the case on the two services I was on (0711 and 1611 from Ashford).

This happened a couple of months back also. I'm wondering if it's the signaller trying it out. On the face of it, it makes sense having the up Windsor and Reading run on the outer line as they can use the Windsor reversible through the disused platform at Queenstown Road and avoid the conflict with the Kingston rounder crossing from the reversible to the up windsor after Clapham. However, there are a few clashes like the 2R Hounslow rounder and the 2C up Reading coming into Barnes at around the same time. Meaning one has to wait for the other to cross the junction.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Between the peaks one or other of the lines in either direction is often closed, presumably for track inspections.

That happened to me recently, with a last minute platform alteration - and lost of orange suits on the track. No problem at Clapham Junction, where I boarded, but there were some seriously disgruntled passengers at Wandsworth Town who were still coming up the stairs as I was going down - and the train was already leaving.

 

[Goldfish62]

That happened to me recently, with a last minute platform alteration - and lost of orange suits on the track. No problem at Clapham Junction, where I boarded, but there were some seriously disgruntled passengers at Wandsworth Town who were still coming up the stairs as I was going down - and the train was already leaving.

The off-peak line closures have been a feature for as many years as I can remember - together with what you've described!

 

[Big Jumby 74]

I'm wondering if it's the signaller trying it out. On the face of it, it makes sense having the up Windsor and Reading run on the outer line as they can use the Windsor reversible through the disused platform at Queenstown Road

You are I believe on the right track - no pun intended - this was something some in the signalling side wanted to see in the base plan years ago IIRC, but due to minor clashes of schedules on some hours, it would have meant a mish mash of differing variations for some trains, with standard timings having to be tweaked for a number of such trains.
With the 701 performance (point to point) seemingly being better, ie faster, then perhaps this is one area that may benefit being looked at again?

 

[swr444]

The off-peak line closures have been a feature for as many years as I can remember - together with what you've described!

They will hopefully be gone with the track and point work replacements happening over Christmas

 

[Big Jumby 74]

They will hopefully be gone with the track and point work replacements happening over Christmas

Not entirely. There are 'patrolling' possessions at various locations from certain platforms at Waterloo, and at various other locations, many of which require line blocks for short periods and associated line diversions.

 

[Peter Sarf]

47739 is on the way down to Eastleigh now on 0O77 so would expect a single drag tomorrow. 5Q82 to Eastleigh has the light loco move afterward so looks the more likely on paper.

Both now cancelled (today 04/12/2025).

5Q82 Marchwood to Eastleigh due to a request from the operator (FL).

Realtime Trains | 5Q82 0902 Marchwood Mod Gbrf to Eastleigh Trsmd | 04/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q82 0902 departure from Marchwood Mod Gbrf to Eastleigh Trsmd on 04/12/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

5Q86 Marchwood to Wimbledon due to a problem with the brakes (MN).

Realtime Trains | 5Q84 1119 Marchwood Mod Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 04/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q84 1119 departure from Marchwood Mod Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 04/12/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

0Z82 light loco, presumably for 5Q82, also cancelled due to a request from the operator (FL).

Realtime Trains | 0Z82 0707 Eastleigh East Yard to Marchwood Mod Gbrf | 04/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 0Z82 0707 departure from Eastleigh East Yard to Marchwood Mod Gbrf on 04/12/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[bb21]

701059 next one ready

 

[WWTownEnth]

701059 next one ready

Thanks. When is it likely to enter passenger service?

 

[bb21]

Thanks. When is it likely to enter passenger service?

Likely tomorrow if they haven't used it this afternoon. The utilisation rate of 701s is unsustainably high at the moment so any newly passed out unit will likely be ploughed straight into service.

 

[Robert Carroll]

Likely tomorrow if they haven't used it this afternoon. The utilisation rate of 701s is unsustainably high at the moment so any newly passed out unit will likely be ploughed straight into service.

I noticed that the 1806 Waterloo-Hampton Court was 8x455 this evening. When I see it, it's usually a 701.

 

[bb21]

I noticed that the 1806 Waterloo-Hampton Court was 8x455 this evening. When I see it, it's usually a 701.

Yes there are still a couple of step-ups as a couple of the 701s are poorly but they should be back in service soon as I understand.

 

[Bumpkin]

Thanks. When is it likely to enter passenger service?

Shown on RTT to be on 2C05 to Reading this morning.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L48655/2025-12-05/detailed

 

[norbitonflyer]

And another nlandmark passed yesterday with a total, over the 31 units to have had paying passengers, of 4,000 days in service

 

[Goldfish62]

701s are dominating on Reading services today. All except a pair of 450s and pair of 458/5s.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Delivery !

Tuesday 09/12/2025 - 5Q84 11:00 Marchwood to Wimbledon Park Depot Sidings 13:45.

Realtime Trains | 5Q84 1100 Marchwood Mod Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 09/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q84 1100 departure from Marchwood Mod Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 09/12/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Should be one of
701022,
701029,
701032 or
701038.
If my records are up-to-date.

 

[wickham]

Delivery !

Tuesday 09/12/2025 - 5Q84 11:00 Marchwood to Wimbledon Park Depot Sidings 13:45.

Realtime Trains | 5Q84 1100 Marchwood Mod Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 09/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q84 1100 departure from Marchwood Mod Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 09/12/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Should be one of
701022,
701029,
701032 or
701038.
If my records are up-to-date.

The interesting thing is that two moves are shown this week on RTT for Tuesday 9th and Thursday 11th and it looks from the way the loco is booked that BOTH might run:
After 5Q84 on Tuesday, the loco stabes at Wimbledon Park and returns to Eastleigh as 0Z85 (1524) on Wednesday. On Thursday morning it is then shown as 0Z84 Eastleigh to Marchwood, 5Q84 Marchwood to Wimbledon and then 0M84 1440 Wimbledon Park to Leicester. So we will see what actually happens. The two most recent arrivals remaining at Marchwood are 701038 (12.06.24) and 701032 (04.06.24), so my money is on one (or both) of these !

 

[WWTownEnth]

The interesting thing is that two moves are shown this week on RTT for Tuesday 9th and Thursday 11th and it looks from the way the loco is booked that BOTH might run:
After 5Q84 on Tuesday, the loco stabes at Wimbledon Park and returns to Eastleigh as 0Z85 (1524) on Wednesday. On Thursday morning it is then shown as 0Z84 Eastleigh to Marchwood, 5Q84 Marchwood to Wimbledon and then 0M84 1440 Wimbledon Park to Leicester. So we will see what actually happens. The two most recent arrivals remaining at Marchwood are 701038 (12.06.24) and 701032 (04.06.24), so my money is on one (or both) of these !

That’s very encouraging and doesn’t suggest a Jan slowdown in the rollout!

 

[norbitonflyer]

701s are dominating on Reading services today. All except a pair of 450s and pair of 458/5s.

Reading (and Windsor) services were combined with Kingston Loop ones at the weekend (reversing at Twickenham), because of maintenence east of Barnes, so they needed maximum capacity.

 

[Peter Sarf]

The interesting thing is that two moves are shown this week on RTT for Tuesday 9th and Thursday 11th and it looks from the way the loco is booked that BOTH might run:
After 5Q84 on Tuesday, the loco stabes at Wimbledon Park and returns to Eastleigh as 0Z85 (1524) on Wednesday. On Thursday morning it is then shown as 0Z84 Eastleigh to Marchwood, 5Q84 Marchwood to Wimbledon and then 0M84 1440 Wimbledon Park to Leicester. So we will see what actually happens. The two most recent arrivals remaining at Marchwood are 701038 (12.06.24) and 701032 (04.06.24), so my money is on one (or both) of these !

Ah ha, well spotted. I had been looking out for a Marchwood to Eastleigh drag to no avail. This also explains the lack of an Eastleigh to Wimbledon move (not dragged).

That’s very encouraging and doesn’t suggest a Jan slowdown in the rollout!

I am sure SWR would like to have a few spare 701s floating about over the Christmas break incase they have time/space to test/commission more. Besides the 455s have been making space at an alarming rate (poor Derby !). Lets see how many of the 701 arrivals from last month get commissioned over the Christmas break.

 

[wickham]

Ah ha, well spotted. I had been looking out for a Marchwood to Eastleigh drag to no avail. This also explains the lack of an Eastleigh to Wimbledon move (not dragged).

I am sure SWR would like to have a few spare 701s floating about over the Christmas break incase they have time/space to test/commission more. Besides the 455s have been making space at an alarming rate (poor Derby !). Lets see how many of the 701 arrivals from last month get commissioned over the Christmas break.

This might be a little optimistic, over the Christman-New Year break they only usually have minimal staff on duty.

 

[NSEWonderer]

Looks like 701033 if the reports are true will be out for a short while due to an unfortunate incident today.