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

[Nimbus020]

A person jumped in front of 2L46 just before 15:00 yesterday. Caused absolute mayhem for the rest of the day, and it wasn’t helpful that as NSWWonderer said, a train broke down on the Down Main Slow, and a 458/4 had a fire of some sort at Wandsworth Town. Bit of a mad one.

That's desperately sad - thanks for the update - thinking of the train crew/staff too

 

[Stephen42]

There’s a drag next Monday to Wimbledon, haven’t seen one on Monday before as it’s usually on Wednesday

Realtime Trains | 0V70 0851 Leicester L.I.P. to Long Marston Gbrf | 16/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 0V70 0851 departure from Leicester L.I.P. to Long Marston Gbrf on 16/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q70 1435 Long Marston Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 16/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q70 1435 departure from Long Marston Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 16/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Even weirder they've done it on the week where there's a possession on the Kingston loop. Would need to go via Addlestone or do some shunting in Clapham Yard with that closed. At the moment it's booked right through the possession which seems an error. A higher chance than usual of it not running as a result.

The GBRF paths for Wednesday out of Leicester don't look published yet though might be doing other work (will typically be Monday evening it appears now).

 

[Siemens Staines]

It looks like a second attempt is being made for 701038 to properly enter service this afternoon following the earlier failure of 701021 today;

Realtime Trains | 2M47 1651 London Waterloo to Chessington South | 15/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 2M47 1651 departure from London Waterloo to Chessington South on 15/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Meglos]

It looks like a second attempt is being made for 701038 to properly enter service this afternoon following the earlier failure of 701021 today;

Realtime Trains | 2M47 1651 London Waterloo to Chessington South | 15/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 2M47 1651 departure from London Waterloo to Chessington South on 15/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Looks like the service was cancelled.

 

[Siemens Staines]

cancelled

Indeed. 701038 no longer has any allocation

 

[Peter Sarf]

Even weirder they've done it on the week where there's a possession on the Kingston loop. Would need to go via Addlestone or do some shunting in Clapham Yard with that closed. At the moment it's booked right through the possession which seems an error. A higher chance than usual of it not running as a result.

The GBRF paths for Wednesday out of Leicester don't look published yet though might be doing other work (will typically be Monday evening it appears now).

Well, while I have been sensibly waiting for these Monday paths to get cancelled/altered and/or I was waiting to see if some appeared for the usual Wednesday the penny has dropped - maybe.

I started thinking about alternative routes even though RTT will probably reflect this in good time with a tweaked VST 5Q70 Long Marston to Wimbledon and the original STP 5Q70 getting cancelled.

Alternatives are :-
A long loop further out West via Addlestone as you say.
But I think there is a crossing at Wimbledon so a delivery via Clapham Junction platform 17 down towards East Croydon, turn right at Streatham to pick up the Thameslink loop then fork left onto the clockwise route via Sutton to Wimbledon.
Or if that connection is facing the other way then once onto the Thameslink loop fork right onto the anticlockwise Sutton loop and a reversal at Wimbledon.

Now a reversal(s) at Wimbledon might be easier with one loco at each end.
Were there not two locos sent from Leicester last week !.
Sort of putting 2 and 2 together and getting a similar wrong answer as the reality last week !.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Or if that connection is facing the other way then once onto the Thameslink loop fork right onto the anticlockwise Sutton loop and a reversal at Wimbledon.

According to OTT Maps there are crossovers in both directions west of Wimbledon station allowing access between the SWML and the Sutton Loop in both directions.

The connections off the anticlockwise loop is used by trains running from the West London Line or Victoria to the SW Main Line - such as those to the former Chessington Coal depot, or the Belmond Pullman, which go via Streatham



But it could also go via Platform 5 at Clapham Junction and the East Putney connection

 

[SeaKing]

Indeed. 701038 no longer has any allocation

It is working today.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Feb 2026 ==

There’s a drag next Monday to Wimbledon, haven’t seen one on Monday before as it’s usually on Wednesday

Realtime Trains | 0V70 0851 Leicester L.I.P. to Long Marston Gbrf | 16/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 0V70 0851 departure from Leicester L.I.P. to Long Marston Gbrf on 16/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q70 1435 Long Marston Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 16/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q70 1435 departure from Long Marston Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 16/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

57306 has left Leicester LIP 0V70.

 

[mansonlo49]

57306 has left Leicester LIP 0V70.

It could be early saying it now, let’s wait until 5Q70 depart Long Marston

 

[Peter Sarf]

According to OTT Maps there are crossovers in both directions west of Wimbledon station allowing access between the SWML and the Sutton Loop in both directions.

The connections off the anticlockwise loop is used by trains running from the West London Line or Victoria to the SW Main Line - such as those to the former Chessington Coal depot, or the Belmond Pullman, which go via Streatham

Thanks. Apparently here is a stone train from the West London Line (to Chessington ?) that goes on a tour of South London that sort of way. So it has precedent.

But it could also go via Platform 5 at Clapham Junction and the East Putney connection

I remember talk upthread about whether the reversing capability just London side of Wimbledon station is long enough. I don't recall the answer but we maybe about to see. I did that route exploiting the District line in the mid 70s on a Merrymaker from Medway to the Isle Of Wight.

 

[Meglos]

Thanks. Apparently here is a stone train from the West London Line (to Chessington ?) that goes on a tour of South London that sort of way. So it has precedent.

I remember talk upthread about whether the reversing capability just London side of Wimbledon station is long enough. I don't recall the answer but we maybe about to see. I did that route exploiting the District line in the mid 70s on a Merrymaker from Medway to the Isle Of Wight.

There is a common path used from Clapham Junction via Streatham/Wimbledon West Junction to/from either Tolworth Sidings or Chessington South Sidings. The path is common, because the origin/destination of the train can be either East (Cliffe Brent Marine via Wandsworth Road) or West (Willesden DC Sidings via Shepherds Bush) arrivals into Clapham Junction. Some Cliffe Brent Marine trains to Tolworth actually route into Willesden DC Sidings, and then change ends.

The reversing capability north of Wimbledon can handle 701's, as during track works north of Wimbledon the Chessington South/Epsom services sometimes terminate at Wimbledon on Platforms 5 or 6 and return to Chessington/Epsom on Platforms 7 or 8.

 

[Peter Sarf]

There is a common path used from Clapham Junction via Streatham/Wimbledon West Junction to/from either Tolworth Sidings or Chessington South Sidings. The path is common, because the origin/destination of the train can be either East (Cliffe Brent Marine via Wandsworth Road) or West (Willesden DC Sidings via Shepherds Bush) arrivals into Clapham Junction. Some Cliffe Brent Marine trains to Tolworth actually route into Willesden DC Sidings, and then change ends.

The reversing capability north of Wimbledon can handle 701's, as during track works north of Wimbledon the Chessington South/Epsom services sometimes terminate at Wimbledon on Platforms 5 or 6 and return to Chessington/Epsom on Platforms 7 or 8.

In that case I can see the current 5Q70 from Long Marston getting as far as Willesden and then stopping there-abouts to pick up an existing later path for the stone/aggregates from there - perhaps ?.

 

[norbitonflyer]

There is a common path used from Clapham Junction via Streatham/Wimbledon West Junction to/from either Tolworth Sidings or Chessington South Sidings.

Here is a stone train negotiating the connection, have just passed through Wimbledon station on the Sutton reversible and crossing to the SWML down slow.

6O15 1201 Willedsen to Chessington (T Th F O) arr Chessington 1354
6M17 1942 Chessington to Willesden (T Th F O)

The Chessington stone terminal opened in 2021. Until the 1980s there used to be a coal concentration depot there, and trains serving that took the same route.

Here is a Class 73 on such a train at one of the stations on the branch (probably Chessington South but the stations on the branch all look very alike). The presence of a 508 dates the picture to the late 70s/early 80s.

 

[Meglos]

Here is a stone train negotiating the connection, have just passed through Wimbledon station on the Sutton reversible and crossing to the SWML down slow.

6O15 1201 Willedsen to Chessington (T Th F O) arr Chessington 1354
6M17 1942 Chessington to Willesden (T Th F O)

The Chessington stone terminal opened in 2021. Until the 1980s there used to be a coal concentration depot there, and trains serving that took the same route.

Here is a Class 73 on such a train at one of the stations on the branch (probably Chessington South but the stations on the branch all look very alike). The presence of a 508 dates the picture to the late 70s/early 80s.

If you look to the right of the Class 73 there is no platform, so definitely Chessington South as all the other stations on the branch have two platforms

 

[mansonlo49]

the drag now on the way, at worcester yard currently

Realtime Trains | 5Q70 1435 Long Marston Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 16/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q70 1435 departure from Long Marston Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 16/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[SeaKing]

the drag now on the way, at worcester yard currently

Realtime Trains | 5Q70 1435 Long Marston Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 16/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q70 1435 departure from Long Marston Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 16/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Any idea what was collected.

 

[GeoffS]

the drag now on the way, at worcester yard currently

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K62060/2026-02-16/detailed#allox_

http://

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Feb 2026 ==

SeaKing has just asked the question I was going to ask about what's being dragged!

 

[444045]

701512/701509 on 5Q70.

 

[mansonlo49]

701512/701509 on 5Q70.

Really? 701/5 again? Seems they wanted to get some work done on them rather than focusing on the remaining 701/0 first?

 

[Ian Hardy]

the drag now on the way, at worcester yard currently

Realtime Trains | 5Q70 1435 Long Marston Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 16/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q70 1435 departure from Long Marston Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 16/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

I don't now how they are going to get between Strawberry Hill and New Malden as the line is closed until early on Wednesday morning due to works on the River Thames bridge at Kingston.

 

[CR165022]

I don't now how they are going to get between Strawberry Hill and New Malden as the line is closed until early on Wednesday morning due to works on the River Thames bridge at Kingston.

I think the only way to do it is by going the long way round via Weybridge & Surbiton.

 

[wickham]

I think the only way to do it is by going the long way round via Weybridge & Surbiton.

This route, via Staines, Chertsey, Weybridge has been used for such moves in the past, so should not be a prblem. It is only quite recently that they started coming via Kingston. Going via Balham and Haydons Road to Wimbledon as suggested above is a complete no-no and will not even have been considered !!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Feb 2026 ==

Clapham Yard today:
Passing at 1055 it was seen that 701528 & 529 had vacated their long time home on the siding next to the cleaning shed and were now sitting inside the cleaning shed.
At the same time 701503 & 504 were preforming a shunt further up the yard (London end):
Returning at 1440 to establish what was going on: 701503 & 504 now sat on the road next to the cleaning shed (where 528+529 lived for about two years), 528 + 529 were still inside the cleaning shed, keeping company with the following across the yard: 701007 701008 701011 701015 701024 701028: In addition 701002 was proforming training runs on "49 Road" right down in the distance.
It was also observed that 701038 was in service today following it's attempt a few days ago that ended in failure.
All in all, it appears that activity is "hotting up" with the 701/5s - interesting times !

 

[norbitonflyer]

If you look to the right of the Class 73 there is no platform, so definitely Chessington South as all the other stations on the branch have two platforms

I thought it probably was, as the 508 appears to have its front lights on which would mean it would be facing "wrong road" at any of the other branch stations

 

[mansonlo49]

This route, via Staines, Chertsey, Weybridge has been used for such moves in the past, so should not be a prblem. It is only quite recently that they started coming via Kingston. Going via Balham and Haydons Road to Wimbledon as suggested above is a complete no-no and will not even have been considered !!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Feb 2026 ==

Clapham Yard today:
Passing at 1055 it was seen that 701528 & 529 had vacated their long time home on the siding next to the cleaning shed and were now sitting inside the cleaning shed.
At the same time 701503 & 504 were preforming a shunt further up the yard (London end):
Returning at 1440 to establish what was going on: 701503 & 504 now sat on the road next to the cleaning shed (where 528+529 lived for about two years), 528 + 529 were still inside the cleaning shed, keeping company with the following across the yard: 701007 701008 701011 701015 701024 701028: In addition 701002 was proforming training runs on "49 Road" right down in the distance.
It was also observed that 701038 was in service today following it's attempt a few days ago that ended in failure.
All in all, it appears that activity is "hotting up" with the 701/5s - interesting times !

was a bit amazed that two consecutive moves were 701/5s, and not the 701/0s first, hope to see them in traffic soon

 

[TEW]

The reversing capability north of Wimbledon can handle 701's, as during track works north of Wimbledon the Chessington South/Epsom services sometimes terminate at Wimbledon on Platforms 5 or 6 and return to Chessington/Epsom on Platforms 7 or 8.

The siding used to reverse at the London side of Wimbledon can only hold 8 coaches. 10 car trains can only reverse by continuing on in to Wimbledon Park Depot.
Trains can also reverse in platforms 5 and 6 at Wimbledon which is commonly done during engineering work.
With the work between Christmas and New Year it was a mix, but anything reversing via the siding was booked 8-450.

 

[norbitonflyer]

I think the only way to do it is by going the long way round via Weybridge & Surbiton.

RTT shows it has just arrived at Wimbledon. It took 50 minutes from Twickenham to New Malden with no reports at intermediate points via Kingston, suggesting it ran via Chertsey (or maybe it used the Rail Replacemennt Bus via Teddington, which takes about the same time!)

 

[GeoffS]

Thanks to all those posting info about the latest move from LM

 

[444045]

Really? 701/5 again? Seems they wanted to get some work done on them rather than focusing on the remaining 701/0 first?

Believe that the remaining 2 class 701045/049 are trapped the other side of a collapsed bridge at Long Marston courtesy of a class 37 which had a weight restriction according to another gen thread.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

The siding used to reverse at the London side of Wimbledon can only hold 8 coaches. 10 car trains can only reverse by continuing on in to Wimbledon Park Depot.

Quite so. Think I mentioned this a while ago in one thread or other. From a planning angle, if 10 car trains are to terminate on the UP in p5, they will start directly back from there without shunting, as you rightly say nothing longer than 8 cars can use No 1 (or 2) siding to reverse, unless the train in question has a Wimbledon driver (and thus route knowledge in to the depot proper), and also assuming the Top Yard panel is staffed.

Given many suburban trains are worked by other depots, it makes sense not to plan shunt moves via 1 siding and the depot when 10 car formations are involved.

 

[stuving]

Alt

RTT shows it has just arrived at Wimbledon. It took 50 minutes from Twickenham to New Malden with no reports at intermediate points via Kingston, suggesting it ran via Chertsey (or maybe it used the Rail Replacemennt Bus via Teddington, which takes about the same time!)

Other sources can fill in the gap - e.g. OpenRail/livetrain confirms reports at Feltham 2013 / Staines 2018 / Virginia Water 2025 / Chertsey 2029 / Addlestone 2033 / Weybridge 2038 / Surbiton 2048.