Hopefully they manage to get a ten car out next week
Does it matter what unit comes out next? The early part of the 701/0 pipeline doesn't seem to be the issue. Hopefully some more enter service soon to allow more diagrams to run.
Is there enough depot space on the SWR network to stable these new units without sending off others? I was under the impression that the 458/4s would have to start being sent away before all the 701s could be accommodated
At one point the plan was to have the 701s, the 458/4s and 450s/444s so theoretically there will be space. It might not be particularly comfortable operationally though.
Treating a 10-car 701 as two units for ease of comparison there are 35 "units" to be delivered. 9 units aren't staying long term (6 455s mentioned above and 3 458/5s). 6 450s are redeployed in the diagrams for this timetable period once more 701s roll out. There's another 22 450s doing diagrams to be worked by 701, if they could lengthen other services or be stabled elsewhere that's everything covered.
That relies on enough 701s being out in service both to lengthen and efficiently stable the remainder of the other fleets. Feltham has 5 roads with 8-car formations leaving 10 cars unoccupied. Staines is used by a single 5-car which would create space for another unit. Similarly places where 701s are stabled often aren't efficiently using space. Wimbledon has several shorter sidings available which 10-car 701s can't use. Farnham has 5 701s currently (1 in service, 4 not) with 3 10-car roads and the rest 12. Which means the same Farnham sidings with stock swapped around could hold another 2 450 units. That will make the rehome requirement smaller than the number above as well.
SWR wouldn't be in a position to receive the 26 extra "units" tomorrow. They may also decide to move the 458s out for operational convenience or come to some arrangement with the fleet owner. Short term the constraint will be the number of not in passenger service 701s and to a lesser extent the stock coming off lease soon.
