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

[bb21]

I understand 701007 was ready today however due to the extensive disruption it did not come into service, so if all goes well likely to enter service tomorrow (or today now rather).

 

[Kite159]

And it seems 701007 is out on the 05;50 service to Reading this morning:

Realtime Trains | 2C07 0550 London Waterloo to Reading | 24/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 2C07 0550 departure from London Waterloo to Reading on 24/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Bond, Arterio Bond, licensed to carry customers.

 

[The_Train]

And it seems 701007 is out on the 05;50 service to Reading this morning:

Realtime Trains | 2C07 0550 London Waterloo to Reading | 24/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 2C07 0550 departure from London Waterloo to Reading on 24/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Bond, Arterio Bond, licensed to carry customers.

My records have 007 as having arrived at Eastleigh in August 2020. So the train is nearly 6 years old before it turned a wheel in service. That's just insane!

 

[class701]

007 was probably built in 2018, now that's insane!

 

[The_Train]

007 was probably built in 2018, now that's insane!

So it will be due a mid-life refurb soon then?

 

[Goldfish62]

007 was probably built in 2018, now that's insane!

Given that 002, unfinished internally, wasn't delivered to SWR for acceptance until June 2020 I find that highly unlikely.

 

[OneTrackMinded]

007 was probably built in 2018, now that's insane!

The prototypes didn’t roll off the production line until 2019.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Perhaps SETG are going to preserve it

Why not? There is a precedent - Evening Star was only five years old when it was withdrawn for preservation.

 

[wokspotter]

Indeed. Replacement of the single unit that works the 0809 Reading to Waterloo can't come soon enough, unless SWR think it's acceptable to leave passengers behind from Feltham onwards.

Since this service has been a single unit for some considerable time now,I get the impression that SWR are not bothered at all if passengers are left behind.

 

[swr444]

701018 spent 5 hours or so today at Thames Ditton. Apparently, the train had tripped the whole electrical system section between Surbiton and Hampton Court...Now on the move as 5Z50

Edit: apparently, a cable came detached from the conductor rail beneath the 701. Not the 701s fault for once

 

[TEW]

Next diagram due to go over to 701 next week, currently an 8-458 diagram.

5S10 0614 Staines CHS to Staines
2S10 0625 Staines to London Waterloo
2V11 0737 London Waterloo to London Waterloo via Brentford and Richmond
2R17 0915 London Waterloo to London Waterloo via Richmond and Brentford
2C27 1050 London Waterloo to Reading
2C38 1239 Reading to London Waterloo
2C41 1420 London Waterloo to Reading
2C52 1609 Reading to London Waterloo
2R51 1745 London Waterloo to London Waterloo via Richmond and Brentford
2S61 1922 London Waterloo to Weybridge
2S70 2103 Weybridge to London Waterloo
2C75 2250 London Waterloo to Bracknell
5C76 0004 Bracknell to Staines CHS

The 8-458 is then used to replace the 5-458 diagram starting with 2C09, 0620 London Waterloo to Reading.

 

[NSEWonderer]

Next diagram due to go over to 701 next week, currently an 8-458 diagram.

5S10 0614 Staines CHS to Staines
2S10 0625 Staines to London Waterloo
2V11 0737 London Waterloo to London Waterloo via Brentford and Richmond
2R17 0915 London Waterloo to London Waterloo via Richmond and Brentford
2C27 1050 London Waterloo to Reading
2C38 1239 Reading to London Waterloo
2C41 1420 London Waterloo to Reading
2C52 1609 Reading to London Waterloo
2R51 1745 London Waterloo to London Waterloo via Richmond and Brentford
2S61 1922 London Waterloo to Weybridge
2S70 2103 Weybridge to London Waterloo
2C75 2250 London Waterloo to Bracknell
5C76 0004 Bracknell to Staines CHS

The 8-458 is then used to replace the 5-458 diagram starting with 2C09, 0620 London Waterloo to Reading.

Long overdue, perfect. That 458-5 won't be missed to drive on that return trip from reading

 

[Covshire1]

Does anyone know what worked today's 5Q32 1413 Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs to Clapham Yard Sidings? Hopefully it's another 'newbie' ready for commissioning runs. TIA.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Feb 2026 ==

Does anyone know what worked today's 5Q32 1413 Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs to Clapham Yard Sidings? Hopefully it's another 'newbie' ready for commissioning runs. TIA.

Ignore me. I didn't see that 5Q31 had ran before it...

 

[JCO1406]

Next diagram due to go over to 701 next week, currently an 8-458 diagram.

5S10 0614 Staines CHS to Staines
2S10 0625 Staines to London Waterloo
2V11 0737 London Waterloo to London Waterloo via Brentford and Richmond
2R17 0915 London Waterloo to London Waterloo via Richmond and Brentford
2C27 1050 London Waterloo to Reading
2C38 1239 Reading to London Waterloo
2C41 1420 London Waterloo to Reading
2C52 1609 Reading to London Waterloo
2R51 1745 London Waterloo to London Waterloo via Richmond and Brentford
2S61 1922 London Waterloo to Weybridge
2S70 2103 Weybridge to London Waterloo
2C75 2250 London Waterloo to Bracknell
5C76 0004 Bracknell to Staines CHS

The 8-458 is then used to replace the 5-458 diagram starting with 2C09, 0620 London Waterloo to Reading.

Sounds like the 458/5s could be on their way out soon if the other diagram gets replaced within the next few weeks.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Feb 2026 ==

Does anyone know anything about 701003? I am aware that it’s at Derby waiting for redelivery, has it had the necessary changes made to it or is there still more work to be done and when it could potentially be moved over to SWR?

 

[Goldfish62]

Next diagram due to go over to 701 next week, currently an 8-458 diagram.

5S10 0614 Staines CHS to Staines
2S10 0625 Staines to London Waterloo
2V11 0737 London Waterloo to London Waterloo via Brentford and Richmond
2R17 0915 London Waterloo to London Waterloo via Richmond and Brentford
2C27 1050 London Waterloo to Reading
2C38 1239 Reading to London Waterloo
2C41 1420 London Waterloo to Reading
2C52 1609 Reading to London Waterloo
2R51 1745 London Waterloo to London Waterloo via Richmond and Brentford
2S61 1922 London Waterloo to Weybridge
2S70 2103 Weybridge to London Waterloo
2C75 2250 London Waterloo to Bracknell
5C76 0004 Bracknell to Staines CHS

The 8-458 is then used to replace the 5-458 diagram starting with 2C09, 0620 London Waterloo to Reading.

Thanks. Good news!

 

[wickham]

Interesting to observe yesterday (24.02) from a passing train that 701528 has moved back to it's old spot beside the cleaning shed at Clapham Yard - there is another 701/5 coupled to it, but I was unable to confirm that it is still 529. There has obviously been another shunt around and I wonder if the 701/5 pairings are still the same ?

 

[swr444]

Interesting to observe yesterday (24.02) from a passing train that 701528 has moved back to it's old spot beside the cleaning shed at Clapham Yard - there is another 701/5 coupled to it, but I was unable to confirm that it is still 529. There has obviously been another shunt around and I wonder if the 701/5 pairings are still the same ?

it is 529 yes

 

[Stephen42]

Does anyone know what worked today's 5Q32 1413 Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs to Clapham Yard Sidings? Hopefully it's another 'newbie' ready for commissioning runs. TIA.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Feb 2026 ==


Ignore me. I didn't see that 5Q31 had ran before it...

Runs directly between Wimbledon and Clapham are normally repositioning units. Likely the same driver with different unit(s) each time. No idea what worked it, sometimes the moves get allocated on RTT and open data but these haven't.

Today there's been more shuffling than most:
5Q31 1158 Clapham Yard Sidings to Wimbledon Park Depot Sidings
5Q32 1413 Wimbledon Park Depot Sidings to Clapham Yard Sidings
5Q92 1910 Farnham CSD to Clapham Yard Sidings
5Q97 2115 Clapham Yard Sidings to Wimbledon Park Depot Sidings (doesn't show as activated on RTT, but headcode moved through berths)

Would expect the Farnham unit to be entering the Clapham Yard test runs phase. Not sure if it was the same unit that went to Farnham on Friday or one of the three that have been there a while. Hopefully one of the above to Wimbledon is another unit that will enter passenger service soon.

 

[bb21]

701011 now ready I have been told.

 

[wickham]

701011 now ready I have been told.

RTT Shows 701011 as allocated to 2S45 1522 Waterloo today (26/02):
701001 must be nearing readyness, it has been out running weeks ago and was seen shunting around Wimbledon Park a couple of days ago.

 

[Goldfish62]

RTT Shows 701011 as allocated to 2S45 1522 Waterloo today (26/02):

So that will mean two thirds (40/60) of the 701/0s in passenger service.

 

[mansonlo49]

just spotted this link on RTT, is it a 701 related movement? thanks

Realtime Trains | 5Q19 0948 Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs to London Waterloo | 27/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q19 0948 departure from Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs to London Waterloo on 27/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Ian Hardy]

just spotted this link on RTT, is it a 701 related movement? thanks

Realtime Trains | 5Q19 0948 Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs to London Waterloo | 27/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q19 0948 departure from Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs to London Waterloo on 27/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

It was a 701 from the roof profile as it went past, but unfortunately I was unable to see which class 701 unit it was.

 

[Stephen42]

It was a 701 from the roof profile as it went past, but unfortunately I was unable to see which class 701 unit it was.

Yep SWR operated 5Qs are all 701s. Looking at the paths it's the Clapham Yard 5Q20, 5Q21, 5Q22 paths with short notice alterations to start and end at Wimbledon Park. Currently on 5Q21 though not showing as activated on RTT for whatever reason.

Realtime Trains | 5Q21 1142 London Waterloo to London Waterloo | 27/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q21 1142 departure from London Waterloo to London Waterloo on 27/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q43 1337 London Waterloo to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 27/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q43 1337 departure from London Waterloo to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 27/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Ian Hardy]

It was a 701 from the roof profile as it went past, but unfortunately I was unable to see which class 701 unit it was.

It has come back as 5Q21 and so I was ready for it, the unit is 701001, however it is not showing as activated on RTT.

 

[WWTownEnth]

It has come back as 5Q21 and so I was ready for it, the unit is 701001, however it is not showing as activated on RTT.

Is 001 about to finally enter passenger service?

 

[wickham]

Is 001 about to finally enter passenger service?

Hope so - who will be the first person to get a photo of 701001 and 701060 side by side !!

 

[Stephen42]

Paths are now up for the next delivery on Monday from Long Marston:

Realtime Trains | 0V70 0849 Leicester L.I.P. to Long Marston Gbrf | 02/03/2026

Real-time train running information for 0V70 0849 departure from Leicester L.I.P. to Long Marston Gbrf on 02/03/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q70 1442 Long Marston Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 02/03/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q70 1442 departure from Long Marston Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 02/03/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[mansonlo49]

Paths are now up for the next delivery on Monday from Long Marston:

Realtime Trains | 0V70 0849 Leicester L.I.P. to Long Marston Gbrf | 02/03/2026

Real-time train running information for 0V70 0849 departure from Leicester L.I.P. to Long Marston Gbrf on 02/03/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q70 1442 Long Marston Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 02/03/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q70 1442 departure from Long Marston Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 02/03/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

hope this time they can take 701045 out, or 517/519, so it'll be the second last drag of 701 out of long Marston ,next they could be taking units out of Bicester

 

[NSEWonderer]

I wonder if the 701/5s that were suppose to be on the last drag will be the ones on this Monday drag. Else 701045 ends up being hauled.