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

[mansonlo49]

The other option is to check "Honeybourne Staff Hut" which is a timing point schedules for the Sidings, Long Marston Gbrf and Long Marston all look to have without everything passing the junction.

Another set of schedules for a Long Marston delivery have appeared. The loco can't do both tomorrow and Thursday so might be an either or situation.

Realtime Trains | 0V70 0849 Leicester L.I.P. to Long Marston Gbrf | 05/03/2026

Real-time train running information for 0V70 0849 departure from Leicester L.I.P. to Long Marston Gbrf on 05/03/2026. 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 | 05/03/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q70 1442 departure from Long Marston Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 05/03/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

will be 57306 today, said on rtt

 

[WarrenTManager]

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

Here is one in September 2025 on depot.

 

[Peter Sarf]

will be 57306 today, said on rtt

RTT now passing on its 57303 on 0V70 Leicester to Long Marston (which is on its way).

 

[Bobcp]

RTT now passing on its 57303 on 0V70 Leicester to Long Marston (which is on its way).

57303 coupled up to 701045 with 701517/519 on the siding alongside at 13.10 hrs.

 

[Peter Sarf]

57303 coupled up to 701045 with 701517/519 on the siding alongside at 13.10 hrs.

Coupled already....
I can guess it will run early ?.
(as in normal time used previously)

 

[mansonlo49]

The former main line is now a single track that is effectively one train operation and drive upto stop boards for local instruction. So anything using it doesn't show as trundling along on signalling maps.

i see how come it doesn't show on the maps website (e.g. traksy)

 

[Peter Sarf]

57303 coupled up to 701045 with 701517/519 on the siding alongside at 13.10 hrs.

Coupled already....
I can guess it will run early ?.
(as in normal time used previously)

Except 5Q70 is now 10 minutes late and counting (so much for that theory).
Still a chance it will make up time as usual.

 

[Bobcp]

Attempt number two to move 701045 has ended in failure.
57303 now departed light engine.

 

[mansonlo49]

Attempt number two to move 701045 has ended in failure.
57303 now departed light engine.

wonder what's gone wrong with this unit, several attempts still haven't success to take it out

 

[Peter Sarf]

Attempt number two to move 701045 has ended in failure.
57303 now departed light engine.

Cue :-

.........................

Another set of schedules for a Long Marston delivery have appeared. The loco can't do both tomorrow and Thursday so might be an either or situation.

Realtime Trains | 0V70 0849 Leicester L.I.P. to Long Marston Gbrf | 05/03/2026

Real-time train running information for 0V70 0849 departure from Leicester L.I.P. to Long Marston Gbrf on 05/03/2026. 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 | 05/03/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q70 1442 departure from Long Marston Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 05/03/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[MasterPhillips]

Unfortunately 701001 seems to have rather major bug with the announcement system. I was on a service to Reading and it seemed the train could not say the word Reading. When announcing ”this is the SWR service to…” it then went silent. Similarly, when doing the calling pattern, it would announce Earley then go silent.

 

[mansonlo49]

Attempt number two to move 701045 has ended in failure.
57303 now departed light engine.

wonder if they try take the two 701/5 out first?

 

[Snow1964]

wonder what's gone wrong with this unit, several attempts still haven't success to take it out

Sounding a bit like the 175 that got stuck at Liskeard for few days. An obscure fault that needs someone with specialist knowledge of its quirks to fix so it can be towed.

Presumably if multiple locos have been sent, and can't haul it, then fault needs fixing first.

wonder if they try take the two 701/5 out first?

Does seem bit daft ignoring them as an alternative, if they had apparently been lined up in adjacent siding, ready to go, and path to Wimbledon was booked anyway.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Sounding a bit like the 175 that got stuck at Liskeard for few days. An obscure fault that needs someone with specialist knowledge of its quirks to fix so it can be towed.

The big hammer (AKA as the "large screwdriver") !.

Presumably if multiple locos have been sent, and can't haul it, then fault needs fixing first.

Agreed.

Does seem bit daft ignoring them as an alternative, if they had apparently been lined up in adjacent siding, ready to go, and path to Wimbledon was booked anyway.

They may have tried and failed to bring 701517 & 701519 before and failed. It might be why one of those two did not come back with the 701/5 it went to Long Marston with. It would explain why 701509 & 701512 got paired for the return recently (on 16/02/2026).

I am racking my brains BUT was the last 701/5s delivery done with a pair of locos top and tailed ?.

Generally I am beginning to think these are the bottom of the barrel.

 

[Bobcp]

wonder if they try take the two 701/5 out first?

The first attempt at moving them on Monday this week, with 69009, ended in failure.

 

[mansonlo49]

The first attempt at moving them on Monday this week, with 69009, ended in failure.

so 701045 and 517/519 all failed to drag?

 

[800001]

so 701045 and 517/519 all failed to drag?

Or the loco failed the drag, the units could be perfectly ok?

 

[NSEWonderer]

The big hammer (AKA as the "large screwdriver") !.

Agreed.

They may have tried and failed to bring 701517 & 701519 before and failed. It might be why one of those two did not come back with the 701/5 it went to Long Marston with. It would explain why 701509 & 701512 got paired for the return recently (on 16/02/2026).

I am racking my brains BUT was the last 701/5s delivery done with a pair of locos top and tailed ?.

Generally I am beginning to think these are the bottom of the barrel.

yeh two locos with one turning back at Worcester Yard as planned. Those were two 57s

 

[Bobcp]

so 701045 and 517/519 all failed to drag?

Correct.

 

[NSEWonderer]

701045 Hasn't had much luck since Feb 5th

 

[Nogoohwell]

What about coupling 517 to the loco and then splitting 045 and coupling half of it to the rear of 517?
The units have a coupler to split them into 5 car sets for movement around depots.
Would this work?

 

[800001]

What about coupling 517 to the loco and then splitting 045 and coupling half of it to the rear of 517?
The units have a coupler to split them into 5 car sets for movement around depots.
Would this work?

Wha has caused the failure to move the units?
The units? Or the loco?

 

[Peter Sarf]

What about coupling 517 to the loco and then splitting 045 and coupling half of it to the rear of 517?
The units have a coupler to split them into 5 car sets for movement around depots.
Would this work?

That would rely on the centre unit coupling for splitting a 701/0 into two rakes of 5 being the same coupling as on the unit ends.
They could just drag one 701/5 instead.

Eventually the path 5Q70 Long Marston to Wimbledon was cancelled BUT so has the alternative light loco 0Q71 Long Marston (Honeybourne) to Leicester.

So do not wait to see 0V70 Leicester to Long Marston run tomorrow. My money is on the loco staying at Long Marston.

 

[Stephen42]

They may have tried and failed to bring 701517 & 701519 before and failed. It might be why one of those two did not come back with the 701/5 it went to Long Marston with. It would explain why 701509 & 701512 got paired for the return recently (on 16/02/2026).

I am racking my brains BUT was the last 701/5s delivery done with a pair of locos top and tailed ?.

Generally I am beginning to think these are the bottom of the barrel.

The unit swap could have been for many reasons though. Part of the complication with a single loco is the need to run round at Worcester Yard. If there are challenges with coupling up having to uncouple and go round the other end will be a risk. I don't know how popular they were when the 701/0 a while back couldn't get dragged out of the yard after the loco run round for whatever reason.

While a VST was added for a loco back to Leicester (teleporting to the station rather than sidings) it got cancelled. My punt would be that they'll try with two locos tomorrow with another loco joining from Leicester in addition to 57303. Assuming there isn't another move I missed somewhere for 57303.

yeh two locos with one turning back at Worcester Yard as planned. Those were two 57s

Wasn't 23rd Feb the 701/0 with the two 701/5s on the 16th? The 16th looks to have been a single loco. Would be keen to update my records if I've got them in the wrong order.

 

[Peter Sarf]

The unit swap could have been for many reasons though. Part of the complication with a single loco is the need to run round at Worcester Yard. If there are challenges with coupling up having to uncouple and go round the other end will be a risk. I don't know how popular they were when the 701/0 a while back couldn't get dragged out of the yard after the loco run round for whatever reason.

While a VST was added for a loco back to Leicester (teleporting to the station rather than sidings) it got cancelled. My punt would be that they'll try with two locos tomorrow with another loco joining from Leicester in addition to 57303. Assuming there isn't another move I missed somewhere for 57303.

Wasn't 23rd Feb the 701/0 with the two 701/5s on the 16th? The 16th looks to have been a single loco. Would be keen to update my records if I've got them in the wrong order.

Dug it out at last.

16/02/2026 Monday
57306 + 701509 + 701512 I observed at Ealing BDY. No reports it was a pair of locos coming from Leicester and RTT does not go back that far.
Delivery was on a detour as Kingston Bridge was a possession.

23/02/2026 Monday
57306 + 701049 I observed at Clapham Junction. 57303 also came from Leicester and was apparently dropped off at Worcester where delivery reversed.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Unfortunately 701001 seems to have rather major bug with the announcement system. I was on a service to Reading and it seemed the train could not say the word Reading. When announcing ”this is the SWR service to…” it then went silent. Similarly, when doing the calling pattern, it would announce Earley then go silent.

I've noticed that on some of the others recently, and also some other trains elsewhere - not on SWR - albeit I didn't bother to remember which ones...

 

[Bobcp]

I have been present at Long Marston on the recent occasions when two locos have arrived.
On each occasion the locos have remained coupled and not been used in top and tail mode.
From my observations the hi-viz activity around the failed attempts has all been concentrated on the units and not the drag loco/s.
Today with 701045 the activity was centred around four coaches from the front of the train.
My best guess would be that the problems are brake related.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Mar 2026 ==

That would rely on the centre unit coupling for splitting a 701/0 into two rakes of 5 being the same coupling as on the unit ends.
They could just drag one 701/5 instead.

Eventually the path 5Q70 Long Marston to Wimbledon was cancelled BUT so has the alternative light loco 0Q71 Long Marston (Honeybourne) to Leicester.

So do not wait to see 0V70 Leicester to Long Marston run tomorrow. My money is on the loco staying at Long Marston.

57303 departed the Long Marston site just before 16.00 hrs. followed by the closing of the site gates.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Mar 2026 ==

Path (0Z70) now on the system for 57303 to return to Leicester LIP departing Honeybourne Sidings at 09.30.

 

[Peter Sarf]

I have been present at Long Marston on the recent occasions when two locos have arrived.
On each occasion the locos have remained coupled and not been used in top and tail mode.
From my observations the hi-viz activity around the failed attempts has all been concentrated on the units and not the drag loco/s.
Today with 701045 the activity was centred around four coaches from the front of the train.
My best guess would be that the problems are brake related.

So looks like we can blame the unit.
I suppose other than a brake issue it could be a wheel bearing.
Most likely just down to lack of use.

I see you posted this morning :-

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Mar 2026 ==


57303 departed the Long Marston site just before 16.00 hrs. followed by the closing of the site gates.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Mar 2026 ==

Path (0Z70) now on the system for 57303 to return to Leicester LIP departing Honeybourne Sidings at 09.30.

If the 57 is going back to Leicester this morning it seems unlikely a move is on today (Thursday 05/03/2026).
Furthermore the light loco for this morning from Leicester 0V70 has (now) been cancelled.

I just realised 0Z70 (LongMarston Honeybourne Sidings to Leicester) has not actually run (90 minutes late and counting.
So 57303 is still in the area - Is this a good sign ?.

EDIT at 12:05
I now notice on RTT (eventually) the 5Q70 delivery Long Marston to Wimbledon was activated at 08:46 so not automatically. That was done just before the cancelled/un-needed light loco meant to feed it would have left. So even more positive.

 

[wickham]

So looks like we can blame the unit.
I suppose other than a brake issue it could be a wheel bearing.
Most likely just down to lack of use.

I see you posted this morning :-

If the 57 is going back to Leicester this morning it seems unlikely a move is on today (Thursday 05/03/2026).
Furthermore the light loco for this morning from Leicester 0V70 has (now) been cancelled.

I just realised 0Z70 (LongMarston Honeybourne Sidings to Leicester) has not actually run (90 minutes late and counting.
So 57303 is still in the area - Is this a good sign ?.

EDIT at 12:05
I now notice on RTT (eventually) the 5Q70 delivery Long Marston to Wimbledon was activated at 08:46 so not automatically. That was done just before the cancelled/un-needed light loco meant to feed it would have left. So even more positive.

57303 is now shown on RTT as allocated to 5Q70, so it appears another try today (interestingly in the 1442 path). Watch that space........

 

[NSEWonderer]

I'd expect the /5s to be dragged