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

[WALWAT]

Is there a problem with the toilets on the 701's? Been on multiple in the past few weeks, and very rarely do they have two working toilets, often having both out of service. Is this related to these toilets being "new" in terms of the bio-reactor element?

 

[tb2]

Speaking of progress, 455702 finds itself at Basingstoke training centre. Unsure if it’s the final resting place, but it’s definitely anchored to the training track here.

 

[FRSZMZ56]

Speaking of progress, 455702 finds itself at Basingstoke training centre. Unsure if it’s the final resting place, but it’s definitely anchored to the training track here.

I believe it is permanent!

 

[fgwrich]

I believe it is permanent!

It is, but just that coach.

 

[NSEWonderer]

Speaking of progress, 455702 finds itself at Basingstoke training centre. Unsure if it’s the final resting place, but it’s definitely anchored to the training track here.

Yep as mentioned on 455 thread, multiple uses for it, more so Network Rail side of things interesting of practicals

 

[bb21]

008 should be ready tomorrow, if not tonight

 

[NSEWonderer]

008 should be ready tomorrow, if not tonight

Might have to deputise tomorrow for 050 (currently at Addlestone), if the person vs train incident isn't very hopeful by end of the day

 

[Dx1998]

008 will work WM723 today (31/3)
5C07-2C07-2C18-2C21-2C32-2C35-2C46-2C49-2C60-2C63-2C74-2C79-5C79
Plenty of chances to spot for those who've not seen it yet

 

[WWTownEnth]

008 will work WM723 today (31/3)
5C07-2C07-2C18-2C21-2C32-2C35-2C46-2C49-2C60-2C63-2C74-2C79-5C79
Plenty of chances to spot for those who've not seen it yet

Good news. That’s 44 in service now, almost 75% of the ten cars….

 

[Siemens Staines]

Does anyone know what is happening with 701058? It has been out of passenger service since 25.02.26 which is just as long as many of the 458/4s that received much comment. Other than 028, I do not think any in service 701 has been stopped for as long as this.

 

[NSEWonderer]

Does anyone know what is happening with 701058? It has been out of passenger service since 25.02.26 which is just as long as many of the 458/4s that received much comment. Other than 028, I do not think any in service 701 has been stopped for as long as this.

028 arguably has, which returned to being a training unit after a single trip i believe.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

028 arguably has, which returned to being a training unit after a single trip i believe.

701 028 did three days in service.

 

[NSEWonderer]

701 028 did three days in service.

Cheers, been so long I barely remember it, then again I was quite lazy I that I didnt check the useful tracker on the 701 operations thread.

 

[norbitonflyer]

701 028 did three days in service.

6th, 7th and 9th of February 2024. (the other two days that week were covered by 701039 and 701043)

 

[bb21]

Does anyone know what is happening with 701058? It has been out of passenger service since 25.02.26 which is just as long as many of the 458/4s that received much comment. Other than 028, I do not think any in service 701 has been stopped for as long as this.

It's got a 3-phase capacitor fault and waiting for replacement parts. Quite a few 458s were out due to bearing failures.

 

[Siemens Staines]

It's got a 3-phase capacitor fault and waiting for replacement parts. Quite a few 458s were out due to bearing failures.

Thank you for this information. I did wonder if it was a parts issue due to the length of time it has been out of service.

 

[Malcolmffc]

Find it really bizarre that 701s going to Waterloo display the destination as “London W’loo” on the front. Surely the design should have allowed the full display of the location where ~50% of trains will be terminating?

 

[WWTownEnth]

Find it really bizarre that 701s going to Waterloo display the destination as “London W’loo” on the front. Surely the design should have allowed the full display of the location where ~50% of trains will be terminating?

This was discussed up thread. The display is actually big enough to show the full name of London Waterloo (and did for a good while). Due to some inexplicable software update, an abbreviated form of the name suddenly appeared on all trains…..

 

[Class15]

Find it really bizarre that 701s going to Waterloo display the destination as “London W’loo” on the front. Surely the design should have allowed the full display of the location where ~50% of trains will be terminating?

Probably a fair bit more than 50% thanks to rounder services!

 

[norbitonflyer]

Find it really bizarre that 701s going to Waterloo display the destination as “London W’loo” on the front. Surely the design should have allowed the full display of the location where ~50% of trains will be terminating?

And of course the destination is b,,,,, obvious to most people. What matters is the calling pattern.
Same applies, fir different reasons, to trains saying "Guildford". Is it via Cobham, Woking, or Epsom? And if you actually want to go to Guildford, you'll get there much faster on a Portsmouth train.
But SWT/SWR have always been more concerned about getting the train to the end of the line than worrying about those inconvenient intermediate stations.

 

[Goldfish62]

But SWT/SWR have always been more concerned about getting the train to the end of the line than worrying about those inconvenient intermediate stations.

Especially these days. This afternoon my 7 min late train ran fast from Staines to Waterloo arriving 5 min early. Stuff passengers for intermediate stations - they're obviously just a nuisance. Not an isolated such incident either...

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Probably a fair bit more than 50% thanks to rounder services!

It can't be more than 50% terminating otherwise Waterloo would fill up with trains... The rounders will still be one departure and one arrival each from Waterloo, just without reversing at another station.

 

[Class15]

It can't be more than 50% terminating otherwise Waterloo would fill up with trains... The rounders will still be one departure and one arrival each from Waterloo, just without reversing at another station.

The 701s show destination London Waterloo leaving Waterloo on the rounders.

 

[talldave]

This was discussed up thread. The display is actually big enough to show the full name of London Waterloo (and did for a good while). Due to some inexplicable software update, an abbreviated form of the name suddenly appeared on all trains…..

It's ridiculous and if anyone cared they'd have fixed it immediately (e.g. rolling back a version). The fact it's been left just reinforces the "don't care" attitude of the industry. We'd best get used to it as the faux nationalisation will ensure this attitude is pushed out across the whole network .

 

[bahnause]

Thats the exact thinking that led to two 737 maxes crashing some years ago because the pilots and airlines were lead to believe the newer model of the same plane that had been sold for several decades was still the same, it actually had a new system that pilots hadn't been trained to turn off if it went haywire(assuming they even knew it existed).

Back on topic, the 701/5 and 701/0 whilst similar have difference, three at least significant enough to know. 5cars have an extra compressor and all that goes with dealing with that, coupling and uncoupling and the faults that may occur with that aka if they choose not to talk to each other or half the set is powered, other isnt.

In a single 5 car, the 5 car monitors if failed on one screen, driver must know how to switch that over to the next screen(you don't do this on a 701/0 as it used both screens for the 10 cars).

Also most drivers would have only coupled and uncoupled a 701 months if not a year or more by the time 701/5s come so it will need refreshing especially the rescue part of things again.

Doubt it takes more than a 2-3 day course.

My additional training for the SBB Class 511 to 512 upgrade consisted of half a day spent walking around the train and a bit of theory to familiarize myself with the changes. I didn’t drive a single meter until my first “real” assignment. Although there are quite significant differences in handling and braking behavior, I didn’t derail in the first curve or crash into the buffer stop. So it depends on whether there are major differences and how much trust you have in the staff.

Coupling units is quite involved. I recently watched a driver on his first day coupling two 730s (another type of Aventra !). He was checking every step with a nearby more experienced staff member. I must say I was surprised that the coupling process is quite so involved. Teaching unit coupling/uncoupling as part of the 701/0 course would have been pointless as many drivers would need a refresher after 12+ months of never doing it - I would.

It’s only as complicated of a process as you make it. It can be a very simple and consistent procedure. Is the stationary train ready to be coupled? Is your own train ready to be coupled? If so: Couple slowly at 1–2 km/h. Engage the parking brake, and you’re done.

 

[norbitonflyer]

It can't be more than 50% terminating otherwise Waterloo would fill up with trains... The rounders will still be one departure and one arrival each from Waterloo, just without reversing at another station.

It can, and has to be - precisely because they don't reverse at another station, but terminate at Waterloo in both directions. This is readily apparent at Strawberry Hill where (apart from a few peak services) every train, from both platforms, is going to Waterloo.

Most services are 50% Waterloo and 50% something else - for instance odd numbered 2Jxx are Hampton Court and even numbered are Waterloo. But the rounders terminate at Waterloo in both directions. A 2Kxx arriving at Waterloo does not depart as a 2Kxy to somewhere else, but as a 2Oxx - to Waterloo. Likewise 2Rxx and 2Vxx. (Only odd numbers are used in the reporting numbers of the rounders)

Or, if you want to look at it another way, over the course of a day, there as as many up trains as down trains (otherwise Waterloo would indeed fill up, or run out, of trains). At any given time all trains on the "up" lines are going to Waterloo, and they account for 50% of the services. Some trains on the "down" lines are also, eventually, going to Waterloo. They bring the total to more than 50%

 

[samulih]

And of course the destination is b,,,,, obvious to most people. What matters is the calling pattern.
Same applies, fir different reasons, to trains saying "Guildford". Is it via Cobham, Woking, or Epsom? And if you actually want to go to Guildford, you'll get there much faster on a Portsmouth train.
But SWT/SWR have always been more concerned about getting the train to the end of the line than worrying about those inconvenient intermediate stations.

Bit off topic but there is no app to show the quickest route? As outside of UK do not know....

 

[Goldfish62]

It's ridiculous and if anyone cared they'd have fixed it immediately (e.g. rolling back a version). The fact it's been left just reinforces the "don't care" attitude of the industry. We'd best get used to it as the faux nationalisation will ensure this attitude is pushed out across the whole network .

I'm not sure the attitude comes from whether the company is nationalised or not. It's more to do with whether those at the top of the company actually care about such things. Clearly in SWR's case they don't. For the same reason TfL Rail is still shown on the service status screens on the 701s.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Bit off topic but there is no app to show the quickest route? As outside of UK do not know....

There is, of course. But the destination "blinds" (I know they are actually electronic things now) are there fort those who for whatever reason are not using the app - they don't have a smart phone, their battery is flat, they have no signal, someone has just swiped it because they were looking at it on a crowded platform, or they have simply arrived on a platform to find a train is already there and need to make an instant decision as to whether to join it. A mistake could see them going all the way to Waterloo when they only wanted to go one stop to Berrylands, which could cost a lot of time and money.

 

[Dx1998]

019 will be moved from Wimbledon to Clapham Yard on 5Q52, potentially in passenger service for tommorow

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Apr 2026 ==

Ignore last message, reading old information and will be tested on rounders today instead