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

[swr444]

Interesting that the usual 701-worked service on this evening’s 5:53pm from W’loo to Dorking was cancelled because “the planned train was replaced with a slower train” (according to RTT) - most bizarre reason ever?

Fault on the train that formed it on an earlier up Hampton court service. I believe that’s why it was cancelled

 

[WWTownEnth]

There's only four above 030 to go. 040 has been at Farnham a long while unless it's moved not publicly allocated. 032 only moved back to Wimbledon last week, 055 was the most recent "delivery" and 045 the second most recent. 023 in contrast was the oldest delivery 28th Jan not already in passenger service.

Correct. For Network Rail delay attribution purposes delays or cancellation due to the operator putting different stock to planned is similar enough to be grouped under the same code. In this case the stock is put elsewhere entirely rather than a slower train causing a cancellation. The RTT description focuses on the slower train than planned. The passenger facing system has due to "a fault on a train" rather than "train fault". At a scan think it might be 007 that failed. The 17:53 to Dorking is a frequent candidate for this as it goes empty to Wimbledon depot straight afterwards allowing whatever due to run it to instead run the rest of the diagram of the unit which failed.

It looks like there might be a 701 delivery from Eastleigh tomorrow, SWR operated under own power:

Realtime Trains | 5Q30 1528 Eastleigh Trsmd to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 08/04/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q30 1528 departure from Eastleigh Trsmd to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 08/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Would make sense. It has been a few weeks since we’ve had one, altHough I’m sure the last one from Eastleigh was dragged,

 

[Stephen42]

With a further question. - sometimes the passenger facing system says 'due to a fault on this train' (I think - not always easy to catch) ; am I reading too much into this? (versus 'due to a fault on. a train').

There are a lot of subtle variants of the text. It's largely up to the operator which of the predefined reasons they use on the industry wide system. "on a train" is likely elsewhere, "this train" that particular unit and "due to a train fault" could be either. Many operators will use "more trains than usual needing repair" when no unit was every allocated to leave a depot or it gets reassigned due to a fault on another train at the depot. There isn't a strict industry wide convention and i

Would make sense. It has been a few weeks since we’ve had one, altHough I’m sure the last one from Eastleigh was dragged,

Yes the previous one was dragged. Would be three weeks after that one, with one week having a Bournemouth to London move. That is similar in the sense of space occupied at London depots by non-passenger 701s.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Strange that the units entering traffic recently are below 030

Not really strange as there is more choice of units below 030 that have not entered service yet than above. Nearly all in service above 030 already.

 

[WWTownEnth]

Any news on the updated LTPs yet and the new diagrams that will come with them?

 

[Big Jumby 74]

Any news on the updated LTPs yet and the new diagrams that will come with them?

Just for the benefit of those who may be confused by terminology used for issuing unit diagrams:

LTP (Long Term Plan) is issued twice a year, May and December currently.

STP (Short term plan) is everything that alters the LTP in any way, and is issued on a weekly basis in essence, and is largely about engineering works and special events (Twickenham Rugby etc).

For larger projects, such as the 701 roll out, there is a further alternative, the PA (Permanent Alteration). These are designed to soak up all the alterations (stock/crew diagrams) involved within that project, and which will eventually become part of the LTP at the next LTP timetable change, be that May or December.

These PA's can be issued once every eight weeks to fall in line with Train crew diagramming rules, so will generally fall (be issued) in February, April, July, September, November (as and when required).

The benefit of PA's is that the changes encompassed within them will be issued just once, before either a further PA (8 weeks later) or they form part of the next LTP (May or December). This frees up the workload of the STP teams, who's time will still be taken up by routine engineering work planning etc, albeit they will still have to refer to the PA's to prevent any clashes during the STP planning process.

So in essence, those new 701 diagrams that are coming to light occasionally, will very likely be a PA issue, the next LTP issue being in May.

Hope that explains the process, and I am assuming it is still essentially the same as in my time!

 

[455_Maniac]

Does anyone know when the last 701/0s will be delivered from Eastleigh and Derby? Obviously the last 458/5s are yet to be sent off to storage, so a big factor to consider is having the space to accommodate more sets for testing.

 

[Siemens Staines]

Any news on the updated LTPs yet and the new diagrams that will come with them?

The updated Carriage Working Notices (CWN) for this weeks April timetable variation are now available on SWR's website. Note that the unit diagrams below the CWN still point to the February version.

diagrams

www.southwesternrailway.com

I have had a look at the CWN to see what differences exist from this weeks actual diagrams. It looks as though there are planned to be 42 701 diagrams with the two extra diagrams commencing

2U10 0623 Windsor & Eton Riverside to London Waterloo
Currently 8-car 458 is shown as 10-car 701

2C08 0537 Ascot to London Waterloo
Currently 8-car 450 is shown as 10-car 701

I imagine that these two will be amongst the next to go over to 701s. This should reduce the number of 458 diagrams to 20. I have not been through all of the 450 diagrams to see where the displaced pair of 450s re-appear, which could be to strengthen main line services or perhaps to remain spare as cover for 458s?

 

[wickham]

Does anyone know when the last 701/0s will be delivered from Eastleigh and Derby? Obviously the last 458/5s are yet to be sent off to storage, so a big factor to consider is having the space to accommodate more sets for testing.

There is a 5Q30 1528 Eastleigh Depot to WPS booked to run today (Wed 08.04):

Realtime Trains | 5Q30 1528 Eastleigh Trsmd to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 08/04/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q30 1528 departure from Eastleigh Trsmd to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 08/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

But, the big question is what is happening with 701003 at Derby? It was reported on this site that it had been moved closer to Derby Works exit some weeks back - but nothing seems to have transpired with it - one wonder if it has actually had the attention it required yet, whatever that was.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Apr 2026 ==

UPDATE:
5Q30 1528 Eastleigh to WPS has run (on time) anyone know which unit moved please?

 

[bb21]

Interesting that the usual 701-worked service on this evening’s 5:53pm from W’loo to Dorking was cancelled because “the planned train was replaced with a slower train” (according to RTT) - most bizarre reason ever?

That is simply an arbitrary interpretation of the coding in the upstream data, as the cause code is one for capturing a whole range of generic stock shortage causes, and RTT was merely trying to be clever with its interpretation, possibly deducing through a combination of other environmental data it held. In reality apart from the owning operator, no one else can guarantee to be 100% certain what the root cause is beyond "stock shortage" with such an MS coding, and the initial coding could also be incorrect, revealed through subsequent investigations.

As it turned out this one was a more straight forward case, as explained by others, due to stepping up following the cancellation of an earlier working, and it would also appear that the coding has now been corrected to the relevant prime cause.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

But, the big question is what is happening with 701003 at Derby?

There are those (bb21 and others) who are far more in touch with matters 701 than I am. But talking about delayed introduction of certain vehicles/units within a specific fleet type, I can only add that in LT terms, Routemaster bus terms to which I was witness, RM8 was a case in point. For reasons that are well documented I am sure, RM8 only entered public service in the late 70's (ish), and I photographed same at Bexleyheath garage on its first public outing. I am typing here without checking my records, so bare that in mind, I am speaking from memory alone.

But my point being, that certain units will always form part of an ongoing test bed for a given fleet type, and so they may be the last to enter public service, even if their painted running number is one of the first.

 

[Covshire1]

There is a 5Q30 1528 Eastleigh Depot to WPS booked to run today (Wed 08.04):

Realtime Trains | 5Q30 1528 Eastleigh Trsmd to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 08/04/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q30 1528 departure from Eastleigh Trsmd to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 08/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

But, the big question is what is happening with 701003 at Derby? It was reported on this site that it had been moved closer to Derby Works exit some weeks back - but nothing seems to have transpired with it - one wonder if it has actually had the attention it required yet, whatever that was.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Apr 2026 ==

UPDATE:
5Q30 1528 Eastleigh to WPS has run (on time) anyone know which unit moved please?

701016 on todays 5Q30...

 

[wickham]

There are those (bb21 and others) who are far more in touch with matters 701 than I am. But talking about delayed introduction of certain vehicles/units within a specific fleet type, I can only add that in LT terms, Routemaster bus terms to which I was witness, RM8 was a case in point. For reasons that are well documented I am sure, RM8 only entered public service in the late 70's (ish), and I photographed same at Bexleyheath garage on its first public outing. I am typing here without checking my records, so bare that in mind, I am speaking from memory alone.

But my point being, that certain units will always form part of an ongoing test bed for a given fleet type, and so they may be the last to enter public service, even if their painted running number is one of the first.

Thanks Big Jumby - your point is taken, but in this case 701003 has been delivered to the Southern (February 2024) and has gone back to Derby, so I suspect there is something wrong with it that needs rectification. However, it has been away for a long time, so either there is "no hurry" or it is something serious !!
Incidently, in the case of RM8, I believe (from memory) that it was actually the very last of the RM family to enter service, sometime after the nemerical last (RML2760):

 

[TEW]

There's another 701 diagram starting next week, although not one from the LTPs.
It's a main suburban diagram starting and ending at Guildford Up Carriage Sidings.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Just for the benefit of those who may be confused by terminology used for issuing unit diagrams:

LTP (Long Term Plan) is issued twice a year, May and December currently.

STP (Short term plan) is everything that alters the LTP in any way, and is issued on a weekly basis in essence, and is largely about engineering works and special events (Twickenham Rugby etc).

For larger projects, such as the 701 roll out, there is a further alternative, the PA (Permanent Alteration). These are designed to soak up all the alterations (stock/crew diagrams) involved within that project, and which will eventually become part of the LTP at the next LTP timetable change, be that May or December.

These PA's can be issued once every eight weeks to fall in line with Train crew diagramming rules, so will generally fall (be issued) in February, April, July, September, November (as and when required).

The benefit of PA's is that the changes encompassed within them will be issued just once, before either a further PA (8 weeks later) or they form part of the next LTP (May or December). This frees up the workload of the STP teams, who's time will still be taken up by routine engineering work planning etc, albeit they will still have to refer to the PA's to prevent any clashes during the STP planning process.

So in essence, those new 701 diagrams that are coming to light occasionally, will very likely be a PA issue, the next LTP issue being in May.

Hope that explains the process, and I am assuming it is still essentially the same as in my time!

Thankyou for that explanation.

Would be worth having that in the(/a) general glossary of terms.

It probably means we should expect new diagrams in phases. If a new set of PAs are covered by 701s early then a pause before the next eight week phase of PAs is set up.

There are those (bb21 and others) who are far more in touch with matters 701 than I am. But talking about delayed introduction of certain vehicles/units within a specific fleet type, I can only add that in LT terms, Routemaster bus terms to which I was witness, RM8 was a case in point. For reasons that are well documented I am sure, RM8 only entered public service in the late 70's (ish), and I photographed same at Bexleyheath garage on its first public outing. I am typing here without checking my records, so bare that in mind, I am speaking from memory alone.

But my point being, that certain units will always form part of an ongoing test bed for a given fleet type, and so they may be the last to enter public service, even if their painted running number is one of the first.

Indeed. Furthermore it always seems to me to be an early unit in a fleet that makes it into service late if not last.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Indeed. Furthermore it always seems to me to be an early unit in a fleet that makes it into service late if not last.

An extreme example being the 2009 stock on the Victoria Line, where the numerically first two units were the last to be built. They were replacements for the first pair, which ended up so different from the production series that it was easier to scrap them and start again than to convert them.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

It probably means we should expect new diagrams in phases. If a new set of PAs are covered by 701s early then a pause before the next eight week phase of PAs is set up

I don't know for sure how they're implementing the new diagrams, given others have said they are one or two every couple of weeks? In that case they will be done STP initially, before forming part of the next PA. But to issue all/every new diagram by STP right through until the May change would be an enormous amount of work which the planners would struggle to keep up with, hence my thoughts about PA issues (above).

This was the case when the 458/5 were introduced, a pre arranged plan was drawn up by the LTP side, and then individual plans for every 10 car were phased in on average every two weeks, which included a fair amount of consequential alterations along the way, but at least the STP people had it written for them, so just had to include same within their usual work streams.

Belated add on in bold, for overall clarity.

 

[swr444]

Looks like 701019 has been involved in a fatality at Queenstown Road, working 5Q21.

 

[w11_supremecy]

Looks like 701019 has been involved in a fatality at Queenstown Road, working 5Q21.

It was indeed. Occurred between 11:45 and 12:00 earlier today. It has unsurprisingly created absolute chaos and mayhem on the SWR network. Feel really bad for the team onboard 019, and my thoughts go out to them and of course to the close ones of the victim.

 

[bb21]

Just been informed 045 is now also ready so may come into service this afternoon

 

[Siemens Staines]

Just been informed 045 is now also ready so may come into service this afternoon

Now allocated 2O53 on RTT

Realtime Trains | 2O53 1800 London Waterloo to London Waterloo | 10/04/2026

Real-time train running information for 2O53 1800 departure from London Waterloo to London Waterloo on 10/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[WWTownEnth]

701001 - In Passenger Service (2 Mar 26)
701002 - Training duties
701003 - Derby Litchurch Lane - Awaiting Redelivery To SWR
701004 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701005 - In Passenger Service (27 Aug 25)
701006 - In Passenger Service (6 Mar 26)
701007 - In Passenger Service (24 Feb 26)
701008 - In Passenger Service (31 Mar 26)
701009 - In Passenger Service (17 Oct 25)
701010 - In Passenger Service (22 Dec 25)
701011 - In Passenger Service (26 Feb 26)
701012 - In Passenger Service (21 Jul 25)
701013 - In Passenger Service (28 Jul 25)
701014 - Stored at Eastleigh
701015 - Training duties
701016 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701017 - In Passenger Service (25 Nov 24)
701018 - In Passenger Service (6 Jul 25)
701019 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701020 - In Passenger Service (8 Oct 25)
701021 - In Passenger Service (15 Sep 25)
701022 - In Passenger Service (9 Feb 26)
701023 - In Passenger Service (7 Apr 26)
701024 - Training duties
701025 - In Passenger Service (24 Jun 25)
701026 - In Passenger Service (3 Nov 25)
701027 - Stored at Eastleigh
701028 - Training duties
701029 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701030 - In Passenger Service (9 Dec 25)
701031 - In Passenger Service (28 Oct 24)
701032 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701033 - In Passenger Service (26 Nov 25)
701034 - In Passenger Service (18 Mar 25)
701035 - In Passenger Service (28 May 25)
701036 - In Passenger Service (7 Mar 25)
701037 - In Passenger Service (9 Jan 24)
701038 - In Passenger Service (5 Feb 26)
701039 - In Passenger Service (10 Jan 24)
701040 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701041 - In Passenger Service (17 Jun 25)
701042 - In Passenger Service (21 May 25)
701043 - In Passenger Service (16 Jan 24)
701044 - In Passenger Service (5 Feb 25)
701045 - In Passenger Service (10 Apr 26)
701046 - In Passenger Service (17 Mar 25)
701047 - In Passenger Service (31 Dec 25)
701048 - In Passenger Service (8 Nov 25j
701049 - In Passenger Service (20 Mar 26)
701050 - In Passenger Service (17 Nov 25)
701051 - In Passenger Service (14 Jul 25)
701052 - In Passenger Service (23 Dec 25)
701053 - In Passenger Service (26 Aug 25)
701054 - In Passenger Service (3 Jan 26)
701055 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701056 - In Passenger Service (8 Sep 25)
701057 - In Passenger Service (13 Aug 25)
701058 - In Passenger Service (11 Aug 25)
701059 - In Passenger Service (5 Dec 25)
701060 - In Passenger Service (1 Nov 25)

In Passenger Service: 46/60
Training duties: 4/60 (028 briefly served passengers before training duties)
SWR preparing for passenger service: 7/60
Stored at Eastleigh: 2/60
Stored at Derby Litchurch Lane: 1/60


701501 - Stored at Derby Litchurch Lane
701502 - Stored at Derby Litchurch Lane
701503 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701504 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701505 - Stored at Bicester
701506 - Stored at Bicester
701507 - Stored at Bicester
701508 - Stored at Derby Litchurch Lane
701509 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701510 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701511 - Stored at Bicester
701512 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701513 - Stored at Bicester
701514 - Stored at Bicester
701515 - Stored at Bicester
701516 - Stored at Bicester
701517 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701518 - Stored at Bicester
701519 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701520 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701521 - Stored at Bicester
701522 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701523 - Stored at Bicester
701524 - Stored at Derby Litchurch Lane
701525 - Stored at Bicester
701526 - Stored at Bicester
701527 - Stored at Bicester
701528 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701529 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701530 - Stored at Bicester

In Passenger Service: 0/30
SWR preparing for passenger service: 11/30
Stored at Derby Litchurch Lane: 4/30
Stored at Bicester 15/30

List updated to reflect changes

 

[NSEWonderer]

Just been informed 045 is now also ready so may come into service this afternoon

Woot as I thought that means all 40s are nearly done? Just 040 to complete the bingo card

 

[Big Jumby 74]

Just 040 to complete the bingo card

I do like the odd humorous comment. Brightens up what has (for me of late) been a trying time....

 

[NSEWonderer]

I do like the odd humorous comment. Brightens up what has (for me of late) been a trying time....

Ah hope it gets better Jumby

 

[bb21]

Woot as I thought that means all 40s are nearly done? Just 040 to complete the bingo card

Oooh don't go there. It messes with my head as I would like to group them as six lots of tens, so 041-050 is a group and that is now complete.

 

[NSEWonderer]

Oooh don't go there. It messes with my head as I would like to group them as six lots of tens, so 041-050 is a group and that is now complete.

Ah haha fairs

 

[mansonlo49]

Just been informed 045 is now also ready so may come into service this afternoon

remember this unit was stuck at long Marston for quite a period of time before coming out

 

[WWTownEnth]

There's another 701 diagram starting next week, although not one from the LTPs.
It's a main suburban diagram starting and ending at Guildford Up Carriage Sidings.

Did this diagram move to 701 today?

 

[Stephen42]

Did this diagram move to 701 today?

Yes. New diagram looks to be:

5D12 0600 GUILDFORD U.C.H.S. - GUILDFORD 0611
2D12 0628 GUILDFORD - LONDON WATERLOO 0748
2G13 0803 LONDON WATERLOO - GUILDFORD 0909
2G24 0934 GUILDFORD - LONDON WATERLOO 1037
2M23 1047 LONDON WATERLOO - CHESSINGTON S 1123
2M30 1134 CHESSINGTON S - LONDON WATERLOO 1210
2M29 1217 LONDON WATERLOO - CHESSINGTON S 1253
2M36 1304 CHESSINGTON S - LONDON WATERLOO 1340
2F35 1350 LONDON WATERLOO - WOKING 1438
2F44 1503 WOKING - LONDON WATERLOO 1552
2G45 1603 LONDON WATERLOO - GUILDFORD 1709
2G56 1734 GUILDFORD - LONDON WATERLOO 1837
2M55 1847 LONDON WATERLOO - CHESSINGTON S 1923
2M62 1934 CHESSINGTON S - LONDON WATERLOO 2010
2F61 2020 LONDON WATERLOO - WOKING 2108
2F70 2133 WOKING - LONDON WATERLOO 2222
2G71 2233 LONDON WATERLOO - GUILDFORD 2334
5G71 2339 GUILDFORD - GUILDFORD U.C.H.S. 2350

As above it's not one from the LTP or recent CWN notices. Appears to be two 450 ones stitched together that leaves the diagram above over to run as 701.