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

[swr444]

701019 doing a run down to Effingham Neck on 5Q01. Either a test run or a shake down post the fatality at QRB

 

[norbitonflyer]

Well there is, at Reading.

Well, yes, but that's been there since 1856, and I can't imagine many people from SW London connect to the GWML inner suburban service there. I was referring to the new bit.

 

[Dx1998]

701055 is out on testing today - 5Q52

 

[NSEWonderer]

The 458/0’s were geared exactly the same as the 458/4’s are.

Did they have the yaw dampers for over 75mph travel? Im sure they only did a max of 75??

 

[GW43125]

Did they have the yaw dampers for over 75mph travel? Im sure they only did a max of 75??

458/0 were, once upon a time, 100mph. Though fairly swiftly restricted to 90mph from memory. The farewell tour in 2015 certainly made use of the 90mph capability!

 

[nctd2306]

458/0 were, once upon a time, 100mph. Though fairly swiftly restricted to 90mph from memory. The farewell tour in 2015 certainly made use of the 90mph capability!

The yaw dampers were removed when they went from 458/0 (100mph max speed) to 458/5 (75mph max speed).

They were then re-added upon the /4 refurbishment where they were re-re geared back to 100mph max.

As you can see, the 458s haven't had a unique or complicated history at all

 

[WimFit]

Did they have the yaw dampers for over 75mph travel? Im sure they only did a max of 75??

Yes they did. We type tested them at 100mph when they were new.

 

[nctd2306]

Yes they did. We type tested them at 100mph when they were new.

And here is a video (not mine) of a pair at full speed (clearly more than 75mph!)

 

[NSEWonderer]

And here is a video (not mine) of a pair at full speed (clearly more than 75mph!)

We mean the 458/0s, 458/4s are yes 100mph rated

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Apr 2026 ==

Yes they did. We type tested them at 100mph when they were new.

Ah that explains, I lost track with how many changes they made with these trains. 458/5s then were the only time they got limited to 75mph?

 

[Big Jumby 74]

458/5s then were the only time they got limited to 75mph?

Yes, as that suited the inner Windsor side area services they were designed for in 5 car format. More frequent stops, faster acceleration between same etc. Once the 707's started to come on stream on those same services, the 458/5 fleet gradually cascaded to the Reading road.

 

[NSEWonderer]

Yes, as that suited the inner Windsor side area services they were designed for in 5 car format. More frequent stops, faster acceleration between same etc. Once the 707's started to come on stream on those same services, the 458/5 fleet gradually cascaded to the Reading road.

Indeed, The 458/4s would have been a lot more efficient if they also stayed at 75mph. Would have compensated much better for a loss of a TCU.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

Would have compensated much better for a loss of a TCU.

But as we know, SWR had other plans for them......a woefully sad tale when all said and done, and not a good impression of the industry.

 

[43096]

Presumably he has decided to prioritise getting the rest of the 701s into service before minor tweaks to the PIS, which seems like a reasonable decision.

He’s not too busy with getting 701s into service to get the announcements changed to the constant barrage of see it say it sort it drivel though.

It’s also about standards. If they can’t get the name of something right that changed four years ago, what else are they not getting right?

 

[Stephen42]

It looks like GBRF are dragging a single 701/5 from Bicester MOD to Derby Litchurch Lane on Tuesday:

Realtime Trains | 0V62 0525 Leicester L.I.P. to Bicester Mod Gbrf | 21/04/2026

Real-time train running information for 0V62 0525 departure from Leicester L.I.P. to Bicester Mod Gbrf on 21/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q62 0957 Bicester Mod Gbrf to Derby Litchurch Lane | 21/04/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q62 0957 departure from Bicester Mod Gbrf to Derby Litchurch Lane on 21/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Then Wednesday there's a more predictable move from Bicester MOD to Wimbledon Park, timing load would cover a pair of 701/5s:

Realtime Trains | 0V63 1202 Leicester L.I.P. to Bicester Mod Gbrf | 22/04/2026

Real-time train running information for 0V63 1202 departure from Leicester L.I.P. to Bicester Mod Gbrf on 22/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q63 1633 Bicester Mod Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 22/04/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q63 1633 departure from Bicester Mod Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 22/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[bb21]

701019 doing a run down to Effingham Neck on 5Q01. Either a test run or a shake down post the fatality at QRB

019 was passed out for service today, unfortunately too late to go on any diagram for today AIUI.

 

[norbitonflyer]

019 was passed out for service today, unfortunately too late to go on any diagram for today AIUI.

Au contraire

Currently at Waterloo having arrived from Dorking as 1D14 and about to go to Hampton Court as 2J15

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Au contraire

When he said "today," do consider that it was only 19 minutes into "today," and therefore he was probably referring to yesterday.

 

[Feathers44]

He’s not too busy with getting 701s into service to get the announcements changed to the constant barrage of see it say it sort it drivel though.

It’s also about standards. If they can’t get the name of something right that changed four years ago, what else are they not getting right?

You must travel on a different fleet of 701s to me. I hear it once or less on each daily run into or out of Waterloo.

Having said that, and being about to say that I’m fine with the PIS ’as is’, I‘m going to go full hypocrite and admit that I can’t abide the ‘Croydon Tramlink’ audio announcement at Wimbledon. It’s been ‘London Trams’ for years.

 

[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 - In Passenger Service (18 Apr 26)
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: 47/60
Training duties: 4/60 (028 briefly served passengers before training duties)
SWR preparing for passenger service: 6/60
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

Just six being prepared for service now, the lowest number in a couple of years. I wonder if we will see the remaining two in Eastleigh coming out of storage soon.

 

[Bigfoot]

The yaw dampers were removed when they went from 458/0 (100mph max speed) to 458/5 (75mph max speed).

They were then re-added upon the /4 refurbishment where they were re-re geared back to 100mph max.

As you can see, the 458s haven't had a unique or complicated history at all

The yaw damper reattachment being one of the reasons they are heavily route restricted. Yet more complications to their life.

 

[Stephen42]

Just six being prepared for service now, the lowest number in a couple of years. I wonder if we will see the remaining two in Eastleigh coming out of storage soon.

There's now fewer 701/0s not in passenger service anywhere than there's been 701/0s not in passenger service with SWR at some points.

The situation will be more complex than the high level categorisation there. 3 of those 6 are likely at Farnham and have been for quite a while (I may have missed some moves in/out). The 701/0 conversion programme for existing crew must be nearly finished if not already which would change those units usage.

At the same time 701/5 activities are ramping up. The Bicester paths might be a sign of things to come. It will be interesting to see if the 5T9* paths on Tuesday/Friday run and if they do whether they are 701/0 or 701/5 operated.

I wouldn't bet against the Farnham units being taken before Eastleigh. That frees up those roads for already delivered 701/5s that have gone through the first stage at Wimbledon. The published 50 diagram target would be achievable without the Eastleigh pair or 701/0 still at Derby.

 

[reddragon]

701019s first run in service?

Realtime Trains | 2C16 0709 Reading to London Waterloo | 21/04/2026

Real-time train running information for 2C16 0709 departure from Reading to London Waterloo on 21/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[WWTownEnth]

Au contraire

Currently at Waterloo having arrived from Dorking as 1D14 and about to go to Hampton Court as 2J15

I thought this was….

 

[444013]

701019s first run in service?

Realtime Trains | 2C16 0709 Reading to London Waterloo | 21/04/2026

Real-time train running information for 2C16 0709 departure from Reading to London Waterloo on 21/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

View attachment 202798

Wasn't 701019s first day in service Sat 18/04/2026?

 

[davews]

701019 was certainly in service yesterday, I think on the Dorking route.

 

[Meglos]

701019 was certainly in service yesterday, I think on the Dorking route.

I travelled on it from Worcester Park to Waterloo on Saturday

 

[norbitonflyer]

701019 was certainly in service yesterday, I think on the Dorking route.

Can't find any trace of it on RTT yesterday (Monday) on the Dorking route.

 

[NSEWonderer]

Can't find any trace of it on RTT yesterday (Monday) on the Dorking route.

Just seen the Monday bit

Realtime Trains | 1D14 0730 Dorking to London Waterloo | 18/04/2026

Real-time train running information for 1D14 0730 departure from Dorking to London Waterloo on 18/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[swr444]

Can't find any trace of it on RTT yesterday (Monday) on the Dorking route.

It definitely came into service on saturday, it was mentioned on here

Realtime Trains | 1D14 0730 Dorking to London Waterloo | 18/04/2026

Real-time train running information for 1D14 0730 departure from Dorking to London Waterloo on 18/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Covshire1]

There is a 5Q30 1400 Eastleigh Trsmd to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on Thursday 23/04 which should be another stored cl701/0 moving itself for commissioning....