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

[NSEWonderer]

2C49 was looking rather confused with Weymouth displayed, shortly corrected to Reading. Did on its return seem to have a power issue that was resolved 21mins later at Longcross.

 

[TEW]

Is that because of platform lengths, lack of transponders or something else?

They required testing hasn't been completed. AFAIK there's no technical reason they couldn't if the required testing was completed.

 

[WWTownEnth]

Will have to go through the checks at Wimbledon and I'd guess there's probably faults left for the team at Wimbledon to fix. That unit was at Farnham much longer than all the others and skipped over into service.

Of the other 6 701/0 units with SWR not in passenger service. 040 did some testing runs and returned to Wimbledon this week. Some units get sent back to Clapham for further runs, a few do a final trip from Wimbledon and others enter service shortly after coming back.

015 and 028 have been regularly allocated for various trips. 024 has had some public allocations though appears to be mostly static/within depot confines of late.

027 and 029 haven't had public allocations for the test circuits and unlikely to have done them. They both got to Wimbledon in May. Most units have entered service close to Wimbledon arrival order. I'd expect both to enter service before 004 unless there's a hard to fix fault.

Many thanks. Very interesting. I assume that 015, 024, 028 are all pretty much ready for service as they are being used for the final stages of driver training. They can be brought into service with just a short programme of checks, I think?

 

[Snow1964]

Many thanks. Very interesting. I assume that 015, 024, 028 are all pretty much ready for service as they are being used for the final stages of driver training. They can be brought into service with just a short programme of checks, I think?

Not just a few checks, might be some fixes and upgrades too.
But tend to be talking few days rather than few weeks/months

 

[Goldfish62]

View attachment 205914
2C49 was looking rather confused with Weymouth displayed, shortly corrected to Reading. Did on its return seem to have a power issue that was resolved 21mins later at Longcross.

Unusual to see a Reading service since May at P24. Since then they've almost exclusively departed from P17-19, having arrived as services from Weybridge.

 

[nctd2306]

Unusual to see a Reading service since May at P24. Since then they've almost exclusively departed from P17-19, having arrived as services from Weybridge.

Mainline services diverting via the Windsor side this weekend, so they were probably taking up platforms 15-19.

This was the case last weekend too, and I'm sure I spotted a Portsmouth Harbour service on platform 21!

 

[Goldfish62]

Based on observations at Richmond and Staines, SWR appear to have dropped "Arterio" from announcements and screens. Makes sense now almost every train is a 701.

 

[OneTrackMinded]

Based on observations at Richmond and Staines, SWR appear to have dropped "Arterio" from announcements and screens. Makes sense now almost every train is a 701.

Yes I noticed this as well.

 

[MasterPhillips]

Based on observations at Richmond and Staines, SWR appear to have dropped "Arterio" from announcements and screens. Makes sense now almost every train is a 701.

A welcome change, as this was yet more unnecessary information. Just a shame they have now reverted to some new AI voice which doesnt sound natural at all.

 

[RUK]

It seems strange then that they’ve put the Arterio branding onto the newly GBR-reliveried example, which would be non-standard for the GBR livery.

 

[Siemens Staines]

701040 would appear to have entered service today

Realtime Trains | 2D90 0618 Epsom to London Waterloo | 15/06/2026

Real-time train running information for 2D90 0618 departure from Epsom to London Waterloo on 15/06/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[mansonlo49]

701040 would appear to have entered service today

Realtime Trains | 2D90 0618 Epsom to London Waterloo | 15/06/2026

Real-time train running information for 2D90 0618 departure from Epsom to London Waterloo on 15/06/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

finally all the second half 701/0s have all entered service(031—060)

 

[Goldfish62]

It seems strange then that they’ve put the Arterio branding onto the newly GBR-reliveried example, which would be non-standard for the GBR livery.

Not at all. Just because they've dropped the name from announcements doesn't mean it's being dropped altogether. Azuma doesn't appear anywhere but on the trains themselves.

 

[WWTownEnth]

701001 - In Passenger Service (2 Mar 26)
701002 - In Passenger Service (18 May 26)
701003 - Software testing duties at Derby Litchurch Lane
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 - In Passenger Service 9 Jun 26)
701015 - Training duties
701016 - In Passenger Service (4 Jun 26)
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 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701028 - Training duties
701029 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701030 - In Passenger Service (9 Dec 25)
701031 - In Passenger Service (28 Oct 24)
701032 - In Passenger Service (15 May 26)
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 24)
701037 - In Passenger Service (9 Jan 24)
701038 - In Passenger Service (5 Feb 26)
701039 - In Passenger Service (10 Jan 24)
701040 - In Passenger Service (15 Jun 26)
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 25)
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 - In Passenger Service (6 May 26)
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: 53/60
Training duties: 3/60 (028 briefly served passengers before training duties)
SWR preparing for passenger service: 3/60
Software testing duties 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 Derby Litchurch Lane
701506 - Stored at Bicester
701507 - Stored at Derby Litchurch Lane
701508 - Stored at Derby Litchurch Lane
701509 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701510 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701511 - Stored at Derby Litchurch Lane
701512 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701513 - Stored at Bicester
701514 - Stored at Derby Litchurch Lane
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 - SWR preparing for passenger service
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 - SWR preparing for passenger service
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: 13/30
Stored at Derby Litchurch Lane: 8/30
Stored at Bicester 9/30

53 cleared for passenger service now. That SWR target of 55 units for 50 diagrams “by the summer“ is in close striking distance.

 

[vuzzeho]

Not at all. Just because they've dropped the name from announcements doesn't mean it's being dropped altogether. Azuma doesn't appear anywhere but on the trains themselves.

Azuma appears in announcements, on the train and at stations. Chances are GBR are just going to keep these branded train names.

 

[Goldfish62]

Azuma appears in announcements, on the train and at stations. Chances are GBR are just going to keep these branded train names.

I've learned something. I can't recall ever seeing "Azuma" on PIS screens or hearing it on the recorded announcements, but then maybe that's because I usually only ever use LNER from Network Rail stations.

 

[vuzzeho]

I've learned something. I can't recall ever seeing "Azuma" on PIS screens or hearing it on the recorded announcements, but then maybe that's because I usually only ever use LNER from Network Rail stations.

They do announce and display it as LNER Azuma compared to LNER (for the 225s) at Kings Cross!

 

[Goldfish62]

They do announce and display it as LNER Azuma compared to LNER (for the 225s) at Kings Cross!

Never noticed that!!!

In contrast, "Arterio" has never been announced or displayed at NR stations Waterloo, Clapham Junction or Reading.

 

[swr444]

Never noticed that!!!

In contrast, "Arterio" has never been announced or displayed at NR stations Waterloo, Clapham Junction or Reading.

It definitely was being announced at Waterloo!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

"Arterio" has never been announced or displayed at NR stations Waterloo, Clapham Junction or Reading.

I've seen it on the screens at Clapham Junction hundreds of time...

 

[vuzzeho]

In contrast, "Arterio" has never been announced or displayed at NR stations Waterloo, Clapham Junction or Reading.

Hate to say it but I do think I've heard Arterio at Clapham Junction.

 

[Goldfish62]

Hate to say it but I do think I've heard Arterio at Clapham Junction.

On the Windsor lines platforms, including the screens at the top of the footbridge stairs, I can categorically say it's never been announced or displayed when I've caught a train there. With a 10 coach train being shown it was always previously a case of seeing what turned up - a 701 or pair of 458/5s, or alternatively looking up on RTT. I wouldn't know about other platforms.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Jun 2026 ==

I've seen it on the screens at Clapham Junction hundreds of time...

Not on the Windsor lines platforms - always remained "An SWR service formed of 10 coaches".

 

[Peter Sarf]

Never noticed that!!!

In contrast, "Arterio" has never been announced or displayed at NR stations Waterloo, Clapham Junction or Reading.

There is a chance you have managed to tune the names out - if you are lucky.

 

[Parallel]

On the Windsor lines platforms, including the screens at the top of the footbridge stairs, I can categorically say it's never been announced or displayed when I've caught a train there. With a 10 coach train being shown it was always previously a case of seeing what turned up - a 701 or pair of 458/5s, or alternatively looking up on RTT. I wouldn't know about other platforms.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Jun 2026 ==


Not on the Windsor lines platforms - always remained "An SWR service formed of 10 coaches".

‘Arterio’ definitely did get announced at Clapham Junction on the Windsor lines where appropriate. If some formation information is missing for whatever reason, ‘Arterio’ then wouldn’t be announced as the system doesn’t know the traction forming the service. The same happens with LNER for their Azumas.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Not at all. Just because they've dropped the name from announcements doesn't mean it's being dropped altogether. Azuma doesn't appear anywhere but on the trains themselves.

It's interesting you said that because Azuma -- as well as being what kicked this entire trend off -- is splashed about the most of all of them.

At all stations including at some point Karen at Edinburgh Waverley, "LNER Azuma service to London King's Cross" is said, just like SWR Arterio, and they were the first train types to directly be named with the operator in station announcements.

But then -- something SWR don't even do, nor any other train company -- the automated announcements say:
"Hello... and welcome aboard this LNER Azuma to London King's Cross."

 

[Goldfish62]

‘Arterio’ definitely did get announced at Clapham Junction on the Windsor lines where appropriate. If some formation information is missing for whatever reason, ‘Arterio’ then wouldn’t be announced as the system doesn’t know the traction forming the service. The same happens with LNER for their Azumas.

Oh well, happy to admit that I stand corrected on Clapham Junction. Shows how much notice I take when I'm passing through the station!

 

[norbitonflyer]

It's interesting you said that because Azuma -- as well as being what kicked this entire trend off --

It goers back longer than that - i recall back in 1989 hearing "Welcome to this InterCity 225 service to Leeds"

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Not on the Windsor lines platforms - always remained "An SWR service formed of 10 coaches".

Definitely on the platforms there - and should be on the footbridge as the screens are directly linked?

I think the other poster is right in that you've tuned it out.

Then again, I'm going by the visuals on the screens and not the voice announcements.

 

[Goldfish62]

Definitely on the platforms there - and should be on the footbridge as the screens are directly linked?

I think the other poster is right in that you've tuned it out.

Then again, I'm going by the visuals on the screens and not the voice announcements.

A couple of posts back I have already accepted that I must be wrong.

Time to move on? It's kind of irrelevant now anyway given the changes.

 

[Chorley Cake]

004/027/029/033 all clearly visible at Wimbledon depot from Durnsford Road area.