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

[Dx1998]

Most of them have a rotten egg smell near the toilets I've noticed (from outside the train)

 

[59CosG95]

That’s exactly what people who worked on the 4SUBs said about the 455s when they replaced them!

And doubtless the same phrase will be trotted out once the 701s go!

 

[Recessio]

Most of them have a rotten egg smell near the toilets I've noticed (from outside the train)

Yeah that's a good description. It's not quite a sewage smell like you sometimes got on old trains that flushed directly to track, but it's certainly not pleasant on a hot day

 

[Farnborough]

just wonder where the 701/5's will go? is it any new routes where no 10 cars operating? such as replacing the desiros on Guildford Farnham? or the ascot aldershot shuttle?

These barely justify four-coach services, never mind stepping up to five...

 

[TEW]

Most of them have a rotten egg smell near the toilets I've noticed (from outside the train)

That is a feature rather than a fault.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

That is a feature rather than a fault.

Tbh, was never convinced about this bio thing when in (the) essence, the remainder would still be swilling around under a unit for potentially 2-3 weeks!

The attached old school items are still readily available from numerous sources...

 

[Peter Sarf]

Tbh, was never convinced about this bio thing when in (the) essence, the remainder would still be swilling around under a unit for potentially 2-3 weeks!

The attached old school items are still readily available from numerous sources...

So thoughtful of you. They are after all mostly biodegradable and the remnants recyclable - unlike plastic pegs .

 

[NSEWonderer]

I work them and the same thing was said about Desiros especially during the troubling overheating issues during snow times. Look at Desiros now, could do another decade.

 

[TRAX]

Look at Desiros now, could do another decade.

Even more I reckon

 

[NSEWonderer]

That sounds like external smoke mode was operated and left in. Shuts down ventilation so not to fill the carriages with smoke filled air.

External smoke will turn back on after some time automatically. Seems the more direct reason is the temp setting internally is now the same as the Class 450s

 

[wickham]

These barely justify four-coach services, never mind stepping up to five...

You are quite right in saying these services "barely justify four-coach trains" - most of the day they just about justify one coach !!

 

[OneTrackMinded]

External smoke will turn back on after some time automatically. Seems the more direct reason is the temp setting internally is now the same as the Class 450s

They’ve changed the thermostat temperature? If so, up or down?

 

[D365]

That is a feature rather than a fault.

Indeed, the bio-reactor toilets.

 

[Farnborough]

You are quite right in saying these services "barely justify four-coach trains" - most of the day they just about justify one coach !!

I like having a carriage to myself...

I don't want to mix with, urgh!, people!

 

[Nogoohwell]

When these units were starting out, the doors would fail to close properly and at the time it was put down to the high internal air pressure caused by the AC.

My guess is that the aircon is switched down to ensure the doors work and that no mechanical fix for the doors has been implemented.

 

[NSEWonderer]

When these units were starting out, the doors would fail to close properly and at the time it was put down to the high internal air pressure caused by the AC.

My guess is that the aircon is switched down to ensure the doors work and that no mechanical fix for the doors has been implemented.

That was yes part of the temporary fix. The saloon ac was before that alot more effective. A reduction in the overall strength of the AC "temporarily" allowed the door issue to be reduced and allowed the project of introduction to continue without much of a hitch. The actual modifications may come later on when the fleet is fully bedded in.

 

[Goldfish62]

I like having a carriage to myself...

I don't want to mix with, urgh!, people!

Just don't mention anything to the Transport Secretary. She doesn’t like quiet trains on the network...

 

[Dr_Intoxicated]

When these units were starting out, the doors would fail to close properly and at the time it was put down to the high internal air pressure caused by the AC.

My guess is that the aircon is switched down to ensure the doors work and that no mechanical fix for the doors has been implemented.

Surely reducing the temperature reduces the internal pressure according to the ideal gas equation. PV=nRT

 

[Goldfish62]

Well, whatever they've done to the aircon setting I was on a 701 yesterday afternoon and the temperature was perfectly comfortable. That's all that matters in my book.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

Well, whatever they've done to the aircon setting I was on a 701 yesterday afternoon and the temperature was perfectly comfortable.

Still not ridden on one tbh, but one is musing about these AC comments, and just wondering if there is any pattern of good/bad AC (between different cars) on given units, that may point to issues with certain cars in the wider fleet sense? Probably getting too anal/rivet counting, me that is!

 

[Goldfish62]

Still not ridden on one tbh, but one is musing about these AC comments, and just wondering if there is any pattern of good/bad AC (between different cars) on given units, that may point to issues with certain cars in the wider fleet sense? Probably getting too anal/rivet counting, me that is!

No more so than any other train I'd say! 450s and 458s have always had huge temperature variations both between coaches as well as sometimes within the same coach.

 

[NSEWonderer]

Surely reducing the temperature reduces the internal pressure according to the ideal gas equation. PV=nRT

Yes but that equation doesn't really show how much harder it is to reduce the temperature without increasing the amount of subtance(n) which is the cause of the higher pressure affecting the doors. Simply toning down the ac solved that as you introduce less (n)

 

[OneTrackMinded]

Yes but that equation doesn't really show how much harder it is to reduce the temperature without increasing the amount of subtance(n) which is the cause of the higher pressure affecting the doors. Simply toning down the ac solved that as you introduce less (n)

Fingers crossed once the hardware fix is implemented (if it ever is), the AC can be put back to the higher setting again.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Thank god the 455s were gone before this heatwave. It doesn’t bear thinking about. They were torturous in heat.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Thank god the 455s were gone before this heatwave. It doesn’t bear thinking about. They were torturous in heat.

I wonder how the 455s compared to the 4EPBs and 4SUBs that came before. We have come a long way with 701s with airconditioning and the trouble with airconditioinig is, like seats, peoples tastes seem do vary. I find some trains (etc) too cold !.

Also I wonder if some people confuse the humidity with heat, if it is humid then people feel hotter because their perspiration is unable to evaporate !.

I fear that on a suburban train with frequent stops and an open carriage layout that keeping the inside cool enough in summer and hot enough in winter is going to use up a huge amount of energy and require very powerful equipment. Still the 701s are better than the busses I ride on with airconditioning and people opening the windows !.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

I wonder how the 455s compared to the 4EPBs and 4SUBs that came before.

From personal experience the SUB's (mostly) and occasionally EPB's that I commuted to work on in the 70's were far better in hot weather (as it was then) as the drop lights on every door were fully open on hot days throughout each carriage - brilliant, but with the advent 508/455 much of this blast of air was lost with only hopper style opening windows, to the extent that the observant amongst the commuters would select certain seats to get the most benefit from a cooling breeze - as I did - sit towards the rear of any car (in direction of travel) to get most from all the hoppers open further forward.

PS: the problem with heat for certain services back in the day (and today no doubt even with AC) is that if the formation has been stabled at eg Clapham Yard/Wimbledon depot (or anywhere else for that matter) between the peaks, it will more than likely have been sat still in the open for several hours.

 

[norbitonflyer]

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.

Plenty of innaccurate information today
Screen on platform at Richmond said Clapham Junction, Vauxhall, Waterloo
Screen on train said all stations to Waterloo
Guard said all stations to Barnes, then fast to Waterloo (as the train was running 20 minutes late)

After calling at Barnes, the train decided to tell us it would terminate at Putney. It continued to do so even as we passed Putney at full speed!

Much confusion to all on board, especially as, because of a meltdown on the Ditsrict Line, many people travelling were unfamiliar with the route, and SWR's erratic PIS systems - to be fair, the guard was doing his best to tell us what was actually happening, despite constant contraditcion from the Automatic Lie Generator

 

[Dr_Intoxicated]

Yes but that equation doesn't really show how much harder it is to reduce the temperature without increasing the amount of subtance(n) which is the cause of the higher pressure affecting the doors. Simply toning down the ac solved that as you introduce less (n)

Ok I get it, the units are forcing more air into the carriage

 

[Snow1964]

Still not ridden on one tbh, but one is musing about these AC comments, and just wondering if there is any pattern of good/bad AC (between different cars) on given units, that may point to issues with certain cars in the wider fleet sense? Probably getting too anal/rivet counting, me that is!

It ought to be something that the train crew could record and if a vehicle is clearly different, then either got faulty thermostat or faulty system. What happened to old days of putting problems in a fault log book. (I am talking obviously different temperature, not some extra duties of checking to nearest tenth of a degree with a digital thermometer)

Although being SWR suburban, the chance of a guard actually walking through the train, at least once during a journey, rather than hiding in back cab is fairly low.

 

[NSEWonderer]

It ought to be something that the train crew could record and if a vehicle is clearly different, then either got faulty thermostat or faulty system. What happened to old days of putting problems in a fault log book. (I am talking obviously different temperature, not some extra duties of checking to nearest tenth of a degree with a digital thermometer)

Although being SWR suburban, the chance of a guard actually walking through the train, at least once during a journey, rather than hiding in back cab is fairly low.

The guard never really hides in the back cab of a 701 due to all the different dispatching points they need to be ready for. If the train is jam packed then it "may" be utilised more. Also the Guard isn't going to be holding a thermometer walking about to check if the temperature is near unison in all 10 carriages either, nor would the driver. If a report from passengers however come through, that gets logged to defects who will handle it.