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

[WWTownEnth]

What is the best estimate for when the entire ten car fleet will finally be in passenger service?

 

[Cach17]

What is the best estimate for when the entire ten car fleet will finally be in passenger service?

With 6 to go, hopefully by the end of August.

 

[Meglos]

17% of operational units out of action in a “brand new” fleet is pretty appalling.

I suspect that quite a bit of that is dealing with trains which have been tagged with graffiti overnight. Units tend to get pulled from service within a day or two to "clean them".

There is probably no easy solution to this, unless you cease parking the units at outstations where there is less security. Of course there isn't enough room to keep all the units in a few depots (Wimbledon, Clapham Junction, Feltham and Strawberry Hill?) overnight.

 

[nctd2306]

17% of operational units out of action in a “brand new” fleet is pretty appalling.

I've noticed that the units most recently introduced to service seem to be the worst performing and least available. Units 014 and 040 in particular don't appear to be particularly reliable. I say this as 014 is stuck at Egham with yet another fault...

 

[Goldfish62]

I've noticed that the units most recently introduced to service seem to be the worst performing and least available. Units 014 and 040 in particular don't appear to be particularly reliable. I say this as 014 is stuck at Egham with yet another fault...

I feel it's going to be a very time before they're promoted from Roger Ford's New Trains Reliability Table.

 

[Peter Sarf]

I've noticed that the units most recently introduced to service seem to be the worst performing and least available. Units 014 and 040 in particular don't appear to be particularly reliable. I say this as 014 is stuck at Egham with yet another fault...

I can understand if the the most recently commissioned units will have the most problems.

1) I expect the easiest units were commissioned first. Bottom of the barrel being scraped by now.

2) But how reliable were the commissioned units a while back when they were only just commissioned ?.

There is it appears plenty of faults they can have. Too complicated and left to fester - some will have had better storage than others ?.

 

[Goldfish62]

I can understand if the the most recently commissioned units will have the most problems.

1) I expect the easiest units were commissioned first. Bottom of the barrel being scraped by now.

2) But how reliable were the commissioned units a while back when they were only just commissioned ?.

There is it appears plenty of faults they can have. Too complicated and left to fester - some will have had better storage than others ?.

As highlighted by Roger Ford regularly in Modern Railways modern software-based trains are overly complex and will never achieve the reliability of older trains (this issue is not confined to the UK). Add to that your point that the 701s have been allowed to fester for an unexpectedly long period.

But at least they're not as bad as the 777s...

 

[WWTownEnth]

Any word in the STPs on a new 701 diagram next week?

 

[swr444]

Any word in the STPs on a new 701 diagram next week?

I’d be surprised with the shortfall this week

 

[WWTownEnth]

I’d be surprised with the shortfall this week

I agree although, if the drop dead of 31 July for the 458/4s is to be met, one 701 diagram will need to displace a 450 diagram from the mainline suburbans to the Windsors for each of the coming three weeks.

All that said, they might skip next week and do two the week after in the hope one or two additional units have been cleared for service.

 

[Peter Sarf]

I agree although, if the drop dead of 31 July for the 458/4s is to be met, one 701 diagram will need to displace a 450 diagram from the mainline suburbans to the Windsors for each of the coming three weeks.

All that said, they might skip next week and do two the week after in the hope one or two additional units have been cleared for service.

Given it is summer and passengers are off enjoying time with their family I reckon any shortfall will be covered by the C word.

(C*nc*ll*d)

 

[w11_supremecy]

I've noticed that the units most recently introduced to service seem to be the worst performing and least available. Units 014 and 040 in particular don't appear to be particularly reliable. I say this as 014 is stuck at Egham with yet another fault...

Yeah, 701014 initially couldn’t take power which meant a 16 minute delay on the platform at Egham whilst it was being fixed…

 

[Covshire1]

There is a 5Q87 0821 Bicester Mod Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs tomorrow. Couple of tractors are already at Bicester if the path is activated.

 

[TEW]

Any word in the STPs on a new 701 diagram next week?

Another main suburban diagram added next week, with the 8-450 displaced to a Windsor line diagram and another 8-458 diagram removed.

 

[WWTownEnth]

Thanks. How may 8-450 diagrams will be operating in place of eventual 701 services on the Windsors as of next week?

 

[Siemens Staines]

Thanks. How may 8-450 diagrams will be operating in place of eventual 701 services on the Windsors as of next week?

Presumably it will increase from 6 to 7 booked pairs on the Windsor side with 3 pairs remaining on Chessington/Guildford diagrams

 

[800001]

There is a 5Q87 0821 Bicester Mod Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs tomorrow. Couple of tractors are already at Bicester if the path is activated.

701506/513 to Wimbledon

 

[swr444]

Looks like it's the diagram starting with 2G10 which goes over to 701 next week. 5S05 - 2S05 goes over to 450.

 

[WrongRoad]

Why can the 701/5 (in pairs) still not be put into passenger service? They are five years old! How hard can it be to drive an identical train that just happens to split in two? Even though you never have to. The British really are unique aren't they?

They still don’t work properly, that’s why they are not in service

 

[Peter Sarf]

701506/513 to Wimbledon

I think 701506 & 701513 were the longest residents at Bicester - since late 2023 so 2 1/2 years !.

Currently 5Q87 is running about 50m late but can catch up.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K01610/2026-07-09/detailed

 

[Covshire1]

I think 701506 & 701513 were the longest residents at Bicester - since late 2023 so 2 1/2 years !.

Currently 5Q87 is running about 50m late but can catch up.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K01610/2026-07-09/detailed

It's been eyeballed as 701518 on 5Q87...

 

[WWTownEnth]

It's been eyeballed as 701518 on 5Q87...

Just 518 or 518 plus x?

 

[Covshire1]

Just 518 or 518 plus x?

Just 518...

 

[WWTownEnth]

701001 - In Passenger Service (2 Mar 26)
701002 - In Passenger Service (18 May 26)
701003 - SWR preparing for passenger service
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 - In Passenger Service (29 Jun 26)
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: 54/60
Training duties: 3/60 (028 briefly served passengers before training duties)
SWR preparing for passenger service: 3/60


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 - SWR preparing for passenger service
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 - SWR preparing for passenger service
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: 15/30
Stored at Derby Litchurch Lane: 8/30
Stored at Bicester 7/30

That's now half of the five car units out of storage and onto SWR turf

 

[800001]

Just 518...

thanks for confirming

 

[Peter Sarf]

It's been eyeballed as 701518 on 5Q87...

Yes.

Eyballed at Clapham Junction at 11:59 as
37510 +
37(501 ?) +
701518.

I was a bit taken by surprise especially as I thought it would be top and tailed. I should have guessed a unit change as 5Q87 left Bicester over 60m late despite having days to get ready !. Ironically I think 701518 was the most recent arrival at Bicester - from Derby LL only one year ago this month I believe !.

 

[Snow1964]

Apologies if I missed it, but I did scroll back few pages to try and find answer, but how much longer are there expected to be be 3 dedicated training units (rather than training using normal unit).

From memory training started towards end of 2024, roughly 20 months ago (or about 550 days ago). Does anyone know when will training change to just refresher, and new staff (rather than being rolled out as new type to existing staff)

 

[WWTownEnth]

Apologies if I missed it, but I did scroll back few pages to try and find answer, but how much longer are there expected to be be 3 dedicated training units (rather than training using normal unit).

From memory training started towards end of 2024, roughly 20 months ago (or about 550 days ago). Does anyone know when will training change to just refresher, and new staff (rather than being rolled out as new type to existing staff)

I was told (by not a hugely reliable source) that two will be released to traffic once sufficient five cars are available for both static and non static training.

 

[Bobcp]

That's now half of the five car units out of storage and onto SWR turf

Not quite as were it not for the tree branch issue with 93001 then 701510 would be back at Derby Litchurch Lane.

Yes, I agree it is currently still present on SWR turf but hardly 'Being prepared for service'

 

[Siemens Staines]

Looks like it's the diagram starting with 2G10 which goes over to 701 next week. 5S05 - 2S05 goes over to 450.

Thank you for this information. I guess the evening peak half of these two diagrams is the same such that 2G10 works 2F91 and 2S05 works 2V51?