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

[WWTownEnth]

701001 - In Passenger Service (2 Mar 26)
701002 - In Passenger Service (18 May 26)
701003 - In Passenger Service (27 Jul 26)
701004 - In Passenger Service (10 Jul 26)
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 - In Passenger Service (29 Jul 26)
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: 57/60
Training duties: 2/60 (028 briefly served passengers before training duties)
SWR preparing for passenger service: 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 - SWR preparing for passenger service
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 - SWR preparing for passenger service
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 - SWR preparing for passenger service
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: 18/30
Stored at Derby Litchurch Lane: 8/30
Stored at Bicester 4/30

57 now in passenger service, 1 stuck in commissioning and 2 remain on training duties.

 

[Goldfish62]

Very much hot air.

I did suspect as much!

 

[Peter Sarf]

Very much hot air.

Interesting this conversation above is taking place today. As we speak 024 is close to being released for service, with just a couple of components to be replaced before release, and I am of the understanding the first pair of /5s are starting to go through the pre-service inspections.

Makes a lot more sense.

SWR is awash with 19 x 701/5s and many of them have been on SWR for plenty of time. It would be odd if the 701/5s did not get into service at a better pace than the 701/0s did generally.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Jul 2026 ==

This morning there was a move from Derby Litchurch Lane to Bicester.

I now know from the TOPS request thread that it was 37510 but not what it was dragging.
My *guess* is it was dragging a 701/5 and possibly one sent so that a drag-able 701/5 is ready and waiting at Bicester for tomorrows delivery. So i am inclined to believe that tomorrows delivery to Wimbledon is more likely than usual.

Derby to Bicester 29/07/2026

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K02754/2026-07-29/detailed

Bicester to Wmbledon 30/07/2026.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K02910/2026-07-30/detailed

EDIT
Turns out Derby to Bicester was the barrier coaches.

 

[Robert Carroll]

And as indicated by @bb21 701003 is in service this morning

2H01 0529 Wimbledon to Shepperton

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L81916/2026-07-27/detailed

I travelled on 701003 yesterday morning. I also noticed that the 1736 Waterloo-Hampton Court was a single 450 and pretty crowded on leaving Waterloo. Thankfully, my train, the 1739, was 701011 with plenty of room.

 

[swr444]

Looks like all suburban services will be 701 from next week. Further 450 cascades onto the Windsor lines to cover the 458s which have no booked work from next week.

 

[Siemens Staines]

Looks like all suburban services will be 701 from next week. Further 450 cascades onto the Windsor lines to cover the 458s which have no booked work from next week.

This week it looks like there is only one booked pair of 450s on mainline suburban service (2F08 etc), so I presume this cascade will also see the end of 450s on weekday stopping trains via Wimbledon, in addition to the end of the 458s.

 

[WWTownEnth]

Wow. A big moment in this project indeed. A long time coming but congrats to everyone who got us to this point.

 

[adc82140]

Looks like all suburban services will be 701 from next week. Further 450 cascades onto the Windsor lines to cover the 458s which have no booked work from next week.

Do you include Woking bay stoppers as suburban?


So we have now reached the point where the 458 fleet is being retired, and there are no 450s on the suburban side. I presume the 701/5s once introduced will see off the 450s from the Windsor & Reading side. Are there that many mainline 450 run services still that need strengthening?

 

[TEW]

There will remain 450s booked on main Suburban on weekends until the 701/5s enter service too.

 

[Siemens Staines]

There will remain 450s booked on main Suburban on weekends until the 701/5s enter service too.

Thank you, I did suspect this. I noticed that there were still quite a few pairs of 450s on suburban diagrams at weekends in the July PA diagrams. But those diagram only have a total of 49 701 diagrams, and weekend diagrams are always something of a custom build, so it was difficult for me to draw any conclusions.

 

[Robert Carroll]

The 27/7/26 carriage workings show the 07:42 Guildford-Waterloo via Leatherhead 2D18 as 8 450, so will this one change next week too?

 

[SECR 65]

From the 458/4 thread, I can't imagine that they will be gone instantly. There seem to be a fair number of them covering for unavailable 701s. Recently on many days there have been circa 5 pairs in operation on any given day.

 

[adc82140]

From the 458/4 thread, I can't imagine that they will be gone instantly. There seem to be a fair number of them covering for unavailable 701s. Recently on many days there have been circa 5 pairs in operation on any given day.

It'll probably end up like the 455 rundown. No booked work for several weeks, but dragged out on an ad hoc basis to cover shortfalls.

 

[swr444]

Do you include Woking bay stoppers as suburban?


So we have now reached the point where the 458 fleet is being retired, and there are no 450s on the suburban side. I presume the 701/5s once introduced will see off the 450s from the Windsor & Reading side. Are there that many mainline 450 run services still that need strengthening?

We certainly do include the Woking stoppers as suburban.

 

[JCO1406]

How many 701 diagrams will there be in total from next week, and how many 450 diagrams will there be on the windsor & reading side?

 

[Siemens Staines]

How many 701 diagrams will there be in total from next week, and how many 450 diagrams will there be on the windsor & reading side?

If I have counted correctly, there will be 53 701 diagrams and 10 pairs of 450 on Windsor line diagrams.

 

[TEW]

The 27/7/26 carriage workings show the 07:42 Guildford-Waterloo via Leatherhead 2D18 as 8 450, so will this one change next week too?

This one's already been a 701 for a few weeks. The July LTP diagrams were actually already a little behind where the diagrams had reached STP.

 

[WWTownEnth]

Do you include Woking bay stoppers as suburban?


So we have now reached the point where the 458 fleet is being retired, and there are no 450s on the suburban side. I presume the 701/5s once introduced will see off the 450s from the Windsor & Reading side. Are there that many mainline 450 run services still that need strengthening?

There is a specific thread on this although it’s gone quiet. Some strengthening occurred on the main line after the 455s were withdrawn and before the 458/4 withdrawal programme gathered pace.

You can find it here:

SWR mainline strengthening: class 450 and 444 cascades following class 701 rollout

It would appear today that the first 450 diagram has been replaced by a 701 diagram. This thread is to comment on the 13 or so other 450 diagrams which will also be replaced in the coming months, and how the resulting 450s will result in the strengthening of 450 and 444 mainline services.

www.railforums.co.uk

I assume it will become more active again once the Windsor 450 diagrams start being replaced with 701s (whenever that is!)….

 

[swr444]

If I have counted correctly, there will be 53 701 diagrams and 10 pairs of 450 on Windsor line diagrams.

All that speculation that they didn’t need the /5s on here, and this proves that they definitely are needed.

 

[wickham]

Makes a lot more sense.

SWR is awash with 19 x 701/5s and many of them have been on SWR for plenty of time. It would be odd if the 701/5s did not get into service at a better pace than the 701/0s did generally.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Jul 2026 ==

This morning there was a move from Derby Litchurch Lane to Bicester.

I now know from the TOPS request thread that it was 37510 but not what it was dragging.
My *guess* is it was dragging a 701/5 and possibly one sent so that a drag-able 701/5 is ready and waiting at Bicester for tomorrows delivery. So i am inclined to believe that tomorrows delivery to Wimbledon is more likely than usual.

Derby to Bicester 29/07/2026

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K02754/2026-07-29/detailed

Bicester to Wmbledon 30/07/2026.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K02910/2026-07-30/detailed

Today's 5H71 Derby to Bicester started from the RCD, so my guess is that it is barriers/match vehicles for one of the moves out of Bicester to WPS - probably for 7Q87 0942 Bicester on 31.07.26 - the clue might be that this one is shown as Class 7 (not class 5):

 

[Peter Sarf]

Today's 5H71 Derby to Bicester started from the RCD, so my guess is that it is barriers/match vehicles for one of the moves out of Bicester to WPS - probably for 7Q87 0942 Bicester on 31.07.26 - the clue might be that this one is shown as Class 7 (not class 5):

Ah, thanks for your reply. I had started wondering why the timing load of 400 T was missing from 5H71 !.

So it could be a rather more reluctant 701/5 coming on Friday.

 

[Bobcp]

Ah, thanks for your reply. I had started wondering why the timing load of 400 T was missing from 5H71 !.

So it could be a rather more reluctant 701/5 coming on Friday.

Barrier coaches 6330 and 6346

 

[Peter Sarf]

Barrier coaches 6330 and 6346

Thanks

 

[Robert Carroll]

This one's already been a 701 for a few weeks. The July LTP diagrams were actually already a little behind where the diagrams had reached STP.

Thanks, I dont usually catch that train but I did a few weeks ago and it was 8 450 and very crowded from Worcester Park. I see it was a 701 today.

 

[WWTownEnth]

Is a delivery happening today because most of the RTT links I have suggest cancellations….

 

[Covshire1]

Is a delivery happening today because most of the RTT links I have suggest cancellations….

701515 on today's 5Q87...

 

[Peter Sarf]

Is a delivery happening today because most of the RTT links I have suggest cancellations….

Yes. On its way, left 20m early but is scheduled about 2 hours later than recent usual

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K02910/2026-07-30/detailed

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Jul 2026 ==

701515 on today's 5Q87...

That will leave just three at Bicester
701516,
701526 &
710530
By the end of next week I reckon all will have left meaning 22/30 on SWR metals.

I am rashly predicting more reliable deliveries now ROG have invoked the barrier wagons/coaches 6330 and 6346 to make sure I assume.

 

[WWTownEnth]

Deleted

 

[northstaffsman]

Can anyone tell me which 701/5 units are currently visible in Derby Litchurch Lane from the road and can be identified by number. Thanks on advance.

 

[45076]

Can anyone tell me which 701/5 units are currently visible in Derby Litchurch Lane from the road and can be identified by number. Thanks on advance.

I had a drive by earlier today and the answer is none. Although 514 is visible next to 180109 from the footpath between Dunstall park Road and Osmaston Road, you will need binoculars.