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

[TastyMaltesers]

47/58 is very poor

You could do a lot worse!
Refer to: GWR and the 175s / TfW and the 197s / EMR and the 222s & 810s /etc.

 

[Goldfish62]

Mr. Corti's statement is clear enough, but why is he standing with his banner in front of 701027 (at Windsor) when this one has been in service since June ?

Maybe because he happened to be in the area on his last day at work before hols and it was a good photo opportunity.

What unit number appears in the photo is irrelevant to everyone except a few enthusiasts, and LinkedIn is not an enthusiast forum.

Adrian Corti is not going to make such a post if it's untrue.

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

47/58 is very poor

When the 458/0s were at the peak of their reliability they still only managed 24/30 maximum diagrammed daily, which is the same ratio. As others have mentioned there's a backlog of exams and, I suspect, the summer holidays are in play as well.

 

[D365]

Mr. Corti's statement is clear enough, but why is he standing with his banner in front of 701027 (at Windsor) when this one has been in service since June ?
For those that don't know and possibly historians in years to come, seeing this will make them think that 701027 was the last into service, but as we know, 701029 will be.
Which, incidently, does not actually appear to be in service yet (Monday 17/08/26):
Before the weekend, 701028 & 701029 were both reported to be in Clapham Yard (and presumably are still there today), but up till now, units seem to have entered service from Wimbledon Depot not Clapham, as has been pointed out on this forum before.
So what actually is going on - are we being hood-winked ?

Adrian’s statement is that 60 out of 60 701/0 units have been accepted for passenger service. He hasn’t claimed that 60 out of 60 are in revenue earning service - it’s simply a post to give well deserved recognition to his SWR and industry colleagues.

 

[SWT_USER]

I don't think finally completing the introduction of one class of unit (not even complete really as none of the /5's are anywhere near service) seven years late deserves any positive recognition! Not something to be bragging about, especially when they still can't get enough of them in service daily to run the required diagrams.

 

[Goldfish62]

As is often the case with these forums what I thought was a relevant and important piece of news to post has resulted in a discussion which is fast disappearing down a rabbit hole.

 

[43096]

Adrian’s statement is that 60 out of 60 701/0 units have been accepted for passenger service. He hasn’t claimed that 60 out of 60 are in revenue earning service - it’s simply a post to give well deserved recognition to his SWR and industry colleagues.

If getting very average trains into service 5 years late is an “industry achievement” then the industry is even more deluded than I thought!

 

[wickham]

As is often the case with these forums what I thought was a relevant and important piece of news to post has resulted in a discussion which is fast disappearing down a rabbit hole.

Don't be disheartened Goldfish - your post was indeed most useful - it is just that the details could be somewhat misleading to historians ! (Not your fault at all).

 

[NSEWonderer]

I don't think finally completing the introduction of one class of unit (not even complete really as none of the /5's are anywhere near service) seven years late deserves any positive recognition! Not something to be bragging about, especially when they still can't get enough of them in service daily to run the required diagrams.

Good thing that what you think has little bearing on other people's thoughts including several other daily passengers who just see a replacement to the non acid cramped 455s that left 1 year or so ago

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Peter,
I take your point about the "convenience" of a photo shoot - but you have missed my point about the historical significance of the event, involving the correct unit !

I do agree it would have been nice to have the actual 60th unit, but I'm not sure the PR bods would have stopped to think about that themselves?

 

[D365]

I do agree it would have been nice to have the actual 60th unit, but I'm not sure the PR bods would have stopped to think about that themselves?

Notwithstanding that it was, quite literally, an impromptu photo-op.

 

[Goldfish62]

Don't be disheartened Goldfish - your post was indeed most useful - it is just that the details could be somewhat misleading to historians ! (Not your fault at all).

Thanks.

 

[Snow1964]

I don't think finally completing the introduction of one class of unit (not even complete really as none of the /5's are anywhere near service) seven years late deserves any positive recognition! Not something to be bragging about, especially when they still can't get enough of them in service daily to run the required diagrams.

You do have a good point, the original table of in service dates in the SWR franchise published (but now removed from the web) had all the 5car AND the 10car in service by December 2020 timetable change, and new timetable speeding up services.

Getting 1 of 2 sub classes 5.5 years late, and none of the other sub class (or the faster timetable) is not something worth bragging about, except by someone showing off their own ego.

 

[Goldfish62]

Getting 1 of 2 sub classes 5.5 years late, and none of the other sub class (or the faster timetable) is not something worth bragging about, except by someone showing off their own ego.

Sounds like you're not familiar with the purpose of LinkedIn then.

 

[NSEWonderer]

You do have a good point, the original table of in service dates in the SWR franchise published (but now removed from the web) had all the 5car AND the 10car in service by December 2020 timetable change, and new timetable speeding up services.

Getting 1 of 2 sub classes 5.5 years late, and none of the other sub class (or the faster timetable) is not something worth bragging about, except by someone showing off their own ego.

"Showing off their ego", yes you can learn about someone's Ego just from their LinkedIn post, just as one can learn about how shallow a person maybe by theirs.

Would be interesting to know where the ego part of that post is? Not even sure the wording can even count for braggging either by any plausible stretch

 

[class701]

Let's not also forget that many many stations like Worcester Park are still down from 4tph to just 2tph, so a clear 50% reduction in service since the good old 455/456 days. A few shiny new 701s will not change that fact. Put that on the poster too.

 

[Goldfish62]

Let's not also forget that many many stations like Worcester Park are still down from 4tph to just 2tph, so a clear 50% reduction in service since the good old 455/456 days. A few shiny new 701s will not change that fact. Put that on the poster too.

Which poster is that?

 

[Goldfish62]

Some people are not doing themselves any favours whatsoever with recent posts!

 

[Cowley]

Some people are not doing themselves any favours whatsoever with recent posts!

And on that note. Can we get back on topic please.

Let’s keep things relevant from here.

Thanks

 

[Covshire1]

37884 + 701507 + 701511 on today's 5Q87 from Litchurch Lane....

 

[43096]

I’d suggest it is rather debatable that all 60 701/0s are cleared for passenger service. If they were then presumably the last two would be in service and there’d only be one pair of Junipers out rather than three.

 

[wickham]

I’d suggest it is rather debatable that all 60 701/0s are cleared for passenger service. If they were then presumably the last two would be in service and there’d only be one pair of Junipers out rather than three.

Noted on RTT that 701029 is still doing 5Qxx runs today Tuesday 18.08.26 (5Q22 for instance), 701028 is not reporting at all so appears to be doing nothing. As, yoy say, if they are so desperate for stock and there is a maintainance backlog on 701s you would expect these two to be out there earning their keep. Perhaps they are accepted, but not actually ready for passenger service yet. (Things like route maps, signage etc. ??)

 

[mansonlo49]

Noted on RTT that 701029 is still doing 5Qxx runs today Tuesday 18.08.26 (5Q22 for instance), 701028 is not reporting at all so appears to be doing nothing. As, yoy say, if they are so desperate for stock and there is a maintainance backlog on 701s you would expect these two to be out there earning their keep. Perhaps they are accepted, but not actually ready for passenger service yet. (Things like route maps, signage etc. ??)

028 was briefly in service back in feb 2024

 

[Big Jumby 74]

I’d suggest it is rather debatable that all 60 701/0s are cleared for passenger service. If they were then presumably the last two would be in service and there’d only be one pair of Junipers out rather than three.

With all 60 serviceable, there would never be 60 actually running diagrammed train services on any day. As said elsewhere, 56/60 at most is my best guess.

 

[43096]

With all 60 serviceable, there would never be 60 actually running diagrammed train services on any day. As said elsewhere, 56/60 at most is my best guess.

I know that… But there are 58 sets available currently, ergo an extra two sets would/should increase the sets available for service.

 

[johnnym24]

With all 60 serviceable, there would never be 60 actually running diagrammed train services on any day. As said elsewhere, 56/60 at most is my best guess.

So how many of the rush hour Windsor side stoppers will remain 8 car during the peaks for the next 2 years while they argue with the unions about 2x5 car rollout?

 

[WWTownEnth]

So how many of the rush hour Windsor side stoppers will remain 8 car during the peaks for the next 2 years while they argue with the unions about 2x5 car rollout?

I really hope that is tongue in cheek! I’d heard training was starting next month….

 

[Big Jumby 74]

So how many of the rush hour Windsor side stoppers will remain 8 car during the peaks for the next 2 years while they argue with the unions about 2x5 car rollout?

Absolutely no idea my friend. As said that will depend on the 701/5 roll out, which will in turn replace the remaining other stock types (458 will go first I would think) and 450, the latter then being cascaded to the main line services, the former being turned in to baked bean cans more than likely.

As for your comment about the unions. As a former - now retired - Manager involved with the SWT 10 car plan rollout (2007-2017), all I can say is that by and large we had a good working relationship with both ASLEF and RMT. Contrary to popular (mis) information, most within the industry do work together for the best end result.

 

[NSEWonderer]

So how many of the rush hour Windsor side stoppers will remain 8 car during the peaks for the next 2 years while they argue with the unions about 2x5 car rollout?

Last part is absolute Wibble incase anyone is taking that seriously. Ongoing talks to finalise a few things for start of training with depot staff first including depot drivers then mainline drivers will follow suit as per usual with stock rollout with Tocs.

 

[Siemens Staines]

47 701s are in passenger service this morning with the six oustanding diagrams being three 2*458/4(2R90, 2S10, 2U07), one 2*450(2H01) and two diagrams cancelled (2J08/1D07/1D16 & 2H87/2H94/2R15). Unusual to see a pair of 450s on an all day Shepperton diagram.

 

[WWTownEnth]

A quick check shows the following units not allocated to services this morning:

008
010
013
015
020
032
037
038
048
053
060

I make that 11 plus 028 and 029 not cleared for service yet (or cleared and not in use) which also gets me to 47, so again not a great day.....