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

[Siemens Staines]

nine units MIA today:

001
002
007
010
016
020
036
038
049

I think that you mean 701041 not 701049?

I make it 49 701s in passenger service this morning with the three outstanding diagrams of their 52(FO a.m) all being 2*458/4 (2C03, 2U07, 2U10)

 

[Mike_L_Surrey]

Military term - it means "missing in action"

I suspect many already know the term but would instead query the usage in a railway context as it suggests trains went into service at start of day and have somehow failed to turn up at a station when expected.

Maybe a better military term if one is required would be “held in reserve” or “sick/wounded - unfit for action”.

 

[Peter Sarf]

MISSING.

Talking of which - a whole week without a delivery !.
(Wednesdays scheduled run was cancelled)

Have SWR got enough 701/5s to work on, run out of space or are the last five proving to be the bottom of the barrel so to speak ?.
(run out of space will maybe not apply once the last of the 458/4s are not needed and are stored somewhere outside Greater London).

 

[Nimbus020]

As someone who is a yellow line shouter, (albeit not as far up as CLJ) I sympathise with you. I shouldn't have to shout nor do I want to, but I'd rather be seen to be keeping people safe should something happen and it was found on that occasion I wasn't shouting.

On the subject of less 701s working the actual beef of the route, it is a shame. They have a knack of hoovering up a lot of people in a very short time, something the 450s tend not to be able to do

Agreed - the speed with which the 701 doors open at stations (& then close) is v impressive - v different to a 450! - although the 450s were never meant for the 'metro' routes

 

[swr444]

Agreed - the speed with which the 701 doors open at stations (& then close) is v impressive - v different to a 450! - although the 450s were never meant for the 'metro' routes

the bigger problem with the 450s is the lack of standing space due to the 3+2 seating, so everyone crowds into the doorways, making it hard for people to alight and board

 

[Nimbus020]

the bigger problem with the 450s is the lack of standing space due to the 3+2 seating, so everyone crowds into the doorways, making it hard for people to alight and board

Agreed - a packed 450 on a busy 'metro' journey isn't the best experience! - SWT / SWR have definitely made the most of their multi-purpose 450s though!

 

[Siemens Staines]

nine units MIA today:

049

Perhaps you were right about 701049, it seems to have gone missing whilst in action on 2H36

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L82058/2026-08-28/detailed

with the next legs of the diagram all cancelled. I am guessing that it is now on Strawberry Hill, but it could have gone anywhere.

 

[swr444]

Perhaps you were right about 701049, it seems to have gone missing whilst in action on 2H36

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L82058/2026-08-28/detailed

with the next legs of the diagram all cancelled. I am guessing that it is now on Strawberry Hill, but it could have gone anywhere.

Waterloo platform 6

 

[Siemens Staines]

Waterloo platform 6

Thank you, I can see it on OTT now that have you pointed out where it is.

 

[wickham]

MISSING.

Talking of which - a whole week without a delivery !.
(Wednesdays scheduled run was cancelled)

Have SWR got enough 701/5s to work on, run out of space or are the last five proving to be the bottom of the barrel so to speak ?.
(run out of space will maybe not apply once the last of the 458/4s are not needed and are stored somewhere outside Greater London).

Lack of space is the most likely reason. If or when 701505/514 (the last arrivals) move off to Farnham there will be room on the commissioning road at East Wimbledon Depot.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Waterloo platform 6

Ouch. Not good for the evening rush "hour".

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Yesterday at 16:15 ==

Lack of space is the most likely reason. If or when 701505/514 (the last arrivals) move off to Farnham there will be room on the commissioning road at East Wimbledon Depot.

Thanks. TBH I am amazed how many 701/5s they have managed to fit already on SWR. I suppose I need to watch out for that move from commissioning to Farnham or at least be aware of it.

 

[3141]

the bigger problem with the 450s is the lack of standing space due to the 3+2 seating, so everyone crowds into the doorways, making it hard for people to alight and board

True. But if passengers move further down inside the car on a 701 because the wider gangways make that easier to do, does it become more difficult for alighting passengers who have been sitting down to make their way to the vestibules in order to get out?

I guess the way to test this would be to run a train of each stock on the same diagram on successive days and observe what happens. But as the 701 has 10 coaches and two class 450s would be only eight, the comparison would be unfair.

 

[mansonlo49]

Military term - it means "missing in action"

i see make sense thanks

 

[norbitonflyer]

Maybe a better military term if one is required would be “held in reserve” or “sick/wounded - unfit for action”.

Hors de combat, maybe?

 

[wickham]

Ouch. Not good for the evening rush "hour".

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Yesterday at 16:15 ==


Thanks. TBH I am amazed how many 701/5s they have managed to fit already on SWR. I suppose I need to watch out for that move from commissioning to Farnham or at least be aware of it.

According to RTT 5Q56 2000 Wimbledon Park to Farnham did run on 20.08.26 AND 27.08.26, presumably conveying 701/5s - confirmation would be greatly appreciated if anyone knows:
Regarding the "time line" for the two recent deliveries:
701507/511 Derby to Wimbledon 18.08.26 and seen at East Wimbledon 20.08.26 [Very likely formed 5Q56 later on 20.08.26]:
701505/514 Derby to Wimbledon 21.08.26 and seen at East Wimbledon 24.08.26 [Did these possibly go to Farnham 27.08.26 - or something else ?]
So it would appear that space has been made at Wimbledon for the next lot - await developments with interest !

 

[Big Jumby 74]

As someone who is a yellow line shouter, (albeit not as far up as CLJ) I sympathise with you. I shouldn't have to shout nor do I want to, but I'd rather be seen to be keeping people safe should something happen and it was found on that occasion I wasn't shouting.

You have my sympathies my friend. As some one who worked at CLJ in the 70's, I can understand where you come from. But back then the major distraction for most commuters was their newspaper, and irrespective of that, most knew to stand back for any arriving train, knowing damn well many doors on an arriving train would be flying open (think class 405 SUB days) on their approach to the station.

Common sense, as we use to call it, but I have even been called out on this forum for using that phrase. That tell's me much about todays expectations, unless the individual concerned was just having a dig at me?

Do away with access to mobile phone connectivity when in, on, or about railway premises, and I would wager 'one' would witness a far greater respect of the rules that one would expect when in such environments.

No different to the same that is only now being recognised in relation to school class room environments, and other areas of concern.

Message for Mr A. Burnham etc. Get a grip, and come down hard on the sources of many problems in this country. You can change laws within days, if it suits you. Get a grip my friend, many out here are still waiting to see real results.

 

[Peter Sarf]

According to RTT 5Q56 2000 Wimbledon Park to Farnham did run on 20.08.26 AND 27.08.26, presumably conveying 701/5s - confirmation would be greatly appreciated if anyone knows:
Regarding the "time line" for the two recent deliveries:
701507/511 Derby to Wimbledon 18.08.26 and seen at East Wimbledon 20.08.26 [Very likely formed 5Q56 later on 20.08.26]:
701505/514 Derby to Wimbledon 21.08.26 and seen at East Wimbledon 24.08.26 [Did these possibly go to Farnham 27.08.26 - or something else ?]
So it would appear that space has been made at Wimbledon for the next lot - await developments with interest !

It does figure that there might be space now....
There was a path in for a delivery on Wednesday the day before and that delivery was auto activated at 09:00 but cancelled reason "due to late arrival of an inbound service (YI)".
The preceding light loco was auto activated at 05:08 but cancelled reason "Request by the operator (FL)".
But no alternative path was then put in for a later day and I had got used to that happening whenever a (usually iirc) Tuesday delivery from Bicester (and maybe Long Marston iirc) got cancelled.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Yesterday at 19:54 ==

You have my sympathies my friend. As some one who worked at CLJ in the 70's, I can understand where you come from. But back then the major distraction for most commuters was their newspaper, and irrespective of that, most knew to stand back for any arriving train, knowing damn well many doors on an arriving train would be flying open (think class 405 SUB days) on their approach to the station.

Common sense, as we use to call it, but I have even been called out on this forum for using that phrase. That tell's me much about todays expectations, unless the individual concerned was just having a dig at me?

Do away with access to mobile phone connectivity when in, on, or about railway premises, and I would wager 'one' would witness a far greater respect of the rules that one would expect when in such environments.

No different to the same that is only now being recognised in relation to school class room environments, and other areas of concern.

Message for Mr A. Burnham etc. Get a grip, and come down hard on the sources of many problems in this country. You can change laws within days, if it suits you. Get a grip my friend, many out here are still waiting to see real results.

I started a new thread on mobile phones and their dangers.

 

[WWTownEnth]

Is Clapham Yard the usual weekend resting place for 028 or has it moved there recently?

 

[Peter Sarf]

Is Clapham Yard the usual weekend resting place for 028 or has it moved there recently?

I don't recall 701028 being there before and often that road or others in the shed is empty during the day.

 

[swr444]

Is Clapham Yard the usual weekend resting place for 028 or has it moved there recently?

The “testing” units were always based at Clapham yard as that’s where the 701 courses / Alstom technicians are

 

[wickham]

Is Clapham Yard the usual weekend resting place for 028 or has it moved there recently?

Yes, 701028 does usually reside at Clapham Yard between training trips (although, I suppose it must go to Wimbledon Depot for maintainance now and then).