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

[Siemens Staines]

So far I make it 49 701s in passenger service this morning, but 701015 and 701032 should bring that tally up to 51. That is assuming that they work 0812 and 0842 Waterloo to Shepperton. All trains of those two diagrams have hitherto been cancelled. The only other outstanding diagram being 2*458/4 (2U10)

 

[WWTownEnth]

014
016
030
037
038
039
043
056

are the eight I can’t see in service this morning……making 51 in service (subject to the caveat about Waterloo to Shepperton)

 

[SeaKing]

014
016
030
037
038
039
043
056

are the eight I can’t see in service this morning……making 51 in service (subject to the caveat about Waterloo to Shepperton)

015 worked 8.12 Shepperton 2 mins late.as per RTT

 

[WWTownEnth]

So far I make it 49 701s in passenger service this morning, but 701015 and 701032 should bring that tally up to 51. That is assuming that they work 0812 and 0842 Waterloo to Shepperton. All trains of those two diagrams have hitherto been cancelled. The only other outstanding diagram being 2*458/4 (2U10)

Thanks. If there are 51 in service covering 53 diagrams should there not be 2 pairs of 458/4s out rather than 1?

 

[swr444]

Thanks. If there are 51 in service covering 53 diagrams should there not be 2 pairs of 458/4s out rather than 1?

It’s Friday so there is no 0752 Surbiton to Waterloo extra

 

[WWTownEnth]

Anyone know where 701029 is?

 

[_toommm_]

Anyone know where 701029 is?

Don't think it's ever ran a public service. It's my last one needed for sight. According to https://live.rail-record.co.uk/allox/?loco=701029 it is at Clapham Yard.

 

[WWTownEnth]

Don't think it's ever ran a public service. It's my last one needed for sight. According to https://live.rail-record.co.uk/allox/?loco=701029 it is at Clapham Yard.

It hasn’t. It’s been used for spare parts apparently and was the last unit accepted by SWR. About a month ago it was almost cleared for traffic but fell at the final hurdle and hasn’t been seen since.

 

[SeaKing]

It hasn’t. It’s been used for spare parts apparently and was the last unit accepted by SWR. About a month ago it was almost cleared for traffic but fell at the final hurdle and hasn’t been seen since.

26th August it was in Wimbledon Yard.

 

[WWTownEnth]

002
016
018
032
036
037
038
039
043

are the NINE not in service this morning.

 

[Siemens Staines]

It is all a bit complicated this morning. So far I make it 50 701s in passenger service this morning on 49 diagrams with 701005 replacing 701026 on the same diagram. Of the four oustanding diagrams, one is 2*458/4 (2U09) and the other three cancelled (2H85, 2H87 & 2J92). The 2H85 & 2H87 cancellations are due to infrastructure problems and it is possible that 701018 and 701032 may later resume these diagrams, so that will bring the total up to 51 diagrams if this occurs.

 

[WWTownEnth]

Is there any news on when the 5 car training course will begin for drivers?

 

[Bigfoot]

Is there any news on when the 5 car training course will begin for drivers?

The easy answer is no.

 

[WWTownEnth]

The easy answer is no.

Are we heading for another union/SWR standoff over this?

 

[swr444]

Are we heading for another union/SWR standoff over this?

No

 

[ijmad]

Out of curiosity, apart from the coupling procedures are there any significant differences between driving the 5 vs 10 car units?

 

[WrongRoad]

Are we heading for another union/SWR standoff over this?

No the 5 car trains are not working correctly yet to start driver training

 

[Snow1964]

Out of curiosity, apart from the coupling procedures are there any significant differences between driving the 5 vs 10 car units?

There are some technical differences, and some different equipment locations, but overall rather less difference than say a 444 and 450 which are similar cabs but with equipment locations and bodywork that is different.

But where the railway and Unions draw the line differentiating between similar with variations (variants), and 2 different types is beyond me. Once heard it described as one and a bit types as a joke.

 

[WWTownEnth]

It is all a bit complicated this morning. So far I make it 50 701s in passenger service this morning on 49 diagrams with 701005 replacing 701026 on the same diagram. Of the four oustanding diagrams, one is 2*458/4 (2U09) and the other three cancelled (2H85, 2H87 & 2J92). The 2H85 & 2H87 cancellations are due to infrastructure problems and it is possible that 701018 and 701032 may later resume these diagrams, so that will bring the total up to 51 diagrams if this occurs.

018 and 032 did indeed enter service today

 

[D365]

But where the railway and Unions draw the line differentiating between similar with variations (variants), and 2 different types is beyond me. Once heard it described as one and a bit types as a joke.

At certain points in the project it has seemed as if every individual 701 unit has been treated as its own variant.

 

[mansonlo49]

No the 5 car trains are not working correctly yet to start driver training

Like how? Further explanation?

 

[wickham]

The easy answer is no.

If nobody is trained on these units yet - who is moving them around between Clapham-Wimbledon-Farnham and indeed within Wimbledon and Clapham depots ?

 

[Gag Halfrunt]

At certain points in the project it has seemed as if every individual 701 unit has been treated as its own variant.

IIRC that is how the notoriously unreliable IC4 DMUs in Denmark are handled. Each unit was approved as a separate sub-classs because no two units are entirely identical, and multiple working is only allowed with specific pairings that have been tested.

 

[Bigfoot]

If nobody is trained on these units yet - who is moving them around between Clapham-Wimbledon-Farnham and indeed within Wimbledon and Clapham depots ?

The team responsible for their introduction. Management and trainers can drive trains in certain circumstances. This is one.

 

[Driver@swt]

The team responsible for their introduction. Management and trainers can drive trains in certain circumstances. This is one.

Not true, there are drivers from the departmental link at Wimbledon that are trained on 5 cars and being used to move between depots.

 

[WWTownEnth]

013
016
024
036
037
039
043
053

are the EIGHT units not in passenger service this morning.

 

[Nimbus020]

013
016
024
028
036
037
039
043
053

are the NINE units not in passenger service this morning.

028 is? 2O07?

 

[WWTownEnth]

028 is? 2O07?

It’s been allocated since I did the list. Thanks for flagging.

 

[Bigfoot]

Not true, there are drivers from the departmental link at Wimbledon that are trained on 5 cars and being used to move between depots.

Picking at tiny little things much!

Not for passenger service, they are just as much as part of the introduction team as the rest. The only interest from the forum members is when do the drivers who will work them in passenger service begin training.

 

[Siemens Staines]

I make it 51 701s in passenger service this morning. Of the two outstanding diagrams, one is 2*458/4 (2U05) and the other is 2*450 (2H01, an all day Shepperton)