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

[Andy1673]

In reference to TEW'S list above.Feltham depot now have 2 diagrams that incorporate 701 traction from Monday 28/10/24.

two?

 

[Forestboy]

two?

Yeah.Two diagrams.One early turn and one late turn.Both Windsor & Eton services.1 service going into service in the morning and then 1 service berthed at Feltham depot at night.

 

[Andy1673]

Yeah.Two diagrams.One early turn and one late turn.Both Windsor & Eton services.1 service going into service in the morning and then 1 service berthed at Feltham depot at night.

This is refered as one diagram with midday stable at some location (Wimbledon depot can swap set or not).

 

[Big Jumby 74]

Yeah.Two diagrams.One early turn and one late turn

This is refered as one diagram with midday stable at some location

In planning/Fleet parlance (for all my years on the job) that as listed by TEW is ONE diagram, ie : 'WD xxx', but when this includes a period of Down time mid way through the diagram - when it may be possible to swap sets depending on location - the morning part is referred to as WD xxx 'A' diagram, and the afternoon portion WD xxx 'B' diagram. This was never - again in my own experience - reflected in the computer based diagram systems as two separate diagrams, as the number of such diagrams had to reflect the number of units allocated to the train service, which remained the same each day irrespective of how many units (by painted number) were actually used via depot swaps mid day, if that makes sense?

 

[swtrains]

And the 701 has failed again.
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L60090/2024-10-25/detailed#allox_id=0

 

[OneTrackMinded]

And the 701 has failed again.
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L60090/2024-10-25/detailed#allox_id=0

Seems to do it everyday now... let's hope this doesn't go from Britain's most delayed train to it's most unreliable one

 

[NSEWonderer]

I mean, most, if not all, of the Aventras (albeit, yes, not as delayed in launching) had some pretty poor teething issues. Specifically, I remember how unreliable the 345s were before subsequent updates.

The 701s are stretching their legs out now after some years in storage, so this will definitely be expected, especially with the rest of the fleet.

The few running will be used, hopefully, to update and fix issues on the other units once they're running reliably enough themselves, so that issues will start to taper off as other units are updated and tweaked with lessons learned from the current running batch applied.

 

[Goldfish62]

I mean, most, if not all, of the Aventras (albeit, yes, not as delayed in launching) had some pretty poor teething issues. Specifically, I remember how unreliable the 345s were before subsequent updates.

The 701s are stretching their legs out now after some years in storage, so this will definitely be expected, especially with the rest of the fleet.

The few running will be used, hopefully, to update and fix issues on the other units once they're running reliably enough themselves, so that issues will start to taper off as other units are updated and tweaked with lessons learned from the current running batch applied.

Absolutely. The fact is that when new trains first enter service their reliability is usually awful. I remember both the 458s and 450s when they first entered service, the 458s being especially terrible. And the 450s were known as "Doodlebugs" (Google "V1 rockets" if you're not in the know) in that they went to London, but never returned.

The real indicator is the MP701D stats as published in Modern Railways every month so we can really gauge how they're doing against other new stock. I'd hope they'd easily beat the Class 777s, unless SWR have got a big problem!

 

[pompeyfan]

The initial delay wasn’t actually a unit fault, however when the driver got to the train the unit was showing an error message related to the ASDO beacons (which is cleared by moving the unit)

 

[gmaguire]

It was mentioned on this forum a couple of months ago that the outer displays switch off while moving, and this issue is still present. Upon arriving at Wimbledon, the displays didn’t turn on until the doors opened

Not sure if this has been mentioned already but I just saw 701037 in service and its outside displays were on while the train was moving.

 

[norbitonflyer]

The 701s are stretching their legs out now after some years in storage, so this will definitely be expected, especially with the rest of the fleet.

This is 701043, which has worked more days than any other member of the class (although 037 is now close behind)

 

[NSEWonderer]

This is 701043, which has worked more days than any other member of the class

Agreed, but the same applies, it and the rest of the 701 fleet have spent a long time in storage and sitting around before actual service use so there will be kinks even with 043 which is indeed the most used. No better time than now to get these issues ironed out and fixes/updates applied to other fleet members as the rollout progresses.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Oct 2024 ==

Absolutely. The fact is that when new trains first enter service their reliability is usually awful. I remember both the 458s and 450s when they first entered service, the 458s being especially terrible. And the 450s were known as "Doodlebugs" (Google "V1 rockets" if you're not in the know) in that they went to London, but never returned.

The real indicator is the MP701D stats as published in Modern Railways every month so we can really gauge how they're doing against other new stock. I'd hope they'd easily beat the Class 777s, unless SWR have got a big problem!

458s were indeed horrible, tbh the Alstom Coradia in general had terrible initial reliability. Pretty sure the 458s were so bad they got withdrawn from service after a mere 3-4 years of actual service.

 

[Goldfish62]

458s were indeed horrible, tbh the Alstom Coradia in general had terrible initial reliability. Pretty sure the 458s were so bad they got withdrawn from service after a mere 3-4 years of actual service.

My experience of the 458s initially was almost every journey being delayed by the TMS having to be reset, Then when after they were reinstated for the post-2007 franchise the fact that they went on to be the country's most reliable trains for a few short years gives me confidence that the 701s are in safe hands at Wimbledon.

 

[NSEWonderer]

My experience of the 458s initially was almost every journey being delayed by the TMS having to be reset, Then when after they were reinstated for the post-2007 franchise the fact that they went on to be the country's most reliable trains for a few short years gives me confidence that the 701s are in safe hands at Wimbledon.

Wimbledon has indeed worked wonders before so 701s will have that magic worked on them indeed.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

My experience of the 458s initially was almost every journey being delayed by the TMS having to be reset, Then when after they were reinstated for the post-2007 franchise the fact that they went on to be the country's most reliable trains for a few short years gives me confidence that the 701s are in safe hands at Wimbledon.

And there lies the rub of it. Not always, but quite often, the issues raised (back then) were a result of driver/crew still getting to grips with the tech side (perfectly understandable in human terms), not necessarily a unit fault as such. Albeit when it comes to wider SM (and other media) why let the truth get in the way of a good (run someone/business down type) 'story'. I'm not saying the industry doesn't have its problems, it does, but sometimes a bit of humility on the part of the complainants wouldn't go amiss. Too many armchair types out there perhaps. Just remember much of this negativity will get to the ears of those who are trying their best to get these units up and running!

End of another small rant...

 

[43096]

Wimbledon has indeed worked wonders before so 701s will have that magic worked on them indeed.

But now under the dead hand of WorstGroup ownership, rather than the more enlightened Stagecoach regime.

 

[43096]

Agreed, but the same applies, it and the rest of the 701 fleet have spent a long time in storage and sitting around before actual service use so there will be kinks even with 043 which is indeed the most used. No better time than now to get these issues ironed out and fixes/updates applied to other fleet members as the rollout progresses.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Oct 2024 ==


458s were indeed horrible, tbh the Alstom Coradia in general had terrible initial reliability. Pretty sure the 458s were so bad they got withdrawn from service after a mere 3-4 years of actual service.

My experience of the 458s initially was almost every journey being delayed by the TMS having to be reset, Then when after they were reinstated for the post-2007 franchise the fact that they went on to be the country's most reliable trains for a few short years gives me confidence that the 701s are in safe hands at Wimbledon.

The "JOP" code for the 458s was said to stand for "Jump Out and Push" when first introduced!

 

[Meerkat]

And there lies the rub of it. Not always, but quite often, the issues raised (back then) were a result of driver/crew still getting to grips with the tech side (perfectly understandable in human terms), not necessarily a unit fault as such. Albeit when it comes to wider SM (and other media) why let the truth get in the way of a good (run someone/business down type) 'story'. I'm not saying the industry doesn't have its problems, it does, but sometimes a bit of humility on the part of the complainants wouldn't go amiss. Too many armchair types out there perhaps. Just remember much of this negativity will get to the ears of those who are trying their best to get these units up and running!

End of another small rant...

That’s not an acceptable excuse. You wouldnt accept it from a car company, nor their dealers. You wouldn’t accept it from builders (“yeah, not quite got the hang of these new tools yet, keep getting things wrong!”) or IT. Certainly not from doctors!

 

[spark001uk]

I'm guessing there is still nothing on the cards for any Sat/Sun workings anytime soon then?

 

[swr444]

I'm guessing there is still nothing on the cards for any Sat/Sun workings anytime soon then?

A colleague who’s trained on them said it’s coming soon, but soon could be next year

 

[TEW]

I'm guessing there is still nothing on the cards for any Sat/Sun workings anytime soon then?

A limited number for upcoming rugby perhaps.

 

[Bald Rick]

You wouldnt accept it from a car company, nor their dealers. You wouldn’t accept it from builders (“yeah, not quite got the hang of these new tools yet, keep getting things wrong!”) or IT. Certainly not from doctors!

And yet you get it from all these professions and more.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

You wouldnt accept it from a car company, nor their dealers. You wouldn’t accept it from builders (“yeah, not quite got the hang of these new tools yet, keep getting things wrong!”) or IT. Certainly not from doctors!

Was alluding to the more distant past more than currently, since when many TOCs (not sure how many, or all?) now have 'phone-a-friend' type set ups, where drivers, if they experience a fault on the road, can call up Fleet engineers often located in Control rooms for advice. In many cases a unit reboot will clear a fault, but prior to then, units were known to be 'failed' by a crew for whatever reason, only to find once back on depot, the fault actually laid with part of the (eg: cab set up as one example) procedure not being correctly followed - it did happen, and likely, as again I alluded to above, may still do so on odd occasions, whilst new traction is being bedded in.

And yet you get it from all these professions and more.

Tell me about it - that's rhetorical btw, so don't wish to go on to non railway related matters on here!

 

[OneTrackMinded]

Recent images of 701s out of a Green Signal's video about the Derby factory

 

[Peter Sarf]

And yet you get it from all these professions and more.

And for operator error consider the following :-
When I first got my automatic Vauxhall Carlton I could not start it after a brief stop to consult the analogue sat nav (map). Turned out I needed it in park not just neutral !.
How many people on here have driven their car forgetting to turn their lights on or indicators off.

 

[NSEWonderer]

The "JOP" code for the 458s was said to stand for "Jump Out and Push" when first introduced!

 

[Big Jumby 74]

analogue sat nav (map)

Now that I concur with....

 

[74A]

As the new units are being brought into use when will they start withdrawing the old ones ?

 

[Goldfish62]

701031 is working the Surbiton starter this morning.

 

[w11_supremecy]

Bit of a blurry image, but here is 2J92 on platform 6 having just arrived from Surbiton.