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

[pompeyfan]

I’ve heard the diagrams are juggling around from Monday, with 2J92 now booked a 8 car 455, and the 701 moving to a Dorking service.

Still no news on when more diagrams will be running and driver training restarting.

 

[StewartStag]

Appreciate that it is probably noted somewhere in the thread but to save me going through all the posts are there any diagrams running on a Saturday as I'm in London tomorrow and was hoping to try one out. Thanks for any info in advance.

 

[swtrains]

I’ve heard the diagrams are juggling around from Monday, with 2J92 now booked a 8 car 455, and the 701 moving to a Dorking service.

Still no news on when more diagrams will be running and driver training restarting.

Interesting, this suggests that diagram 10 will be implemented - going to Dorking, Guildford v. Epsom and Hampton Court.
Only one set of 458/5s running next week so it makes the most sense.

 

[pompeyfan]

I wouldn’t get too excited, sounds like it might just be a peak buster.

 

[TEW]

It will just be the round trip to Dorking, replacing the current Surbiton to Waterloo morning peak service.

 

[swtrains]

It will just be the round trip to Dorking, replacing the current Surbiton to Waterloo morning peak service.

Why?

 

[TEW]

Why?

Because the number of 458 diagrams drops from next week. It allows capacity to be maintained on that busy service without attempting to run more 701s, which is not realistic with the current number of trained drivers.

 

[Siemens Staines]

Are there any extra 458/4 diagrams as of next week? Just wondering how the 455s get released to work 2J92 and then the remainder of the current 458/5 diagram after the 701 drops out following its trip to Dorking. Thought perhaps an extra pair of 458/4 to release a pair of 450 to replace a pair of 455 somewhere? I may be over thinking this.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Appreciate that it is probably noted somewhere in the thread but to save me going through all the posts are there any diagrams running on a Saturday as I'm in London tomorrow and was hoping to try one out. Thanks for any info in advance.

There are, but the diagrams vary from one weekend to the next, depending on what engineering closures are in force. Check with RTT on the day.

 

[TEW]

Are there any extra 458/4 diagrams as of next week? Just wondering how the 455s get released to work 2J92 and then the remainder of the current 458/5 diagram after the 701 drops out following its trip to Dorking. Thought perhaps an extra pair of 458/4 to release a pair of 450 to replace a pair of 455 somewhere? I may be over thinking this.

Seems to be one 8-455 diagram goes to 8-450. Then one 10-458 diagram goes to 8-455 (with the Dorking trip covered by the 701.) I think the 8-450 is freed up by the Staines-Windsor closure next week.

 

[IslandLine101]

Forgive me for not wanting to go and read 12 unread pages on this thread, but anyone fancy very briefly summarising what's happened since Jan, when it was all looking a lot more positive for mass introduction, to now where we've had training suspended for weeks?

Cheers as ever

 

[Siemens Staines]

Seems to be one 8-455 diagram goes to 8-450. Then one 10-458 diagram goes to 8-455 (with the Dorking trip covered by the 701.) I think the 8-450 is freed up by the Staines-Windsor closure next week.

Thank you, that explains it. So the week after next it will be different again when Staines to Windsor is back open.

 

[TEW]

Thank you, that explains it. So the week after next it will be different again when Staines to Windsor is back open.

I imagine so. I think we're pretty close to 458/4s being cleared for passenger service on more lines now which would give more opportunities to increase the number of diagrams for them.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Forgive me for not wanting to go and read 12 unread pages on this thread, but anyone fancy very briefly summarising what's happened since Jan, when it was all looking a lot more positive for mass introduction, to now where we've had training suspended for weeks?

Cheers as ever

Seems to be lack of training.
So no demand for more 701s.
And demand for 455s.

 

[Robert Carroll]

Seems to be one 8-455 diagram goes to 8-450. Then one 10-458 diagram goes to 8-455 (with the Dorking trip covered by the 701.) I think the 8-450 is freed up by the Staines-Windsor closure next week.

Which Dorking service will be worked by a 701, please?

 

[Siemens Staines]

Which Dorking service will be worked by a 701, please?

Presumably;

1D05 0624 London Waterloo to Dorking
1D14 0730 Dorking to London Waterloo

FX RTT now shows this set going ECS to Hampton Court/Wimbledon Park, with the now 455s off 2J92 doing 2J15 to Hampton Court which used to be formed off 1D14. Not sure what happens on Fridays though, as 2J92 does not run on that day.

 

[TEW]

1D05/1D14 are booked 455 on Friday

 

[norbitonflyer]

Appreciate that it is probably noted somewhere in the thread but to save me going through all the posts are there any diagrams running on a Saturday as I'm in London tomorrow and was hoping to try one out. Thanks for any info in advance.

Two out this morning

031 is on a Kingston Roundabout diagram
0930, 1230, 1530 etc from from Waterloo (Windsor side)
1057, 1357, 1657 etc from Waterloo (main side)

043 is on a Shepperton diagram
0942, 1142, 1342, 1542 etc from Waterloo.

No others showing on RTT yet

 

[Robert Carroll]

Presumably;

1D05 0624 London Waterloo to Dorking
1D14 0730 Dorking to London Waterloo

FX RTT now shows this set going ECS to Hampton Court/Wimbledon Park, with the now 455s off 2J92 doing 2J15 to Hampton Court which used to be formed off 1D14. Not sure what happens on Fridays though, as 2J92 does not run on that day.

Thanks for the information.

 

[Geogregor]

Mostly collecting dust...


P1011380 by Geogregor*, on Flickr


P1011381 by Geogregor*, on Flickr

 

[Juniper Driver]

Was a 458 related post…Deleted due to being off-topic.

 

[NSEWonderer]

Mostly collecting dust...


P1011380 by Geogregor*, on Flickr


P1011381 by Geogregor*, on Flickr

Mostly all those 701/0s shown are actually regularly used in trial runs.

 

[OneTrackMinded]

The astonishing single round trip to Dorking ran this morning… queue the press release…

 

[Geogregor]

Mostly all those 701/0s shown are actually regularly used in trial runs.

So they are still collecting dust, inside, even if on the move

 

[NSEWonderer]

So they are still collecting dust, inside, even if on the move

 

[swtrains]

Today's testing (goes to Alton for some reason):

5T91 - Clapham Yard - Clapham Yard - goes to Woking via Richmond, then heads to Surbiton, then goes to Farnham, reverses, goes to Aldershot, reverses, and goes to Alton, reverses, and heads back to the Yard via mainline, arriving at around 1AM.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:Q36961/2025-03-24/detailed

 

[swr444]

Today's testing (goes to Alton for some reason):

5T91 - Clapham Yard - Clapham Yard - goes to Woking via Richmond, then heads to Surbiton, then goes to Farnham, reverses, goes to Aldershot, reverses, and goes to Alton, reverses, and heads back to the Yard via mainline, arriving at around 1AM.

They will be stored at Farnham so I guess it makes sense to have them cleared to Alton. Just like the 458/5s are

 

[swtrains]

Today's testing (is cancelled due to a problem at the depot):

5T91 - Clapham Yard - Aldershot - goes via Richmond, then Woking.
5T92 - Aldershot - Virginia Water - normal.
5T93 - Virginia Water - Weybridge - goes to Woking, reverses, goes back to Virginia Water, then heads to Weybridge.
5T96 - Weybridge - Clapham Yard - heads back via mainline, finishing at 1AM.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:Q36958/2025-03-25/detailed

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:Q36957/2025-03-25/detailed

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:Q36956/2025-03-25/detailed

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:Q36955/2025-03-26/detailed

 

[NSEWonderer]

701044 doing trial run on 5Q02: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:Y20666/2025-03-26/detailed

 

[swtrains]

Dorking 701 broke down at Raynes Park - problem with the doors.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:Y17759/2025-03-27/detailed#allox_id=0