• Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!

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

Ian Hardy

Member
Joined
18 Nov 2009
Messages
462
701s almost universal on the Main Suburban now. I don't think 458/4s have ever worked there and the remaining 458/5s are as rare as hens teeth. (I think only 530 and 533 are still in service, although 533 hasn't been out today)
The SWR PlatformLengths11062025 Redacted document linked in this post explains why the 458/4 don't work any Main Suburban services: https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...se-selective-door-opening.292936/post-7494206

It is probably at lot easier to list where the 458/4 can operate in service:
Waterloo Pt 11 - 24 - Kingston (via Richmond) / Shepperton (via all 3 sides of the Strawberry Hil triangle) / Weybridge Pt 1 & 2 (via Virginia Water) / Byfleet & New Haw (via the Byfleet Curve) / Reading / Windsor & Eton Riverside and the Hounslow Loop (including via the Hounslow Spur).

The 458/4 aren't permitted to operate in or out of Waterloo platforms 1 - 6 and only as ECS from platforms 7 - 10.
They are also not permitted to use the DN Main Slow between Waterloo and Wimbledon West.
They are only able to be used as ECS on the UP Main Slow and UP & DN Main Fasts between Waterloo and Wimbledon West.
Beyond Wimbledon West they are only able to be used as ECS to Weybridge.

They are not permitted to be used on the Raynes Park - Chessington / Dorking / Effingham Junction (via Epsom) lines; Surbiton - Guildford (via Cobham & Effingham Junction); Brookwood - Alton; Ascot - Guildford (via Aldershot); Bedhampton - Portsmouth Harbour; Fareham - Eastleigh; Poole - Weymouth & Brockenhurst - Lymington Pier.

They are only able to used as ECS on the Surbiton - Hampton Court; New Malden - Kingston; Woking - Poole & Woking - St Denys (via Worplesdon, Haslemere, Havant & Fareham).
 
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R

RailUK Forums

Peter Sarf

Established Member
Joined
12 Oct 2010
Messages
9,842
Location
Croydon
The SWR PlatformLengths11062025 Redacted document linked in this post explains why the 458/4 don't work any Main Suburban services: https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...se-selective-door-opening.292936/post-7494206

It is probably at lot easier to list where the 458/4 can operate in service:
Waterloo Pt 11 - 24 - Kingston (via Richmond) / Shepperton (via all 3 sides of the Strawberry Hil triangle) / Weybridge Pt 1 & 2 (via Virginia Water) / Byfleet & New Haw (via the Byfleet Curve) / Reading / Windsor & Eton Riverside and the Hounslow Loop (including via the Hounslow Spur).

The 458/4 aren't permitted to operate in or out of Waterloo platforms 1 - 6 and only as ECS from platforms 7 - 10.
They are also not permitted to use the DN Main Slow between Waterloo and Wimbledon West.
They are only able to be used as ECS on the UP Main Slow and UP & DN Main Fasts between Waterloo and Wimbledon West.
Beyond Wimbledon West they are only able to be used as ECS to Weybridge.

They are not permitted to be used on the Raynes Park - Chessington / Dorking / Effingham Junction (via Epsom) lines; Surbiton - Guildford (via Cobham & Effingham Junction); Brookwood - Alton; Ascot - Guildford (via Aldershot); Bedhampton - Portsmouth Harbour; Fareham - Eastleigh; Poole - Weymouth & Brockenhurst - Lymington Pier.

They are only able to used as ECS on the Surbiton - Hampton Court; New Malden - Kingston; Woking - Poole & Woking - St Denys (via Worplesdon, Haslemere, Havant & Fareham).
Crickey. Good job the 458s do not need to go to Portsmouth then !.



In other news 0V70 (57306 light loco Leicester to Long Marston) is on time and an hour away from Long Marston.

The 5Q70 (Long Marson to Wimbledon) is not yet activated but still too early to tell if that is ominous. My feeling is the probability of this actually running is less than 50% likely to happen. That is based on last weeks three attempts for 049 and this being only the first attempt to drag the very bottom of the barrel.

EDIT 12:10
0V70 arrived, 5Q70 manually activated at 12:07, no loco allox yet. Loco allox <=12:20.
 
Last edited:

w11_supremecy

Member
Joined
17 Oct 2024
Messages
82
Location
London
The SWR PlatformLengths11062025 Redacted document linked in this post explains why the 458/4 don't work any Main Suburban services: https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...se-selective-door-opening.292936/post-7494206

It is probably at lot easier to list where the 458/4 can operate in service:
Waterloo Pt 11 - 24 - Kingston (via Richmond) / Shepperton (via all 3 sides of the Strawberry Hil triangle) / Weybridge Pt 1 & 2 (via Virginia Water) / Byfleet & New Haw (via the Byfleet Curve) / Reading / Windsor & Eton Riverside and the Hounslow Loop (including via the Hounslow Spur).

The 458/4 aren't permitted to operate in or out of Waterloo platforms 1 - 6 and only as ECS from platforms 7 - 10.
They are also not permitted to use the DN Main Slow between Waterloo and Wimbledon West.
They are only able to be used as ECS on the UP Main Slow and UP & DN Main Fasts between Waterloo and Wimbledon West.
Beyond Wimbledon West they are only able to be used as ECS to Weybridge.

They are not permitted to be used on the Raynes Park - Chessington / Dorking / Effingham Junction (via Epsom) lines; Surbiton - Guildford (via Cobham & Effingham Junction); Brookwood - Alton; Ascot - Guildford (via Aldershot); Bedhampton - Portsmouth Harbour; Fareham - Eastleigh; Poole - Weymouth & Brockenhurst - Lymington Pier.

They are only able to used as ECS on the Surbiton - Hampton Court; New Malden - Kingston; Woking - Poole & Woking - St Denys (via Worplesdon, Haslemere, Havant & Fareham).
458/4s can actually run as far as Woking (P3), which you will typically see on Sundays when they work 1Sxx services (Waterloo-Woking via Hounslow and Chertsey and back). They join the mainline at Byfleet Junction and can also serve West Byfleet as well in passenger service.
 

Ian Hardy

Member
Joined
18 Nov 2009
Messages
462
458/4s can actually run as far as Woking (P3), which you will typically see on Sundays when they work 1Sxx services (Waterloo-Woking via Hounslow and Chertsey and back). They join the mainline at Byfleet Junction and can also serve West Byfleet as well in passenger service.
Ooops, I did not specifically mention that they could operate between Byfleet Junction and Woking, but I didn't list that section as having any restrictions on the use.
 

Peter Sarf

Established Member
Joined
12 Oct 2010
Messages
9,842
Location
Croydon
Which is very odd, since that is exactly what they were supposed to be for.
I know its alarmingly ironic that the 458/4s seem to so restricted on the mainline side and yet were converted from five car units to four car units just so that they could be used on the Portsmouth direct.

Makes me feel the Portsmouth direct idea jinxes things, I bet the 442s could have fitted !.
350 tons id suspect is 2x 701/5s. A Single 5car is 178.3 tons
Yes, I had looked back and last weeks was 350t, so I had assumed (hoped) ten coaches worth.

Seems to have happened quite smoothly.
 

WWTownEnth

Member
Joined
21 Mar 2014
Messages
757
701001 - In Passenger Service (2 Mar 26)
701002 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701003 - Derby Litchurch Lane - Awaiting Redelivery To SWR
701004 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701005 - In Passenger Service (27 Aug 25)
701006 - In Passenger Service (6 Mar 26)
701007 - In Passenger Service (24 Feb 26)

701008 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701009 - In Passenger Service (17 Oct 25)
701010 - In Passenger Service (22 Dec 25)
701011 - In Passenger Service (26 Feb 26)
701012 - In Passenger Service (21 Jul 25)
701013 - In Passenger Service (28 Jul 25)

701014 - Stored at Eastleigh
701015 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701016 - Stored at Eastleigh
701017 - In Passenger Service (25 Nov 24)
701018 - In Passenger Service (6 Jul 25)

701019 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701020 - In Passenger Service (8 Oct 25)
701021 - In Passenger Service (15 Sep 25)
701022 - In Passenger Service (9 Feb 26)

701023 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701024 - SWR preparing for passenger service

701025 - In Passenger Service (24 Jun 25)
701026 - In Passenger Service (3 Nov 26)

701027 - Stored at Eastleigh
701028 - See note below
701029 - SWR preparing for passenger service

701030 - In Passenger Service (9 Dec 25)
701031 - In Passenger Service (28 Oct 24)

701032 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701033 - In Passenger Service (26 Nov 25)
701034 - In Passenger Service (18 Mar 25)
701035 - In Passenger Service (28 May 25)
701036 - In Passenger Service (7 Mar 25)
701037 - In Passenger Service (9 Jan 24)
701038 - In Passenger Service (5 Feb 26)
701039 - In Passenger Service (10 Jan 24)

701040 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701041 - In Passenger Service (17 Jun 25)
701042 - In Passenger Service (21 May 25)
701043 - In Passenger Service (16 Jan 24)
701044 - In Passenger Service (5 Feb 25)

701045 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701046 - In Passenger Service (17 Mar 25)
701047 - In Passenger Service (31 Dec 25)
701048 - In Passenger Service (8 Nov 25j

701049 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701050 - In Passenger Service (17 Nov 25)
701051 - In Passenger Service (14 Jul 25)
701052 - In Passenger Service (23 Dec 25)
701053 - In Passenger Service (26 Aug 25)
701054 - In Passenger Service (3 Jan 26)

701055 - Stored at Eastleigh
701056 - In Passenger Service (8 Sep 25)
701057 - In Passenger Service (13 Aug 25)
701058 - In Passenger Service (11 Aug 25)
701059 - In Passenger Service (5 Dec 25)
701060 - In Passenger Service (1 Nov 25)


In Passenger Service: 42/60
SWR preparing for passenger service: 13/60 (Including 028 which briefly served passengers and is now on testing duties)
Stored at Eastleigh: 4/60
Stored at Derby Litchurch Lane: 1/60




701501 - Stored at Old Dalby
701502 - Stored at Derby Litchurch Lane

701503 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701504 - SWR preparing for passenger service

701505 - Stored at Bicester
701506 - Stored at Bicester
701507 - Stored at Bicester
701508 - Stored at Derby Litchurch Lane

701509 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701510 - SWR preparing for passenger service

701511 - Stored at Bicester
701512 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701513 - Stored at Bicester
701514 - Stored at Bicester
701515 - Stored at Bicester
701516 - Stored at Bicester

701517 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701518 - Stored at Bicester
701519 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701520 - SWR preparing for passenger service

701521 - Stored at Bicester
701522 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701523 - Stored at Bicester
701524 - Stored at Derby Litchurch Lane
701525 - Stored at Bicester
701526 - Stored at Bicester
701527 - Stored at Bicester

701528 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701529 - SWR preparing for passenger service

701530 - Stored at Bicester

In Passenger Service: 0/30
SWR preparing for passenger service: 11/30
Stored at Old Dalby: 1/30
Stored at Derby Litchurch Lane: 3/30
Stored at Bicester 15/30
All updated on the assumption that 517 and 519 are on their way with today‘s drag.
 

w11_supremecy

Member
Joined
17 Oct 2024
Messages
82
Location
London
Ooops, I did not specifically mention that they could operate between Byfleet Junction and Woking, but I didn't list that section as having any restrictions on the use.
To be fair it took me a moment before realising myself that they can run to Woking in passenger service in the short stretch after joining the mainline at Byfleet Junction. It’s an easy one to forget considering you’ll only ever find one on Sundays - just thought it’s best if I highlight it. All good.
 

Big Jumby 74

Established Member
Joined
12 Feb 2022
Messages
2,256
Location
UK
Makes me feel the Portsmouth direct idea jinxes things, I bet the 442s could have fitted !.
Ha, ha! My former Fleet colleagues might laugh at that, back in the 90's when 1P00 was formed of 10 442, ('one poo' as it was known in house!). The small number of 442 diagrams on that route back then lead to many call outs for assistance. They were a headache for many on that route even then.
 
Last edited:

wickham

Member
Joined
3 Feb 2021
Messages
710
Location
Knaphill
Just found this path for today, wonder is it some 701 movement related?
RTT Shows 5Q50 Strawberry Hill to WPS as running with 701009.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

350 tons id suspect is 2x 701/5s. A Single 5car is 178.3 tons
Unless you are reading the TOPS consist (in whih case you would be able to quote the numbers !!) this is likely to be the planned or authorised load NOT the ACTUAL load.
 
Last edited:

TEW

Established Member
Joined
16 May 2008
Messages
6,228
Are we likely to get a new 701 diagram next week?
Another 458/4 diagram goes over.

5R03 0530 Feltham Depot to Twickenham
2R03 0615 Twickenham to London Waterloo
2S13 0722 London Waterloo to Weybridge
2S22 0903 Weybridge to London Waterloo
2C37 1320 London Waterloo to Reading
2C48 1509 Reading to London Waterloo
2C51 1650 London Waterloo to Reading
2C62 1839 Reading to London Waterloo
2C65 2020 London Waterloo to Reading
2C76 2209 Reading to London Waterloo
2S79 2352 London Waterloo to Hounslow
5S79 0034 Hounslow to Feltham Depot
 

mansonlo49

Member
Joined
11 Dec 2023
Messages
1,019
Location
uk
There’s been quite a few 5Q movements recently at Wimbledon Park, on Tuesday there’s a 701(?) went via oxshott to Effingham Neck and return
 
Last edited:

Joel_1902

Member
Joined
3 Sep 2021
Messages
31
Location
Knaresborough
Excellent list above, my only difference is 701501 is back at Derby, moved back on the 26th September 2025. Don’t think there’s any Alstom units at Old Dalby anymore bar 387101.
Cheers
Joel
 

NSEWonderer

Established Member
Joined
5 Dec 2020
Messages
2,911
Location
London
Last week and before Christmas (for Marchwood) also had more paths than would be used. It's easier to put something in and use only the one that's logistically best.

Path is now up for Wednesday, including light loco as the early sign of whether running:
Screenshot_20260312_035009_Brave.jpg
As suspected the above by realtimetrains.co.uk confirms both 517 and 519 arrived at Wimbledon.
 

Cravens

Member
Joined
29 Sep 2017
Messages
37
5732 + 5712 have been allocated this morning’s run from Surbiton. Would I be right in guessing that both 701 and 450’s are tied up with covering for faulty 458/4’s to bring this about?
 

Siemens Staines

Established Member
Joined
30 Jul 2015
Messages
1,554
5732 + 5712 have been allocated this morning’s run from Surbiton. Would I be right in guessing that both 701 and 450’s are tied up with covering for faulty 458/4’s to bring this about?

There does not appear to be any 450 alterations today, but 701041 is covering for 2*458/4 which I assume otherwise would have been working 2J92 instead of the 455s.
 

WWTownEnth

Member
Joined
21 Mar 2014
Messages
757
With 42 701s in service for 35 diagrams, you’d think there would be enough units not to require 455s to be brought back to life
 

TEW

Established Member
Joined
16 May 2008
Messages
6,228
It's 37 701 diagrams this week, and I think 38 have been in service most days with an extra covering for 458/4s.
 

Top