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

[Goldfish62]

What’s the difference to a freight operator travelling PASS on an train where they travel in the saloon?

Or GWR staff travelling PASS on Cross Country. They're not allowed in the cab.

 

[Bigfoot]

What’s the difference to a freight operator travelling PASS on an train where they travel in the saloon?

Or GWR staff travelling PASS on Cross Country. They're not allowed in the cab.

When travelling pass, or at anytime staff travelling free or on a reduced price ticket are expected to stand if full fair paying passengers require a seat. It would also be logical that if the service is very busy fair paying passengers should board first, then staff afterwards. They make the rules so they must be followed.

 

[spark001uk]

47749 returning to Derby this afternoon, towing u.701043.
I thought the more recent units were already modded??

 

[7031]

Could be forgiven for thinking they don’t have traction motors!

Indeed, pleasantly surprised by how quiet they are.

 

[Goldfish62]

Indeed, pleasantly surprised by how quiet they are.

To me they sound exactly like the 710s.

 

[365 Networker]

Not sure if this has been posted anywhere yet, but here is the official briefing about the explosions:-

https://twitter.com/AnonSWRTeam/status/1529294341117726722/photo/1

 

[swt_passenger]

Not sure if this has been posted anywhere yet, but here is the official briefing about the explosions:-

https://twitter.com/AnonSWRTeam/status/1529294341117726722/photo/1

It had been posted in this thread a few weeks ago:

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

345003 exploded at Plumstead sidings. That's certainly been kept quiet. Understandably of course!

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[potentially]

701022 was out today working 5Q51

 

[spark001uk]

701022 was out today working 5Q51

Yes it was out all week as well, clocking up its ffr miles. Well, hopefully.!

 

[Recessio]

Yes it was out all week as well, clocking up its ffr miles. Well, hopefully.!

FFR?

 

[samuelmorris]

FFR?

Fault-free running, I imagine.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

For the first time since Jan 21 Rock Rail South Western plc (the entity leasing trains to SWR) has raised charges (allows their financiers to take the units if they don't pay the interest and capital on the loan) for the following units

701004
701016
701019
701023
701025
701029
701032
701035

This ought to be an indicator that their customer [SWR] now have some confidence in the trains as they [RRSW] now own them outright and maybe it presages potential progress to the next stage towards service introduction but equally it could just be a contractual requirement between Alstom and Rock Rail.

 

[Snow1964]

For the first time since Jan 21 Rock Rail South Western plc (the entity leasing trains to SWR) has raised charges (allows their financiers to take the units if they don't pay the interest and capital on the loan) for the following units

701004
701016
701019
701023
701025
701029
701032
701035

This ought to be an indicator that their customer [SWR] now have some confidence in the trains as they [RRSW] now own them outright and maybe it presages potential progress to the next stage towards service introduction but equally it could just be a contractual requirement between Alstom and Rock Rail.

Quite a random (has lots of gaps) list, not clear to me why they have apparently been completed and transferred and others haven’t.

Are these the less badly built ones, or are they just being finished off in a non sequential way.

 

[Goldfish62]

Quite a random (has lots of gaps) list, not clear to me why they have apparently been completed and transferred and others haven’t.

Are these the less badly built ones, or are they just being finished off in a non sequential way.

Or ones that have achieved fault-free running?

 

[Recessio]

Fault-free running, I imagine.

Thank you

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Passed through Clapham Junction yesterday to see 701025 still in the yard. Has this moved at all in the last few months !?

 

[Elorith]

Passed through Clapham Junction yesterday to see 701025 still in the yard. Has this moved at all in the last few months !?

Nope, switched off with the removable red lamp since at least mid May.

 

[XCTurbostar]

Nope, switched off with the removable red lights since at least mid May.

It was there on the 13th May so I suspect your right!

 

[Chiltern006]

Was there as early as the 14th April!!

 

[spark001uk]

701030 has been dragged (by 47727) to Ilford EMUD this morning. Storage I assume?

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K00005/2022-07-11/detailed#allox_id=0

 

[nlogax]

Another summer sitting in Cl 455 sweatboxes. I am beginning to wonder if 701s will ever make make it to revenue-earning service.

 

[Mollman]

701030 has been dragged (by 47727) to Ilford EMUD this morning. Storage I assume?

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K00005/2022-07-11/detailed#allox_id=0

Hasn't Alstom (when Bombardier) used it for refurbs in the past? So could be undertaking work there rather than Derby as it should be closer (thus cheaper movement wise)

 

[spark001uk]

Hasn't Alstom (when Bombardier) used it for refurbs in the past? So could be undertaking work there rather than Derby as it should be closer (thus cheaper movement wise)

Ah yes good point, I'd forgotten about the Alstom place there.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

701030 has been dragged (by 47727) to Ilford EMUD this morning. Storage I assume?

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K00005/2022-07-11/detailed#allox_id=0

Here is 701 030 at Stratford. The drag was confirmed as 47 727.

 

[Mikey C]

On a rare SWR 455 journey today, very unpleasant in the heat, and will be intolerable for anyone having to travel on Monday and Tuesday

 

[Bigfoot]

On a rare SWR 455 journey today, very unpleasant in the heat, and will be intolerable for anyone having to travel on Monday and Tuesday

Think of the staff who are working all day in them. It is horrendous. The driver gets "comfort cooling" which might take the edge of the high 20s but doesn't do much above 30. The guard gets nothing at all...

 

[spark001uk]

Think of the staff who are working all day in them. It is horrendous. The driver gets "comfort cooling" which might take the edge of the high 20s but doesn't do much above 30. The guard gets nothing at all...

It's crazy, by law I believe there is a minimum temperature beyond which workers can't be forced to work, but as far as I know there's no upper limit. That's what a previous employer told me anyway.

 

[Class360/1]

How is fault free running going - are the units slowly completing the required mileage for service?

It's crazy, by law I believe there is a minimum temperature beyond which workers can't be forced to work, but as far as I know there's no upper limit. That's what a previous employer told me anyway.

You are correct.

 

[AM9]

It's crazy, by law I believe there is a minimum temperature beyond which workers can't be forced to work, but as far as I know there's no upper limit. That's what a previous employer told me anyway.

I think that the current legislation has a minimum working temperature of 16 deg C (60.8 F) withing 1 hour of work commencement. This was established at least as far back as 1961 in the Factories act and the Offices Shops and Railway premises act in 1963. There are far worse workplaces than on a train without air conditioning, e.g. restaurant kitchens, but there are no maximum working temperatures although employers are consider the suitability of the conditions for the specific role.

 

[Lewlew]

Have all 701s been built?

(Sorry if it’s a frequently asked question, I’ve not been keeping up)