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

[Fazaar1889]

^^ That's a matter of opinion. I like yellow fronts on trains.

Fair enough. It is indeed subjective. Variety is always good tho no?

 

[dorsetdesiro]

TPE is probably the only TOC with both black & yellow ends? Any plan for 185s to have black ends for consistency?

I agree it is best for the 701s to have yellow ends, personally I think looks nicer and contrasts with the dull & muted colours of the SWR livery, would stand out more than black or dark coloured ends.

Likewise in vice-versa, the TPE black ends seem to work well with its brighter coloured livery.

 

[py_megapixel]

I think someone mentioned a few years ago that the 185s were having their headlights replaced with more modern LED ones so that they would be allowed to have black fronts. I'm not sure if this was done and then it was later decided not to bother repainting the front, the plan was scrapped, or it was just a rumour and in reality it was never the plan in the first place.

 

[_toommm_]

I think someone mentioned a few years ago that the 185s were having their headlights replaced with more modern LED ones so that they would be allowed to have black fronts. I'm not sure if this was done and then it was later decided not to bother repainting the front, the plan was scrapped, or it was just a rumour and in reality it was never the plan in the first place.

Wasn’t there a problem with the LED headlights and something like the ASDO noted on here? If not the ASDO, I swear the LED headlights interfered with something.

 

[Carlisle]

Is there any expectation of a firm date for the start of training being announced by Christmas or is the present limbo expected to continue well into the 2023 ?

 

[swr444]

Is there any expectation of a firm date for the start of training being announced by Christmas or is the present limbo expected to continue well into the 2023 ?

Talks of 701s at the depots to be going into storage up north. Doesn’t sound promising

 

[Goldfish62]

Talks of 701s at the depots to be going into storage up north. Doesn’t sound promising

Yet Rock Rail South Western have bought 16 units to date.

 

[Carlisle]

Talks of 701s at the depots to be going into storage up north. Doesn’t sound promising

Thanks, doesn’t sound good then.

 

[Elorith]

The latest "official" news is simply that SWR will continue working with Alstom and Rock Rail to resolve the issues.

Talks of 701s at the depots to be going into storage up north. Doesn’t sound promising

I reckoned this was just another rumour, but I've heard this from several people now who would very much to be in a position to know.

 

[Chiltern006]

if they aren’t in service into 2023, how many years late is that?

 

[swr444]

if they aren’t in service into 2023, how many years late is that?

It would be 4 years in total

 

[3141]

According to Modern Railways for August 2017 (which by coincidence I have just dug out), they "will enter service from the middle of 2019 and will all be delivered by December 2020". The article also refers to plans to introduce re-tractioned Class 442s, while another article on the same page reports plans by Alliance Rail to introduce an open access service between Waterloo and Southampton, also using Class 442s, in 2018.

 

[SeaKing]

Can you see 701's at Feltham from passing trains.

 

[Goldfish62]

Can you see 701's at Feltham from passing trains.

Yes, usually five of them in the depot.

 

[60159]

Yes, usually five of them in the depot.

Can you get the numbers?

 

[SeaKing]

Yes, usually five of them in the depot.

Is the depot before or after the station travelling from Clapham. TIA

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Is the depot before or after the station travelling from Clapham. TIA

Before, and on the south side of the line ( left hand side facing forwards away from Clapham Junction ).

Should be possible to get the numbers of the three nearest the running line easily enough; the other two might need a second and third pass.

 

[davews]

Last week I thought there were now just four there. Maybe you chaps have smarter eyes than me but I have never been able to read the numbers when passing.

 

[jackot]

There are now at least 4 at Farnham Depot from what I can see, so the rumours of moving them up to the North for storage seem understandable, especially if Alstom and SWR don't believe the problems can be fixed in the next few months. There is only so much space to park them.

 

[43096]

Last week I thought there were now just four there.

Four on there currently. Well there were as of about 10 minutes ago!

 

[pompeyfan]

The last I heard was that all the major issues had been resolved, SWR were however struggling to negotiate the training package with the unions, with only the programme for depot drivers being agreed so far.

 

[Snow1964]

According to Modern Railways for August 2017 (which by coincidence I have just dug out), they "will enter service from the middle of 2019 and will all be delivered by December 2020". The article also refers to plans to introduce re-tractioned Class 442s, while another article on the same page reports plans by Alliance Rail to introduce an open access service between Waterloo and Southampton, also using Class 442s, in 2018.

There was a table of latest introduction into service dates, with minimum numbers by certain dates.

Would have been third of new fleet in service by March 2020, so presumably a good percentage of suburban and Reading line drivers should have been trained pre covid. Therefore can only use covid as excuse for build delays of about 35th to 90th unit

 

[Goldfish62]

The last I heard was that all the major issues had been resolved, SWR were however struggling to negotiate the training package with the unions, with only the programme for depot drivers being agreed so far.

Assuming it's correct that all the major issues are resolved why is negotiating the training package proving difficult? Is this a case of deliberate obstructiveness because the units will be operated in a different way, or something else?

 

[Elorith]

The last I heard was that all the major issues had been resolved, SWR were however struggling to negotiate the training package with the unions, with only the programme for depot drivers being agreed so far.

I've heard recently there are still numerous software faults and build issues that are yet to be rectified

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Oct 2022 ==

Is this a case of deliberate obstructiveness because the units will be operated in a different way

We also don't know if ABDO or DCO is actually going to end up being the case yet

 

[Mainsideman]

I've heard recently there are still numerous software faults and build issues that are yet to be rectified

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Oct 2022 ==


We also don't know if ABDO or DCO is actually going to end up being the case yet

Sorry what is ABDO?

 

[swt_passenger]

Sorry what is ABDO?

Automatic Braking and Door Opening. A short title for automating both the correct stopping point and the correct door opening.

 

[Elorith]

Sorry what is ABDO?

It's automatic braking and door opening. It was supposedly one of the reasons for rolling out the 701 fleet in the first place (over more 707s) as the argument from its proponents was that dwell times could be reduced and more trains run during the peak hours.

But now that proposed timetable has been scrapped and will probably not see the light of day again, so with it goes the argument for any need for ABDO.

 

[Mainsideman]

Thank you both

 

[60159]

Is the depot before or after the station travelling from Clapham. TIA

Thanks for the help.
I seem to recall an earlier post suggesting one of the 5 had moved to Clapham.
Does anyone know how many are built and in SWR, Derby, Worksop or Old Dolby etc?

 

[Bald Rick]

Assuming it's correct that all the major issues are resolved why is negotiating the training package proving difficult? Is this a case of deliberate obstructiveness because the units will be operated in a different way, or something else?

Looking at the big picture, and asking the question from a different perspective: Why might ASLEF be uncooperative in negotiations about anything during a period of major industrial relations unrest?