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

[PG]

Does sound like there is an element of truth in that something was built/connected in a questionable way and the usual railway rumour mill has inflated it from a small issue to con rail connected passenger tables.

Some (not so) bright spark conducted their own analysis

 

[Snow1964]

Not sure if it is relevant but a new corporate report by First Group rail includes

SWR has started phased introduction of a new fleet of 90 Alstom Class 701 trains and will continue to introduce the trains into service during 2024/25

Does that mean will be introduced in First Group financial year 2024/25 (and thus, none will slip into 2025/26) ?

https://www.firstgroupplc.com/~/media/Files/F/Firstgroup-Plc/signpost-documents/first-rail-2024.pdf

 

[TEW]

Highly unlikely they'll all be in service by the end of the current financial year.

 

[DMckduck]

Wonder what the cancellation percentage of the 1815 701 service is? Seems to be cancelled at least twice a week since introduction

 

[Goldfish62]

Highly unlikely they'll all be in service by the end of the current financial year.

I wouldn't be surprised if there was zero progress, with just the one diagram a day still by the end of March.

 

[OneTrackMinded]

I wouldn't be surprised if there was zero progress, with just the one diagram a day still by the end of March.

It's certainly starting to look like that..

 

[Bigfoot]

Driver training is to begin in the week commencing 28/7.

 

[MotCO]

Driver training is to begin in the week commencing 28/7.

Just in time for the summer holidays.....

 

[NSEWonderer]

Driver training is to begin in the week commencing 28/7.

If it does occur, could be good news for other reasons.

 

[onlyspaceghost]

Manged to take a 701 for the first time today from Richmond to Waterloo via Chiswick - was really nice! Not a massive fan of the seats though...

RTT: https://archive.ph/mhvyf

 

[Notchapple]

Wonder what the cancellation percentage of the 1815 701 service is? Seems to be cancelled at least twice a week since introduction

4/17 were cancelled so 23.5%

Reasons listed on RTT:
1 Person hit by train
1 Signalling Problem
1 Problem with doors
1 Problem with the train crew

 

[Goldfish62]

So, we now know that driver training is starting next week, but what about guard training?

 

[DMckduck]

So, we now know that driver training is starting next week, but what about guard training?

Guard training can start whenever, it's much shorter at only 2 days so once a healthy establishment of drivers Is available paired with an increase in service, more guards will then be trained.

 

[Goldfish62]

Guard training can start whenever, it's much shorter at only 2 days so once a healthy establishment of drivers Is available paired with an increase in service, more guards will then be trained.

Thanks for the info.

 

[TEW]

So, we now know that driver training is starting next week, but what about guard training?

There have already been some extra guards trained, the agreement to do so has been in place for about a month now.

 

[Goldfish62]

There have already been some extra guards trained, the agreement to do so has been in place for about a month now.

Thanks.

 

[antharro]

One's definitely out and about today - saw one stabled between Southampton Airport Parkway and Shawford. I think 001? Had Poole up as its destination.

 

[OneTrackMinded]

I think 001? Had Poole up as its destination.

Haven't seen this one in a very, very long while

 

[Big Jumby 74]

healthy establishment of drivers Is available paired with an increase in service,

And that is the critical factor in any large scale new stock introduction. Without the latter, many of the former will be at risk of their new found traction knowledge becoming null and void after, what, six months IIRC? A very tricky balancing act for all concerned.

 

[Goldfish62]

And that is the critical factor in any large scale new stock introduction. Without the latter, many of the former will be at risk of their new found traction knowledge becoming null and void after, what, six months IIRC? A very tricky balancing act for all concerned.

Acknowledging that it's a logistical challenge surely this is bread and butter stuff for operators, even SWR!

 

[43096]

Acknowledging that it's a logistical challenge surely this is bread and butter stuff for operators, even SWR!

Anyone would think there’s never been a new train introduction before with the way it gets talked about as being so difficult.

 

[Purple Train]

Managed to get 701043 on the 18.15 this evening. It definitely smells very new! The seats are alright, and it's very nice and bright inside. The PIS text is rather small and it seems a bit too bright (some things on the middle one are difficult to see from an end seat), and the announcer is very echoey - but once they bed in I'm sure they'll be excellent, and these are only minor niggles in the grand scheme of things. I have to say, I'm very impressed, with the stock if not their roll-out!

 

[Tony2]

One's definitely out and about today - saw one stabled between Southampton Airport Parkway and Shawford. I think 001? Had Poole up as its destination.

701010 was at Waterloo today with Poole displayed as the destination, but actually worked out on 5Q51 1114 London Waterloo- Staines ECS

 

[OneTrackMinded]

A look inside the 701's cab and its startup process.

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7395183858108386593

 

[3973EXL]

701030

Realtime Trains | 5Q86 1230 Long Marston Gbrf to Eastleigh Trsmd | 25/07/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q86 1230 departure from Long Marston Gbrf to Eastleigh Trsmd on 25/07/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[mansonlo49]

Good they finally haul the units back out

701030

Realtime Trains | 5Q86 1230 Long Marston Gbrf to Eastleigh Trsmd | 25/07/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q86 1230 departure from Long Marston Gbrf to Eastleigh Trsmd on 25/07/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[wickham]

Ref: Posts 9737 & 9738 regarding unit 001? seen test running - I am pretty sure this was 701010 (not 001), as I understand ir 701001 is still at Derby (not delivered yet).
A stock movement was booked 23.07.24 Long Marston to Eastleigh, quoted elsewhere as 701518/524, but RTT shows the train as cancelled - did they actually move - can anyone say ?

 

[class701]

701 driver training is due to roll-out this week. Does this look like a pivitol moment? where the rest of the 701 fleet finally enter service over the next three months. Surely it will only accelerate once enough drivers have been trained. Some say it could still take a year to complete. What happens with regards the current reduced (Covid) service levels. Our local (Epsom via Worcester Park) service is still only two per hour, eight-car, where they have always been four per hour, ten-car. Will the diagrams return to normal or has that boat already sailed? The passenger numbers have definitely returned. Most trains are rammed. Hopefully, SWR will be one of the first to come back under government control.

 

[43066]

701 driver training is due to roll-out this week. Does this look like a pivitol moment? where the rest of the 701 fleet finally enter service over the next three months. Surely it will only accelerate once enough drivers have been trained.

Yes, training has to lead, as they will need more 701 trained drivers and TMs than the minimum needed for the number of units in passenger service (to provide resilience). Therefore expect a gradual ramp up. Similar to when the class 700s were introduced to Thameslink, to provide a recent and localish example.

 

[shakermaker_86]

701 driver training is due to roll-out this week. Does this look like a pivitol moment? where the rest of the 701 fleet finally enter service over the next three months. Surely it will only accelerate once enough drivers have been trained. Some say it could still take a year to complete. What happens with regards the current reduced (Covid) service levels. Our local (Epsom via Worcester Park) service is still only two per hour, eight-car, where they have always been four per hour, ten-car. Will the diagrams return to normal or has that boat already sailed? The passenger numbers have definitely returned. Most trains are rammed. Hopefully, SWR will be one of the first to come back under government control.

Yes the Epsom to Worcester Park could really do with the service uplift as passenger numbers have definitely returned, contrary to what some posters on this forum would otherwise say.

My hope would be that as enough 701s enter into service, even if primarily on other routes first such as the Windor lines, that overtime more 455s would be freed up and become available to run additional trains on routes such as the Epsom lines in time for the December 24 timetable.