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

[markle]

deleted

 

[Goldfish62]

Quite a few short formed services on the SWML suburban routes into Waterloo this morning. Lots left behind on platforms.

The extra capacity that the 701s provide can't come soon enough.

That's why people are getting frustrated at the rate of progress.

I wasn't referring to what the general public think - I doubt if many of them are aware they're supposed to be having new trains.

I don't know what more progress people are expecting. Training started a few weeks ago. What more are people expecting to happen? It's been pointed out many, many times that there's a critical minimum number of staff that need training before any new train can diagrammed in daily service reliably and that process normally takes several months.

 

[SWT_USER]

Are the current staff shortages on SWR slowing down the training?

 

[Invincible]

The Hounslow Loop runs are mainly driver training AFAIK which is why they have stepped in frequency since driver training started.

Are the Hounslow Loop runs for driver training still on this week?.
Presume not long till more 701 runs are added to Windsor?.

 

[swr444]

Are the Hounslow Loop runs for driver training still on this week?.

701017 is currently on 5Q03 to Windsor but there doesn't seem to be any other 5Q test runs out today

 

[spyinthesky]

I wasn't referring to what the general public think - I doubt if many of them are aware they're supposed to be having new trains.

I don't know what more progress people are expecting. Training started a few weeks ago. What more are people expecting to happen? It's been pointed out many, many times that there's a critical minimum number of staff that need training before any new train can diagrammed in daily service reliably and that process normally takes several months.

When the general public can’t get on a train is when they start questioning all those new trains just sat there.
A quick search brings them to this forum and see the dribble about new trains that were built long since and not being used. Several months is now several years!

 

[3141]

When the general public can’t get on a train is when they start questioning all those new trains just sat there.
A quick search brings them to this forum and see the dribble about new trains that were built long since and not being used. Several months is now several years!

Doesn't seem very likely to me. It's not a high proportion of passengers that can't get on a train. Of the ones that can't, only a small proportion are aware that there are new trains "sat" at Clapham Junction and other locations. And how many of those will actually do a search that gets them to these forums?

 

[Goldfish62]

Doesn't seem very likely to me. It's not a high proportion of passengers that can't get on a train. Of the ones that can't, only a small proportion are aware that there are new trains "sat" at Clapham Junction and other locations. And how many of those will actually do a search that gets them to these forums?

Indeed. I doubt if more than a handful realise that the trains sat at Clapham yard are "new". They just see a load of trains parked there as has always been the case.

 

[TEW]

Are the Hounslow Loop runs for driver training still on this week?.
Presume not long till more 701 runs are added to Windsor?.

They don't run every day but they will be a regular feature for the next few years.

We should see an all day 701 diagram soon now, before the end of the month.

 

[Mikey C]

SWR started promoting their Arterio trains several years ago. I'm sure the regular travellers will be well aware that they should have had new trains ages ago.

 

[NSEWonderer]

I used to remember these ads about especially on YouTube trying to watch skysports football highlights:

 

[OneTrackMinded]

I used to remember these ads about especially on YouTube trying to watch skysports football highlights:

They published a new one recently

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Sep 2024 ==

We should see an all day 701 diagram soon now, before the end of the month.

A step in the right direction.

 

[DMckduck]

They don't run every day but they will be a regular feature for the next few years.

We should see an all day 701 diagram soon now, before the end of the month.

Before the end of the month? I will believe that when I see it.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Are the current staff shortages on SWR slowing down the training?

Could it be that the training is causing the staff shortages ?.
No gain without pain.

Indeed. I doubt if more than a handful realise that the trains sat at Clapham yard are "new". They just see a load of trains parked there as has always been the case.

If SWR are saying that the poor service provision is down to staff shortages then I doubt many will connect that with new trains sat around. Especially as I wonder if the vast majority of passengers might well barely notice the existence of the sidings at Clapham Junction let alone what is in them.

 

[SWT_USER]

Could it be that the training is causing the staff shortages ?.
No gain without pain.

If SWR are saying that the poor service provision is down to staff shortages then I doubt many will connect that with new trains sat around. Especially as I wonder if the vast majority of passengers might well barely notice the existence of the sidings at Clapham Junction let alone what is in them.

That seems a bit of a stretch given how many services SWR have cut since the pandemic. It all seems to have come to a head in the past few days/ weeks rather than long term.

 

[Peter Sarf]

That seems a bit of a stretch given how many services SWR have cut since the pandemic. It all seems to have come to a head in the past few days/ weeks rather than long term.

Your right it is coming to a head. But if SWR were to quote staff shortages then it follows trains of any sort will be sat around doing nothing for want of a driver (and guard) so nothing will appear sinister about the idle trains in themselves.

 

[3141]

I used to remember these ads about especially on YouTube trying to watch skysports football highlights:

The ads from Youtube posted on here don't actually mention new trains, so it remains unlikely that most passengers will be aware that there are a lot of new trains, or that they should have been in service five years ago, or that posters on here are spitting with rage about it.

 

[43096]

The ads from Youtube posted on here don't actually mention new trains, so it remains unlikely that most passengers will be aware that there are a lot of new trains, or that they should have been in service five years ago, or that posters on here are spitting with rage about it.

I’d say that regular commuters are far more clued up than you might think.

 

[OneTrackMinded]

The ads from Youtube posted on here don't actually mention new trains, so it remains unlikely that most passengers will be aware that there are a lot of new trains, or that they should have been in service five years ago, or that posters on here are spitting with rage about it.

I'll add that when I was on a 701 I heard quite a few people remarking something along the lines of "Is this a new train?" and "This one is so modern".
Take that how you will but I think the average passenger isn't aware of these train's existence until they actually happen to ride on one.
Beyond the adverts which aren't specifically about the train there's been little wider marketing. I do wonder if when they do start entering service at a faster rate if they'll advertise it or not.

 

[Bigfoot]

Quite a few short formed services on the SWML suburban routes into Waterloo this morning. Lots left behind on platforms.

There's shortages of desiro stock because of wheel sets in short supply and 458s due to checks.

 

[Peter Sarf]

There's shortages of desiro stock because of wheel sets in short supply and 458s due to checks.

Oh dear - when does the leaf fall season usually begin to bite.....

 

[GW43125]

Quite a few short formed services on the SWML suburban routes into Waterloo this morning. Lots left behind on platforms.

The extra capacity that the 701s provide can't come soon enough.

That's why people are getting frustrated at the rate of progress.

1N92 & 2C18 have been leaving people behind at Twickenham all week. No 1N94 or relief for 2C16 like we used to have, and 1N92 was usually F&S from whitton before it dropped to an 8car!

 

[spyinthesky]

Doesn't seem very likely to me. It's not a high proportion of passengers that can't get on a train. Of the ones that can't, only a small proportion are aware that there are new trains "sat" at Clapham Junction and other locations. And how many of those will actually do a search that gets them to these forums?

There really shouldn’t be any proportion of paying passengers not being able to get on a train.

 

[Goldfish62]

1N92 & 2C18 have been leaving people behind at Twickenham all week. No 1N94 or relief for 2C16 like we used to have, and 1N92 was usually F&S from whitton before it dropped to an 8car!

2C16 has always tended to be the busiest train from Reading in the AM peak, but recently went from 458/5 to 455, along with 2C18.

I was on 2C14 on Tuesday (recently went from to 458/5 to 450) and it was wedged upon leaving Feltham.

 

[OneTrackMinded]

Loads of 701s out on test today. Most of the ones that usually stay in Clapham Junction sidings are all missing

 

[JonathanH]

There really shouldn’t be any proportion of paying passengers not being able to get on a train.

That isn't strictly true. There are numerous occasions where it may not be able to join the first train in a 'metro' area or at a time of peak demand. The important thing is that they are able to join a train in a reasonable timeframe afterwards.

Boarding services from Reading at Twickenham in the morning peak has long been difficult, but the trains need to stop there for connections to Kingston.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Boarding services from Reading at Twickenham in the morning peak has long been difficult, but the trains need to stop there for connections to Kingston.

Not really - even if the connection was better timed than it is, Kingston is more easily reached by bus from Richmond

 

[markle]

deleted

 

[NSEWonderer]

Impressive to see the delay recovery on WQ21

Is that 701028 first run of the line?
Ah on further look it has done 3 passenger service runs and a few more runs as ecs.

 

[Recessio]

Loads of 701s out on test today. Most of the ones that usually stay in Clapham Junction sidings are all missing

Finally some good news in this thread lol