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

[norbitonflyer]

I've been keeping post 9000 up to date but now with up to six units operating a day (four diagrams, two of which include depot time in the middle of the day) it's time to reduce the detail. If I'd known that, after nearly ten months, only six units would have enetered service I'd probably not have started this!
I am now counting am and pm outings separately - it seems the only sensible way to do it since there have been frequent swap outs, whether you consider the am diagram to be a continuation of the previous day or not.

Totals, first and most recent outings
701037 (97) January 9th, November 27th
701043 (92) January 16th, November 27th
701039 (91) January 10th, November 27th
701036 (71) March 7th, November 27th
701017 (4) November 25th, November 27th
701028 (3) February 6th, February 9th
701031 (1) October 28th

Total 359

 

[swtrains]

Rode today's new Hampton Court (Surbiton) diagram.
A few observations:

• The vast majority of passengers did NOT care about getting the new train and if anything, were more frustrated that the previous train had been cancelled at Surbiton and would run fast to Waterloo.
• I've already made a post previously on why the PIDs are so poor, but today I noticed another thing. 2J92 was a very busy service, so it would have been helpful to passengers if the heat map came up a few seconds after boarding, like the 707s did, to help people to find seats. Surprisingly, this did bother some passengers.
• Also, the heatmap's accuracy is really bad. Upon leaving Surbiton, the carriage I was in was around half full, with a few empty seats and no one standing, but the map said it was a completely full carriage.
• Then there's Celia's announcements - her voice just drags on and on. I've said it once and I'll say it again, she just doesn't suit these new trains.
• The service itself ran about 1-2 minutes late, though that was due to the Waterloo signalling issues, not the train itself surprisingly.

Also partially rode the new Windsor diagram. That's at least 4 diagrams (Windsor, Windsor, Surbiton, Shepperton) running in the morning now, good to see. First time I'd seen 2 701s at Vauxhall together

 

[NSEWonderer]

Nice to see 701031 out and about with passengers now, remember seeing it doing crew training in September so didn't know that was it's final passenger use acceptance testing.

 

[Phil R]

Nice to see 701031 out and about with passengers now, remember seeing it doing crew training in September so didn't know that was it's final passenger use acceptance testing.

FWIW it was at Guildford last Tuesday evening (2030 22/10/24) on what I took to be some sort of gauging clearance exercise.

 

[NSEWonderer]

FWIW it was at Guildford last Tuesday evening (2030 22/10/24) on what I took to be some sort of gauging clearance exercise.

Oh lovely

 

[RealTrains07]

Slowly but surely the 701s are appearing on all the metro routes

 

[Goldfish62]

Slowly but surely the 701s are appearing on all the metro routes

Indeed. 4 in service at once as of this morning, including one that hadn't seen service before. Onwards and upwards!

 

[WWTownEnth]

Is there likely to be a significant increase in diagrams simultaneously with the introduction of the December timetable?

i seem to recall a huge rollout of class 450s on the day the summer 2005 timetable was introduced.

 

[OneTrackMinded]

Is there likely to be a significant increase in diagrams simultaneously with the introduction of the December timetable?

i seem to recall a huge rollout of class 450s on the day the summer 2005 timetable was introduced

SWR has mentioned they aim for “10 more units” in service (that’s now 8 with the new Windsor and Surbiton peak service) within the next 4 months, so there’s certainly a possibility that a bunch will appear then.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Indeed. 4 in service at once as of this morning, including one that hadn't seen service before. Onwards and upwards!

And a fifth this evening, with 701037 working 2U45

 

[TEW]

Is there likely to be a significant increase in diagrams simultaneously with the introduction of the December timetable?

i seem to recall a huge rollout of class 450s on the day the summer 2005 timetable was introduced.

No, the plan for now is slow and steady increase.

 

[hwl]

SWR has mentioned they aim for “10 more units” in service (that’s now 8 with the new Windsor and Surbiton peak service) within the next 4 months, so there’s certainly a possibility that a bunch will appear then.

Is that units in total or units diagrammed on a day?

 

[OneTrackMinded]

Is that units in total or units diagrammed on a day?

They did not specify. It was vague comment to the Telegraph regarding the whole windscreen wiper article saga

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Oct 2024 ==

No, the plan for now is slow and steady increase.

Well at least that means that if issues occur they won’t affect half the network

 

[swtrains]

Today's testing (701025):

5T80 - Clapham Yard - Waterloo - normal.
5T81 - Waterloo - Guildford - via Epsom.
5T82 - Guildford - Waterloo - via Epsom.
5T83 - Waterloo - Dorking.
5T84 - Dorking - Waterloo.
5Y45 - Waterloo - Clapham Yard.

Today's testing did not skip any stations.

Other units on test: 046, 028, 042.

No 701 Shepperton cancellations today.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:Q88573/2024-10-28/detailed#allox_id=0

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:Q88572/2024-10-28/detailed#allox_id=0

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:Q88571/2024-10-28/detailed#allox_id=0

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:Q88570/2024-10-28/detailed#allox_id=0

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:Q88569/2024-10-28/detailed#allox_id=0

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:Q88561/2024-10-28/detailed#allox_id=0

 

[NSEWonderer]

Looking quite forward to using these units in many ways than one.

 

[Bald Rick]

By chance i happened to catch one today, on a Windsor circuit. It was well loaded (half term trips to London) and everything seemed to work as intended as far as I noticed. Acceleration superb. Will be a great help in improving performance.

 

[swtrains]

Today's testing (701025):

5T90 - Clapham Yard - Waterloo - Goes to Shepperton via Richmond, then heads to Fulwell before turning back to Shepperton, then heads to Waterloo via Richmond.
5T91 - Waterloo - Clapham Yard - Goes to Shepperton via Richmond, then heads back to Clapham via Wimbledon.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:Q89524/2024-10-29/detailed#allox_id=0

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:Q89523/2024-10-29/detailed#allox_id=0

 

[swr444]

Today's testing (701025):

5T90 - Clapham Yard - Waterloo - Goes to Shepperton via Richmond, then heads to Fulwell before turning back to Shepperton, then heads to Waterloo via Richmond.
5T91 - Waterloo - Clapham Yard - Goes to Shepperton via Richmond, then heads back to Clapham via Wimbledon.

Seems like an odd move seeming that route is cleared for 701s. Wonder if it’s DCO testing

 

[davews]

Seems like an odd move seeming that route is cleared for 701s. Wonder if it’s DCO testing

There is a track circuit failure at Vauxhall at the moment and Shepperton trains are being diverted via Richmond.

 

[swr444]

There is a track circuit failure at Vauxhall at the moment and Shepperton trains are being diverted via Richmond.

No there isn’t. It was fixed, plus this is an empty move for testing purposes. Not in passenger service.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

The day to day train service requires a number of differing shunt/change end movements at various places, Clapham Yard (West London sidings) being a major one/location with differing routes out of/in to, likewise Fullwell turn back was also used quite often, particularly for test train working. All these moves will (I am sure) also need to be tested and signed off as part of the overall plan? Not saying this is part of todays workings, but just pointing these things out for info.

 

[joystick]

No there isn’t. It was fixed, plus this is an empty move for testing purposes. Not in passenger service.

It didn't get fixed until end of service, then played up this morning and this evening .

 

[Nikola_Delchev]

It didn't get fixed until end of service, then played up this morning and this evening .

I was on the last service to Shepperton on a 701 yesterday (after midnight). It departed from platform 21 at Waterloo and the guard assured us it would run its normal route (via Wimbledon and Kingston). Until we ended up on platform 5 at Clapham Junction, from where it was clearly impossible to crossover to the SW main line.

So it got diverted via Richmond too.

 

[DMckduck]

I was on the last service to Shepperton on a 701 yesterday (after midnight). It departed from platform 21 at Waterloo and the guard assured us it would run its normal route (via Wimbledon and Kingston). Until we ended up on platform 5 at Clapham Junction, from where it was clearly impossible to crossover to the SW main line.

So it got diverted via Richmond too.

It could have used the east Putney diversionary route, but that would be reliant on crew knowledge

 

[brooklynbound]

Caught 701036 from Clapham Jct this morning, Windsor bound. While the recorded announcements were working and very clear ( though I hate the slow delivery, it sounds fake!) the guard made an announcement which kept cutting out on the speakers making it sound as if the kit is already broken.

 

[Goldfish62]

the guard made an announcement which kept cutting out on the speakers making it sound as if the kit is already broken.

Sounds like the 458s have always been since the day they first entered service.

 

[mansonlo49]

Got to my attention 5Q87 operated from Long Marston to Wimbledon today, anyone know which is it? Thanks

 

[3973EXL]

Got to my attention 5Q87 operated from Long Marston to Wimbledon today, anyone know which is it? Thanks

reported as 701033

 

[swtrains]

Caught 701036 from Clapham Jct this morning, Windsor bound. While the recorded announcements were working and very clear ( though I hate the slow delivery, it sounds fake!) the guard made an announcement which kept cutting out on the speakers making it sound as if the kit is already broken.

Rode that unit on Monday, announcements are broken.

 

[DMckduck]

Caught 701036 from Clapham Jct this morning, Windsor bound. While the recorded announcements were working and very clear ( though I hate the slow delivery, it sounds fake!) the guard made an announcement which kept cutting out on the speakers making it sound as if the kit is already broken.

The kit is cheap and a poor build quality that is why, you would think such an important safety critical tool should have high quality hardware.

I think the only unit with decent handsets is 037, all the rest cut out frequently.