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

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Meerkat

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4 further stations have temporarily failed DCO lighting requirements.

Believed to be - Datchet, Wraysbury, Feltham and Richmond
How big a deal are such problems generally - stick brighter lights in the lampposts or a whole new lighting scheme??
 

SWT_USER

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4 further stations have temporarily failed DCO lighting requirements.

Believed to be - Datchet, Wraysbury, Feltham and Richmond
Incredible that we are still at this point so many years after the trains were supposed to be introduced. The introduction of these units should be the textbook of how not to do it.

Presumably this doesn't actually matter or (further) delay the introduction given there are no plans to move to DCO imminently?
 
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DMckduck

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Incredible that we are still at this point so many years after the trains were supposed to be introduced. The introduction of these units should be the textbook of how not to do it.

Presumably this doesn't actually matter or (further) delay the introduction given there are no plans to move to DCO imminently?
No but it also is a stark reminder for any other TOCS planning to introduce DOO if any.

Make sure everything is ready for it!

Otherwise you might not have a train service. I mean half of the SWR network wouldn't have a service right now if DOO had been successfully pushed through.

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How big a deal are such problems generally - stick brighter lights in the lampposts or a whole new lighting scheme??
Seems to be a code of silence on such problems, most anyone not involved in the management of the project will be told is a corporate response.

Something along the lines of "We are working hard to sign off stations for DCO operation".
 

Lewis66655

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How has no one lost their job for this? This is a staggering failure of project management. If the railway can’t get new trains on diagrams, I have to wonder what their core competencies actually are.

Would a bank turn round and not give you a loan for 5 years? No, because they’d be out of business
 
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4 further stations have temporarily failed DCO lighting requirements.

Believed to be - Datchet, Wraysbury, Feltham and Richmond
That's interesting seeing that they have recently replaced all the lighting at Feltham. I assumed at the time it was for DCO reasons.
 

Carlisle

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No but it also is a stark reminder for any other TOCS planning to introduce DOO if any.

Make sure everything is ready for it!
Were unions & management able to cooperate in the process of formally clearing stations for DCO before the recent training packages were agreed & commenced?
 
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swtrains

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A local councillor I know has been invited to the formal launch on 28 November.
Royal Assent for the Railway Passenger Services (Public Ownership) Bill which will lead to the renationalisation of SWR is on the House of Lords Business Agenda at the same time. I do not know if the timing is a coincidence. It could be interpreted as comment on SWR's handling of the introduction of these new trains.
 
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Goldfish62

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Royal Assent for the Railway Passenger Services (Public Ownership) Bill which will lead to the renationalisation of SWR is on the House of Lords Business Agenda at the same time. I do not know if the timing is a coincidence. It could be interpreted as comment on SWR's handling of the introduction of these new trains.
None whatsoever. The final expiry date of the SWR contract is in May and it couldn't be extended even if the government wanted to.

The stakeholder launch is an SWR event, not a DfT event.
 

waterboo

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It seems (from sources) that SWR is internally celebrating the launch of the Arterio by entering staff into a raffle to win tickets for ermm.. 'back to the future'. Because associating a new train with a film on the premise of going back in time, makes logical marketing sense
 

DMckduck

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It seems (from sources) that SWR is internally celebrating the launch of the Arterio by entering staff into a raffle to win tickets for ermm.. 'back to the future'. Because associating a new train with a film on the premise of going back in time, makes logical marketing sense
Quite fitting actually, considering this new shiny train with modern technology can't be operated on a single route without traditional dispatch xD
 
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It seems (from sources) that SWR is internally celebrating the launch of the Arterio by entering staff into a raffle to win tickets for ermm.. 'back to the future'. Because associating a new train with a film on the premise of going back in time, makes logical marketing sense
I’d assume this is linked to the fact this is one of the rewards offered through their SWR Rewards programme, so easier to get something from an existing partner. Still very ironic though.

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Just spotted the unit which is going to be named at the event. It’s sitting inside the Wimbledon train wash
 
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Goldfish62

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No time is mentioned unfortunately. I'll keep a look out
I believe the event is at 10:30, P19.

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This appears to be it.

 

norbitonflyer

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Meanwhile, only three out in service this morning - both the Shepperton and Hampton Court diagrams were cancelled due to a points failure, and one round trip on the Windsor was also cancelled

EDITED FOR CLARITY
 
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Stephen42

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Thanks. So that's 5 out in service this morning.
Only 3, 036, 037 and 039. A problem in the Strawberry Hill depot meant a load of services never left from there with cancellations elsewhere. The Surbiton peak extra was removed from the timetable via VSTP.
 

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