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

[DavidRail]

If the guard needs to be in the middle of a train, what about converting a vestibule in the middle(ish) into a guards office?
Proper partitions to the passenger salon, (not tensabariers) with or without windows, possibly with a door to the salons, and a seat for the guard.
If correctly designed, the partitions could be 'foldable', so they only need to be in place when required.
Programme to doors, so only one leaf opens, and possibly repaint the doors white (so they look different), hopefully this will stop passengers trying to board.
You've lost the full length walk through, but that's the same with 2x5 car.

 

[Fincra5]

How many platforms are actually an issue?

Reducing to 9 car until DOO is actually sorted could be a temp option. Less space but less expensive than anything else.

 

[OneTrackMinded]

If correctly designed

Haha... we all wish

 

[markle]

deleted

 

[class701]

Can anyone in the know please explain why none of the thirty 5-car units have made it to SWR yet. They could/should have been put in service first, both off-peak as 5-car, and peak in pairs. The guard would have been in the middle of the train. Problem solved. That's fifteen 10-car trains that could be in service by now to plug the rolling stock gaps. Do they still have tech issues as well that we don't know about yet?

 

[OneTrackMinded]

Can anyone in the know please explain why none of the thirty 5-car units have made it to SWR yet.

From what I've heard, there's some separate technical issues which need to be sorted out with those. There's also some differences which mean drivers will require an additional short training course.

 

[7Sonofa7Son]

Can anyone in the know please explain why none of the thirty 5-car units have made it to SWR yet. They could/should have been put in service first, both off-peak as 5-car, and peak in pairs. The guard would have been in the middle of the train. Problem solved. That's fifteen 10-car trains that could be in service by now to plug the rolling stock gaps. Do they still have tech issues as well that we don't know about yet?

The rumors I consistently hear are that the 701/5s have trouble coupling.

 

[class701]

So none of the ninety 701 units Alstom Derby built are serviceable, reliable or useable in any way. I would be asking for a full £1B refund at this point. The company doesn't deserve to survive this.

 

[OneTrackMinded]

The 701 has scored a respectable 81% on the Pip Dunn's train test, which you can read in the latest edition of the Rail Magazine, or in the separate feature article on the app

 

[PG]

The 701 has scored a respectable 81% on the Pip Dunn's train test, which you can read in the latest edition of the Rail Magazine, or in the separate feature article on the app
View attachment 173883

I note that Reliability isn't included!!

 

[OneTrackMinded]

I note that Reliability isn't included!!

Indeed - although interestingly in the article he does mention the guard crush load issue we've all been discussing here recently

 

[Towers]

The 701 has scored a respectable 81% on the Pip Dunn's train test, which you can read in the latest edition of the Rail Magazine, or in the separate feature article on the app
View attachment 173883

It’s rather early to be determining “build quality” when the trains have barely turned a wheel. It takes a little while for common build quality niggles to show up (or, in the case of these, a very long while!), so perhaps try that again once they’ve all been in normal service for six months or so!

 

[cactustwirly]

The 701 has scored a respectable 81% on the Pip Dunn's train test, which you can read in the latest edition of the Rail Magazine, or in the separate feature article on the app
View attachment 173883

How does comfort and ride quality score 7? What's that based on?

The seats are rock hard and squashed in they're barely a 5/10. Ride quality is questionable especially over junctions etc it's very firm with no dampening Vs a Desiro or Electrostar. The 455s ride much better IMO

Build quality can't be a 9, they've barely been in service and already have lots of rattles.

From a passenger information perspective and if you ignore the narrow seats and jolty ride then they are a upgrade over the 455s

 

[swtrains]

Today's testing (finally):

5T91 - Clapham Yard - Reading - normal.
5T92 - Reading - Clapham Yard - normal.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:Q28601/2025-02-03/detailed#allox_id=0

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:Q28600/2025-02-03/detailed

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Feb 2025 ==

The 701 has scored a respectable 81% on the Pip Dunn's train test, which you can read in the latest edition of the Rail Magazine, or in the separate feature article on the app
View attachment 173883

Build quality at 9 is a joke.

 

[43096]

The 701 has scored a respectable 81% on the Pip Dunn's train test, which you can read in the latest edition of the Rail Magazine, or in the separate feature article on the app
View attachment 173883

I take such train tests with a huge pinch of salt. Inevitably the journalist and magazine don’t want to damage the relationship with the TOC by giving the train a bad write-up. Essentially it is meaningless.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Of the two 701 Shepperton diagrams this morning, one is cancelled and one has been subbed with 2x 455s.

There does seem to be something particularly difficult with the diagrams starting at Strawberry Hill depot.

I rather despair for the rollout.

No Surbiton peakbuster either, so only three in service this morning

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Feb 2025 ==

Build quality can't be a 9, they've barely been in service and already have lots of rattles.

So does my car, which is about the same age (six years), but has probably done more miles.

 

[Bikeman78]

How does comfort and ride quality score 7? What's that based on?

The seats are rock hard and squashed in they're barely a 5/10. Ride quality is questionable especially over junctions etc it's very firm with no dampening Vs a Desiro or Electrostar. The 455s ride much better IMO

Build quality can't be a 9, they've barely been in service and already have lots of rattles.

From a passenger information perspective and if you ignore the narrow seats and jolty ride then they are a upgrade over the 455s

I have only been on one class 701. I don't recall it being bad. No different to most modern trains. Squeaks and rattles on new trains are disappointing. My car has done 60,000 miles and it doesn't rattle. Of course, rattles will be easier to hear on new trains with sealed windows. On BREL EMUs, I tend to sit over the motors which will drown out some noise from within the carriage.

 

[Nogoohwell]

One simple way to relieve crush loading so the guards can operate the trains is to run more services.
Oh hang on, forgot you need trained drivers and available rolling stock for this….

 

[Class450/4DES]

The Class 701's at Farnham appear to be corroding from a vent or something. Went past them today. I will check again when I go pass them next.

 

[Nogoohwell]

Wonder if the spending review will clarify a few things as 701 introduction needs capital spending on infrastructure, regardless of how they are operated.
Got to wonder if there is a reluctance at NR to make infrastructure changes as it was not long ago they spent a fortune preparing for 10 coach operation. Been a damn sight easier doing DOO prep at the same time

 

[OneTrackMinded]

I take such train tests with a huge pinch of salt. Inevitably the journalist and magazine don’t want to damage the relationship with the TOC by giving the train a bad write-up. Essentially it is meaningless.

The review wasn't without criticisms, such as the hard seats, window misalignment, lack of bins (?), many delays and SWR's failure to consult unions over the cab designs (which is compared to GA doing so)

 

[boiledbeans2]

So none of the ninety 701 units Alstom Derby built are serviceable, reliable or useable in any way. I would be asking for a full £1B refund at this point. The company doesn't deserve to survive this.

Well, Bombardier Transportation has disappeared. Probably in the same way Metro Cammell were building awful/unreliable products towards the end of its life.

 

[norbitonflyer]

No Surbiton peakbuster either, so only three in service this morning

They did eventually have five out, although not all at the same time

 

[Bikeman78]

Which stations that are planned to be served by class 701 have platforms shorter than 10 cars?

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Well, Bombardier Transportation has disappeared. Probably in the same way Metro Cammell were building awful/unreliable products towards the end of its life.

GA's 720's performing very well even the 345's are climbing up the reliability stakes.

 

[PyrahnaRanger]

It’s installing more/brighter lights, but also lights which don’t cause glare from certain angles, or otherwise interfere with the monitors. So quite a lot more complex than it first appears.

I can think of a few theatre lighting designers who would relish the chance - although it could get very expensive very quickly with at least one of them

 

[73128]

Which stations that are planned to be served by class 701 have platforms shorter than 10 cars?

at least Earley, Winnersh Traingle, Winnersh and Longcross, also some on Hounslow loop.

 

[800001]

So none of the ninety 701 units Alstom Derby built are serviceable, reliable or useable in any way. I would be asking for a full £1B refund at this point. The company doesn't deserve to survive this.

Apart from several of the units that are in traffic each week day and have done nearly every day in service since they started.

Also as has been
Mentioned multiple times one, bombardier/Alstom built the units to the spec requested by swr.
Majority of issues are caused by Swr not the train supplier.

 

[weeklycommuter]

Which stations that are planned to be served by class 701 have platforms shorter than 10 cars?

at least Earley, Winnersh Traingle, Winnersh and Longcross, also some on Hounslow loop.

Platform lengths are listed for Network Rail stations in Great Britain (Island Line stations are not listed) in the Network Rail timetable planning rules at the following link. Platforms at Hounslow, Isleworth and Syon Lane on the Hounslow Loop and Wraysbury, Sunnymeads and Dachet between Staines and Windsor and Eton Riverside also appear to be only about 8 cars long.

Operational Rules - Network Rail

The Engineering Access Statement (EAS) and the Timetable Planning Rules (TPR) are collectively referred to as the Operational Rules.

www.networkrail.co.uk

 

[gazr]

Had 701017 today and decided try standing for the journey... I'm quite tall and the acceleration/deceleration made it hard to stand upright without holding on to something- other new builds have the same issue (and don't get me started on electric buses!). Compared to the 455s, they are obviously a welcome improvement.