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

[norbitonflyer]

Nice to finally get a daytime Chessington South service. Up to now we've been stuck with the last service only, which is effectively a way of moving a train into Wimbledon Park Depot.

I hadn't actually realised any had got there yet. Diagram 6 started on 28th April, so if that diagram was worked in full, that would presumably have been the first working on that branch?

 

[bb21]

We must be near the point where 701 diagrams outnumber 455 diagrams....

Very close. From this morning it is 15 vs 33, but obviously the latter run in pairs. Next week with more of the former appearing that would flip the balance. Afternoons see more 455s running.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Aug 2025 ==

The favourite railway game of finding someone else to blame does not apply in this case. The buck stops with SWR.

Not everyone is out to find excuses. I will leave it at that.

 

[Stephen42]

Nice to finally get a daytime Chessington South service. Up to now we've been stuck with the last service only, which is effectively a way of moving a train into Wimbledon Park Depot.

That new diagram usually works a Hampton Court return journey (which is cancelled due to summer timetable) instead of Chessington South so possibly might change back in September.

I hadn't actually realised any had got there yet. Diagram 6 started on 28th April, so if that diagram was worked in full, that would presumably have been the first working on that branch?

Did Diagram 6 start before the timetable change? It was definitely in place since the timetable change (aside from 2O01), would have thought the first working on that branch would be the same as Hampton Court/Guildford as also visited by that diagram. Dorking was earlier as the 701 Surbiton starter switched to work Dorking then empty to depot with the alternative stock for the Surbiton starter taking over the rest of the diagram.

 

[Meglos]

That new diagram usually works a Hampton Court return journey (which is cancelled due to summer timetable) instead of Chessington South so possibly might change back in September.

Did Diagram 6 start before the timetable change? It was definitely in place since the timetable change (aside from 2O01), would have thought the first working on that branch would be the same as Hampton Court/Guildford as also visited by that diagram. Dorking was earlier as the 701 Surbiton starter switched to work Dorking then empty to depot with the alternative stock for the Surbiton starter taking over the rest of the diagram.

I stayed out late on the first day of the timetable change, and travelled on the 2M71 / 2M96 (albeit only Chessington North to Chessington South and return) . SWR were actually out taking photo's of the first 701 arrival at Chessington South. Can't honestly remember which unit it was, as I'd already travelled on it elsewhere.

 

[TEW]

That new diagram usually works a Hampton Court return journey (which is cancelled due to summer timetable) instead of Chessington South so possibly might change back in September.

It may well switch to the Hampton Court then but hopefully by that point they will be on more Chessington diagrams. The end of the diagram is also an alteration, but I don't believe that is related to the Summer timetable.

 

[mansonlo49]

May I ask please, is it covered previously when’ll the 701s operate on the mainline, to Guildford, or the Woking stopper, thanks

 

[swr444]

May I ask please, is it covered previously when’ll the 701s operate on the mainline, to Guildford, or the Woking stopper, thanks

Nothing has been mentioned yet

 

[norbitonflyer]

That new diagram usually works a Hampton Court return journey (which is cancelled due to summer timetable) instead of Chessington South so possibly might change back in September.

Did Diagram 6 start before the timetable change? It was definitely in place since the timetable change (aside from 2O01), would have thought the first working on that branch would be the same as Hampton Court/Guildford as also visited by that diagram. Dorking was earlier as the 701 Surbiton starter switched to work Dorking then empty to depot with the alternative stock for the Surbiton starter taking over the rest of the diagram.

I have Diagram 6 (that starts 2O01/1D05) running with a 701 from 28th April, but don't know if it ran the full diagram that day or indeed any day before the timetable change.
If the first to Chessington was on the day of the timetable change (actually the second as there was only a Shepperton and Windsor diagram on Sunday 18th May) the unit would have been 701034

 

[brad465]

Very close. From this morning it is 15 vs 33, but obviously the latter run in pairs. Next week with more of the former appearing that would flip the balance. Afternoons see more 455s running.

Nice to see a tipping point has/is being reached on the 701 rollout.

 

[Bessie]

701s better acceleration is really obvious on Reading services. On the 9:20 service from Waterloo last night and at most stations we had a much longer dwell time as service arrived early at each station.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I've just seen 701 002 testing at Waterloo; only the driver on board so unlikely to be crew training - is this unit likely to be in service soon, I wonder?

 

[GW43125]

I've just seen 701 002 testing at Waterloo; only the driver on board so unlikely to be crew training - is this unit likely to be in service soon, I wonder?

I hope so as if #14244 is to be believed, I make that 17 diagrams from 17 units...

 

[bb21]

I've just seen 701 002 testing at Waterloo; only the driver on board so unlikely to be crew training - is this unit likely to be in service soon, I wonder?

002 has just joined pre service inspection so not going to be in passenger service for a while yet.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Aug 2025 ==

I hope so as if #14244 is to be believed, I make that 17 diagrams from 17 units...

There are already seven others which are ahead in the process of getting approved for passengers service so it will likely be one of those if another one is passed out in the next few days.

 

[GW43125]

Hearing 701017 has got a bit toasty at Winnersh Triangle on 2C46...

 

[800001]

Hearing 701017 has got a bit toasty at Winnersh Triangle on 2C46...

Elaborate?

Service has moved ecs from there to somewhere and services now arriving/departing Reading on time.

 

[GW43125]

Elaborate?

Service has moved ecs from there to somewhere and services now arriving/departing Reading on time.

All I've heard is smoke from the train. Nothing more than that.

 

[davews]

Await more details..... I arrived back at Reading on the Elizabeth line at 1438 and saw 701017 about to leave. Went for lunch at the Spoons in town and when I came back found everything stopped with two stacked Gatwick trains and the 1609 I intended to catch cancelled. Not much in way of announcements at the station but found out from RTT what had happened. When I got to Wokingham it said trains delayed due to 'a fire on a train'. Delayed 30 minutes in the end though as you say everything now seems to be running on time.

 

[Goldfish62]

Await more details..... I arrived back at Reading on the Elizabeth line at 1438 and saw 701017 about to leave. Went for lunch at the Spoons in town and when I came back found everything stopped with two stacked Gatwick trains and the 1609 I intended to catch cancelled. Not much in way of announcements at the station but found out from RTT what had happened. When I got to Wokingham it said trains delayed due to 'a fire on a train'. Delayed 30 minutes in the end though as you say everything now seems to be running on time.

Yes, I caught the 1809 from Reading, 701012, and all was running fine.

I see on the 1950 from Waterloo, which should have been 017, 035 was substituted instead.

 

[MasterPhillips]

I believe the fire brigade were called, and the 3rd rail was switched off too. The latter caused 2C39 to be stuck at Early for 50 minutes.

 

[Bikeman78]

I believe the fire brigade were called, and the 3rd rail was switched off too. The latter caused 2C39 to be stuck at Early for 50 minutes.

It definitely wasn't early after that!

 

[Goldfish62]

It definitely wasn't early after that!

 

[Towers]

I believe the fire brigade were called, and the 3rd rail was switched off too. The latter caused 2C39 to be stuck at Early for 50 minutes.

Indeed, the third rail would have to be isolated if the fire service were in attendance, quite understandably they won’t go trackside otherwise.

 

[Class455]

Well you're in luck! The Reading 455 diagram this week is booked 8-450 next week.

Wonder if the SO 455 diagram will still be in operation tomorrow? It ran last week but the week before it was subbed for an 8 car 458

 

[Goldfish62]

Wonder if the SO 455 diagram will still be in operation tomorrow? It ran last week but the week before it was subbed for an 8 car 458

Not long to wait!

 

[nctd2306]

Not long to wait!

Given that it berths at Reading overnight off 2C81, it likely will still be a 455. Today, 455s 738 and 911 are on the diagram that should do 2C81, meaning they will start on 2C12 tomorrow.

 

[TEW]

Yes, the 455s are still out all day tomorrow to Reading.

 

[swr444]

Given that it berths at Reading overnight off 2C81, it likely will still be a 455. Today, 455s 738 and 911 are on the diagram that should do 2C81, meaning they will start on 2C12 tomorrow.

yup, still a 455 tomorrow. Just had a look at the diagrams

 

[bb21]

058 should be the next unit to enter service next week

 

[NSEWonderer]

Leaves 005, 021 and 057 out of the last grouping to roll a dice on which is next after 058(Ignoring the other recent additions to the pre service inspection / training units). Good stuff

 

[Bikeman78]

701017 is back in service today. They seem to be short of 701s though. 5860 did 0800 Shepperton to Waterloo then off to Wimbledon Park. 701039 did the 0850 Reading off 2J92 from Surbiton. It departed from platform 5 at Waterloo. Some rare crossing moves there!