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

[mansonlo49]

Believe that the remaining 2 class 701045/049 are trapped the other side of a collapsed bridge at Long Marston courtesy of a class 37 which had a weight restriction according to another gen thread.

What happen actually? Bridge collapse? Courtesy?

 

[444045]

A Class 37 was starting to cross over the bridge when the bridge started collapsing because of its weight, that’s basically what happened.

 

[mansonlo49]

A Class 37 was starting to cross over the bridge when the bridge started collapsing because of its weight, that’s basically what happened.

thanks for explain

 

[Beemax]

A Class 37 was starting to cross over the bridge when the bridge started collapsing because of its weight, that’s basically what happened.

Slightly off-topic but intrigued to know what the driver would do in such a situation

a) keep going and hope for the best?
b) try and reverse if possible?
c) panic and jump off the train?

 

[swt_passenger]

A Class 37 was starting to cross over the bridge when the bridge started collapsing because of its weight, that’s basically what happened.

Is this the low brick arch bridge just at the start of the curve off the mainline? Will this be part of the NR infrastructure - I’m assuming 37s have been regular users of the branch so there’s no implication of the wrong loco being used?

 

[Peter Sarf]

Is this the low brick arch bridge just at the start of the curve off the mainline? Will this be part of the NR infrastructure - I’m assuming 37s have been regular users of the branch so there’s no implication of the wrong loco being used?

Seeing as other stuff (701/5s) has come out I am assuming it is a bridge leading to only some of the sidings - not anywhere too close to the NR entrance/route.

Slightly off-topic but intrigued to know what the driver would do in such a situation

a) keep going and hope for the best?
b) try and reverse if possible?
c) panic and jump off the train?

Because of the above I am assuming it is some little "bridge" over not much more than a ditch.
(I am basing this on a very poor memory of Long Marston from years ago).

Now my question is - how did those stranded 701/0s get in to the sidings in the first place ?.
Are these double ended sidings so accessible from their "other" end once enough stock is out of the way ?.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Now my question is - how did those stranded 701/0s get in to the sidings in the first place ?.
Are these double ended sidings so accessible from their "other" end once enough stock is out of the way ?.

They could have been shunted in there before the bridge deteriorated?

 

[Peter Sarf]

They could have been shunted in there before the bridge deteriorated?

Lets face it, it was probably a long time ago !.

 

[Covshire1]

701006 out on test today after moving from Wimbledon to Clapham Junction Yard yesterday. Allocated to work 5Q20, 5Q21, 5Q22.

 

[WWTownEnth]

701006 out on test today after moving from Wimbledon to Clapham Junction Yard yesterday. Allocated to work 5Q20, 5Q21, 5Q22

Which unit is likely to enter service next?

 

[Ian Hardy]

701504 is the unit on this test run today (19/02/2026): 5Q02 0928 Clapham Yard Sidings to London Waterloo https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L77990/2026-02-19/detailed although it is not shown on RTT as being allocated to it.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Feb 2026 ==

701006 out on test today after moving from Wimbledon to Clapham Junction Yard yesterday. Allocated to work 5Q20, 5Q21, 5Q22.

701008 was allocated to 5Q20 yesterday (18/02/2026) but it didn't run.

 

[wickham]

Seeing as other stuff (701/5s) has come out I am assuming it is a bridge leading to only some of the sidings - not anywhere too close to the NR entrance/route.

Because of the above I am assuming it is some little "bridge" over not much more than a ditch.
(I am basing this on a very poor memory of Long Marston from years ago).

Now my question is - how did those stranded 701/0s get in to the sidings in the first place ?.
Are these double ended sidings so accessible from their "other" end once enough stock is out of the way ?.

As far as I recall, all of these 701s were taken to Long Marston by GBRF power (ie: a combination of 47/7, 57 and possibly 69s) none were taken by 37s. Their axle weight will be slightly different I suspect so the stress on the "bridge" will have been different. Incidently, we are calling this a "bridge" but I suspect it is really a culvert. The loss of the two 701/0s trapped should not be too serious to SWR at the moment as they have plenty of units already here "in the pipeline" for entry into service. Those at Farnham and Eastleigh are presumably just stabled "out of the way", and must be contenders for entry to service before they start to worry about the two stuck at Long Marston.

 

[Peter Sarf]

As far as I recall, all of these 701s were taken to Long Marston by GBRF power (ie: a combination of 47/7, 57 and possibly 69s) none were taken by 37s. Their axle weight will be slightly different I suspect so the stress on the "bridge" will have been different. Incidently, we are calling this a "bridge" but I suspect it is really a culvert. The loss of the two 701/0s trapped should not be too serious to SWR at the moment as they have plenty of units already here "in the pipeline" for entry into service. Those at Farnham and Eastleigh are presumably just stabled "out of the way", and must be contenders for entry to service before they start to worry about the two stuck at Long Marston.

Thanks, makes sense it is a very minor (overlooked) piece of infrastructure.

Seems unlucky if a 37 broke this very small bridge when 47s and 57s got away with it earlier (maybe much earlier). Must have been on its last legs. I suspect the only hurry is SWR reducing storage charges - but I guess Long Marston will be understanding.

Since it was a 37 I presume it must have been in the process of retrieving other stock there ?.
If so then what else it trapped ?.

The 701s stored at Eastleigh seem to have been there for a long time. Feels like ages !. So I fear they are not in the commissioning process, but could become available if the other (thirteen ?) 701/0s won't commission.

 

[Bobcp]

Lets face it, it was probably a long time ago !.

I was present at Long Marston on February 4th, viewing from the road overbridge near to the entrance/exit to the site, when an attempt was made to move 701045 to Wimbledon.
Upon my arrival 701045 was located in the usual location, near to the entrance/exit for trains departing the site.
57306 arrived from Worcester and moved in front of the unit.
Following a lot of hi-viz activity the loco departed light engine from the site to Worcester around 3 hours later.
Therefore if 701045 is now trapped in any trapping must have taken place after the 4th. February.

 

[Stephen42]

As far as I recall, all of these 701s were taken to Long Marston by GBRF power (ie: a combination of 47/7, 57 and possibly 69s) none were taken by 37s. Their axle weight will be slightly different I suspect so the stress on the "bridge" will have been different. Incidently, we are calling this a "bridge" but I suspect it is really a culvert. The loss of the two 701/0s trapped should not be too serious to SWR at the moment as they have plenty of units already here "in the pipeline" for entry into service. Those at Farnham and Eastleigh are presumably just stabled "out of the way", and must be contenders for entry to service before they start to worry about the two stuck at Long Marston.

In terms of 701/0s, there's four January arrivals that haven't seen service yet. 007 or 006 might be close as ones doing the Clapham test runs recently. Plus another four which arrived in November or December that got jumped by other units. The units used for training courses presumably will mostly become available for commissioning when the conversion courses finish. This is without touching any at Eastleigh.

On the flip side for 701/5s could require a significant chunk of the fleet before they enter service. These are made up numbers, though hopefully plausible; if starting with 2 10-car diagrams that's 4 units, ideally would have 2 passenger service spares. Training might require another two pairs with a unit spare to rotate them round for maintenance. If the verification of the 701/5s with infrastructure/platforms isn't done for whole network upfront potentially would have another pair for that. In this example that would be 13 units for only 4 out in service. The quickest units from arrival at Wimbledon to passenger service has been 1.5 months and realistically would allow much more time as they won't all fly through perfectly.

I was present at Long Marston on February 4th, viewing from the road overbridge near to the entrance/exit to the site, when an attempt was made to move 701045 to Wimbledon.
Upon my arrival 701045 was located in the usual location, near to the entrance/exit for trains departing the site.
57306 arrived from Worcester and moved in front of the unit.
Following a lot of hi-viz activity the loco departed light engine from the site to Worcester around 3 hours later.
Therefore if 701045 is now trapped in any trapping must have taken place after the 4th. February.

Thanks for confirming. It would seem odd for both 045 and 049 to be trapped if 045 got to the gates two weeks ago. With the track changes for the test loop think most locos pick up/drop off just inside the gates with a resident shunter doing the rest within the site.

The 701s at Long Marston were mostly side by side in the sidings end of last year. From front to back 007 (8th Jan), 519, 006 (14th Jan), 045, 008 (21st Jan), 509 (16th Feb) those with dates are arrivals at Wimbledon. The video was side on and the 701/5s would likely have another 701/5 coupled behind out of shot. Maybe 045 got put back somewhere else near 049 though seems unlikely a class 37 would venture that close to those sidings in such a short time frame.

It sounds more likely that SWR simply preferred to have the 701/5s with the 701/0 pipeline being healthy and 701/5 activities ramping up. Delays in getting enough 701/5s would have larger knock on impacts than 701/0s where increase in diagrams can be pushed back a week or two.

 

[alfehc]

701504 seen today at Clapham Junction.

 

[mansonlo49]

Seems The move now occurs each Monday instead of the previous Wednesday

Realtime Trains | 5Q70 1413 Long Marston Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 23/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q70 1413 departure from Long Marston Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 23/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[WWTownEnth]

Hopefully they manage to get a ten car out next week

 

[40029 Saxonia]

Seems The move now occurs each Monday instead of the previous Wednesday

Realtime Trains | 5Q70 1413 Long Marston Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 23/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q70 1413 departure from Long Marston Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 23/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

With credit to the regularly updated list on post 1, I believe that the only 701s at Long Marston now are 701045, 701049, 701517, 701519 so potentially only three more stock transfer workings

 

[Peter Sarf]

With credit to the regularly updated list on post 1, I believe that the only 701s at Long Marston now are 701045, 701049, 701517, 701519 so potentially only three more stock transfer workings

I can confirm that is what I have worked out (probably no more reliable than the useful list in post 1).

Then Bicester and its 15 x 701/5s must be next I suspect.

Is it my imagination or is the path also a bit different - I swear the Clapham Junction time is 19:52 now instead of 19:51 ?.

 

[adc82140]

Is there enough depot space on the SWR network to stable these new units without sending off others? I was under the impression that the 458/4s would have to start being sent away before all the 701s could be accommodated

 

[WWTownEnth]

Is there enough depot space on the SWR network to stable these new units without sending off others? I was under the impression that the 458/4s would have to start being sent away before all the 701s could be accommodated

There are six more 455s about (within the next month) to be sent to the knacker’s yard so that should create some space at Wimbledon.

 

[mansonlo49]

I can confirm that is what I have worked out (probably no more reliable than the useful list in post 1).

Then Bicester and its 15 x 701/5s must be next I suspect.

Is it my imagination or is the path also a bit different - I swear the Clapham Junction time is 19:52 now instead of 19:51 ?.

According to the list on the first page, there’s some more 701/5 stored at Darby Litchurch Lane and Old Dalby, unsure when’ll be those move south

 

[Joel_1902]

701003/501/502/524 still at Derby.
Joel

 

[MasterPhillips]

701037 has failed at Putney working 2K47
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:P61932/2026-02-21/detailed

 

[SWT_USER]

A bit of a clown show everywhere on the Windsor side today with the points failure at Staines earlier too.

Not ideal with rugby at Twickenham and football at Brentford.

 

[Airfrance_A318]

701037 has failed at Putney working 2K47
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:P61932/2026-02-21/detailed

Looks like 039 is stuck behind on 2U54 as well so its next few services are cancelled

 

[norbitonflyer]

A bit of a clown show everywhere on the Windsor side today with the points failure at Staines earlier too.

Not ideal with rugby at Twickenham and football at Brentford.

Very much so this morning. Took over an hour to get from Kingston to Clapham Junction. Direct service halved as Shepperton trains diverted via Twickenham (something they never give out any publicity about), and then they cancelled the rounder we had intended to get (terminated at twickenahm, for no obvious reason as it was not going anywhere near Staines), so we were down to 1tph. Chose to go the long way round, only for my train to terminate at Twickenham - according to RTT because of a signal failure but the guard, who was clearly distressed, told me it was because she had been threatened by a passenger and was in no fit state to continue. And of course we were then stuck at Twickenham for a while because all the Reading trains were going via Chertsey and the Windsor trains were stranded the wrong side of Staines.

 

[Meglos]

Bad experience today.

701 041 - 2M36 13;04 Chessington South to Waterloo - Both toilet's out of order
701 046 - 1H39 14:42 Waterloo to Shepperton - Both toilet's out of order

 

[wickham]

Did anyone else notice that the pair of 701/5 that came back from Long Marson on 16.2.26 was in a different pairing to when the sets went ?
When they went the pairing was 701509+519 (sent 30.04.25) and 701512+517 (sent 19.05.25), but the pair that came back was 701509+517. Obviously they have done some shuffling for some reason, always assuming of course that the reports were correct !.