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

[nctd2306]

701060 is making a trip well outside its usual ground today (under its own power at least)

And today there's a 5Q50 that's appeared on a VSTP Bournemouth to Wimbledon Depot ECS, could this be 060 returning with the new advert livery?

 

[444045]

According to RTT
5Q50 12+32 Bournemouth Depot to Wimbledon Park is U.701019. Didn’t know that it was at Bournemouth Depot.

 

[mansonlo49]

According to RTT
5Q50 12+32 Bournemouth Depot to Wimbledon Park is U.701019. Didn’t know that it was at Bournemouth Depot.

any Idea what’s it doing there?

 

[444045]

any Idea what’s it doing there?

No idea whatsoever I’m afraid.

 

[wickham]

any Idea what’s it doing there?

701019 has not been in service yet - has it possibly been at Bournemouth for preperation, to speed up the process ?

 

[nctd2306]

No idea whatsoever I’m afraid.

A second wrapped unit nobody knew about??

I also do find it odd how it's using a VSTP path, rather than one of the booked LTP Runs as Required paths, such as 5Y51, perhaps they want it in service for the evening peak!

 

[NSEWonderer]

Then it was stoned, so all this talk up thread about the on board CCTV won't help catch the cretins unfortunately will it?

Depends where they done it

 

[dodger]

701019 has not been in service yet - has it possibly been at Bournemouth for preperation, to speed up the process ?

701019 was spotted at Bournemouth on the 18 January so it has been there for some time. It also spent a long spell at Marchwood. So it may have required alot of to make it fit for service.

Dodger

 

[Stephen42]

701019 has not been in service yet - has it possibly been at Bournemouth for preperation, to speed up the process ?

701019 arrived at Wimbledon on November 14th and has been jumped by a lot of other units. Not sure how much experience Bournemouth would have with 701s though.

While speculation based on the headcode it could have gone on this December 18th move (& 19th from Eastleigh to Bournemouth). That close to Christmas it may have been as simple as to free up space in London. Several units had to be berthed in London depots while engineering works at Waterloo reduced berthing there. Charlwood house link for screenshot here, requires registration.

 

[NSEWonderer]

Realtime Trains | 5Q70 1442 Long Marston Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 09/03/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q70 1442 departure from Long Marston Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 09/03/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Last set of 701s from Long Marston should be running without the issues previously in moving the two 701/5s before.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Realtime Trains | 5Q70 1442 Long Marston Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 09/03/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q70 1442 departure from Long Marston Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 09/03/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Last set of 701s from Lonf Marston have been. Activated.

I have doubts it (5Q70) will run.

Auto activated exactly an hour before the expected departure. Last week the Thursday run that actually happened was (manually) activated something like six hours before. Today the inward light loco from Leicester did not run - but then it did not run last Thursday as the loco was still local from the previous day(s) attempt(s). However I could not find a likely movement instead of the usual 0V70 for feeding today but that might say more about my ability at searching than anything else.

Will know soon, unless it sets off late.
Nothing to say these last two 701/5s could be dragging their heels at least a bit, like 701045s three attempts last week !.

EDIT.
Now 8 15 minutes late, not even a loco allocated (I just realised).
I am going to do something else - that should make it run !.

 

[NSEWonderer]

I have doubts it (5Q70) will run.

Auto activated exactly an hour before the expected departure. Last week the Thursday run that actually happened was (manually) activated something like six hours before. Today the inward light loco from Leicester did not run - but then it did not run last Thursday as the loco was still local from the previous day(s) attempt(s). However I could not find a likely movement instead of the usual 0V70 for feeding today but that might say more about my ability at searching than anything else.

Will know soon, unless it sets off late.
Nothing to say these last two 701/5s could be dragging their heels at least a bit, like 701045s three attempts last week !.

EDIT.
Now 8 15 minutes late, not even a loco allocated (I just realised).
I am going to do something else - that should make it run !.

Yep cancelled

 

[Peter Sarf]

Yep cancelled

Looks like they did not even try to move them ?.

 

[NSEWonderer]

Looks like they did not even try to move them ?.

Yeah didn't move at all. The loco never arrived

 

[SeaKing]

Crikey that unit only entered service a few days ago!

Back in Service tonight.

 

[Merle Haggard]

snip

While we're on the toilets the sink water tap is in a ridiculous position at the front of the bowl, thus the floor gets quickly soaked in water (assuming it is water...). It's impossible to rinse your hands and not get water on the floor.

Sounds just the same as the design of the toilet tap in Class 730/0 and 730/2. Toilet floors on the 730/0s in my experience are usually wet.

I did point this out on the 730 introduction thread but got shot down! (don't know to provide a link)

 

[Goldfish62]

Sounds just the same as the design of the toilet tap in Class 730/0 and 730/2. Toilet floors on the 730/0s in my experience are usually wet.

I did point this out on the 730 introduction thread but got shot down! (don't know to provide a link)

Not sure why you'd get shot down for pointing out an obviously poor piece of design!

 

[Kite159]

Then it was stoned, so all this talk up thread about the on board CCTV won't help catch the cretins unfortunately will it?

Even if the low life cretins did it in the inside, they will likely be dressed up as wannabe Gangsters with face masks & hoodies so all the CCTV will catch is their eyes

 

[Stephen42]

Looks like they did not even try to move them ?.

Last week and before Christmas (for Marchwood) also had more paths than would be used. It's easier to put something in and use only the one that's logistically best.

Path is now up for Wednesday, including light loco as the early sign of whether running:

Realtime Trains | 0V70 0852 Leicester L.I.P. to Long Marston Gbrf | 11/03/2026

Real-time train running information for 0V70 0852 departure from Leicester L.I.P. to Long Marston Gbrf on 11/03/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q70 1442 Long Marston Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 11/03/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q70 1442 departure from Long Marston Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 11/03/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Peter Sarf]

Last week and before Christmas (for Marchwood) also had more paths than would be used. It's easier to put something in and use only the one that's logistically best.

Path is now up for Wednesday, including light loco as the early sign of whether running:

Realtime Trains | 0V70 0852 Leicester L.I.P. to Long Marston Gbrf | 11/03/2026

Real-time train running information for 0V70 0852 departure from Leicester L.I.P. to Long Marston Gbrf on 11/03/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q70 1442 Long Marston Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 11/03/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q70 1442 departure from Long Marston Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 11/03/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

I agree these STPs (Short Term Plans) are after all just pencilled in plans thus reserving network capacity for an aspiration.

The above has been generally true no doubt BUT in the case of last week the light loco left Leicester and arrived at Long Marston on both Monday (02/04/2026) and Wednesday (04/03/2026) but the resulting drag got cancelled. The loco then got left at Honeybourne (I think) on Wednesday night for a successful drag on Thursday (05/03/2026). So that very clearly seems to be an obstinate 701 or other unexpected problem. Arguably using up three times the resources normally needed for one drag !.

Also there were the problems a few weeks back with the damaged small bridge within Long Marston.

I think it was Monday last week the loco got as far as coupling up to 701045 but it took a third day to get it away !.

A question I have is it seems the internal shunters at Long Marston have an easier job of moving the 701s. Is that because they are not actually operating the brakes properly as would be required out on the main line ?.

I had a trip from Croydon via tram and Wimbledon to Kingston yesterday (Monday 09/03/2026) and it was noticeable how common 701s are now. I am not sure I saw many 458s. Also of course no sign of a 455 !. But it really shows how progress is being made.

 

[wickham]

A question I have is it seems the internal shunters at Long Marston have an easier job of moving the 701s. Is that because they are not actually operating the brakes properly as would be required out on the main line ?.

I have wondered about this too, the internal shunters I think are probably air braked, but they do not have compatible couplers for the stock, unless they are fitted up with emergency or converter couplers for each movement within the depot, depending upon unit type being moved as they are all different !! Even though they are air braked, this is for standard train air braking, so how do they get the air into a 701 or 350 or whatever - my suspecion is that they don't at all and move the units around loose. Unless anyone knows any different for certain ? There is obviously scope here for causing unintentional damage, but I am not saying they have done !

 

[norbitonflyer]

I had a trip from Croydon via tram and Wimbledon to Kingston yesterday (Monday 09/03/2026) and it was noticeable how common 701s are now. I am not sure I saw many 458s. Also of course no sign of a 455 !. But it really shows how progress is being made.

701s almost universal on the Main Suburban now. I don't think 458/4s have ever worked there and the remaining 458/5s are as rare as hens teeth. (I think only 530 and 533 are still in service, although 533 hasn't been out today)

 

[WWTownEnth]

701s almost universal on the Main Suburban now. I don't think 458/4s have ever worked there and the remaining 458/5s are as rare as hens teeth. (I think only 530 and 533 are still in service, although 533 hasn't been out today)

There are still 12 (approx) weekday 450 diagrams on the main suburban lines, however.

 

[norbitonflyer]

There are still 12 (approx) weekday 450 diagrams on the main suburban lines, however.

Indeed, although not on the self-contained Kingston loop or Shepperton services. The Hampton Court/Guildford/Woking/Chessington/Dorking services interwork in a more complx way.

 

[NSEWonderer]

2S16

I’ve had a look, and actually 5R90 (which is part of the morning diagram that consists of 5R90 Feltham Depot to Hounslow, 2R90 Hounslow to London Waterloo via Brentford, 2S09 06:22 London Waterloo to Weybridge via Hounslow, 2S18 08:02 Weybridge to London Waterloo via Hounslow and 5Y84 09:37 London Waterloo to Wimbledon Park Depot) was a 701 from 27th February to the 3rd March, and then again last Saturday 7th March. It was a 8-car 458/4 last Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (4th, 5th and 6th March). It is booked to be a 458/4, but it was being covered by a 701 because of the ongoing reliability and availability issues with the 458s, which as you mention is continuing today as well. 2S18 in particular is a very, very busy service from Hounslow onwards (in my experience working those services) so hopefully that diagram is earmarked to become a 701 permanently sooner rather than later. With an 8-car 458/4 many people are unable to board and are being left behind from Barnes or Putney onwards.

Looks like 2S18 is also a 701, unit 052 today

 

[mansonlo49]

Last week and before Christmas (for Marchwood) also had more paths than would be used. It's easier to put something in and use only the one that's logistically best.

Path is now up for Wednesday, including light loco as the early sign of whether running:

Realtime Trains | 0V70 0852 Leicester L.I.P. to Long Marston Gbrf | 11/03/2026

Real-time train running information for 0V70 0852 departure from Leicester L.I.P. to Long Marston Gbrf on 11/03/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q70 1442 Long Marston Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 11/03/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q70 1442 departure from Long Marston Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 11/03/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

still not yet activated 0V70⋯

 

[WWTownEnth]

The light loco has been activated so let’s see if it runs in an hour or so

 

[FrontSideBus]

I took one from Waterloo to Windsor the other day. Quite decent trains to be honest. Seats were not as bad as I was expecting and the lighting was nice. Only issue was the toilet at one end was unserviceable and I had to walk miles to the other one lol.

 

[LambicHedgehog]

0V70 is running, allocated as 57306

 

[wickham]

701s almost universal on the Main Suburban now. I don't think 458/4s have ever worked there and the remaining 458/5s are as rare as hens teeth. (I think only 530 and 533 are still in service, although 533 hasn't been out today)

Indeed: It is possible to stand at Clapham Junction now and view 3 or 4 701s in service at the same time (two passing each other on the main line and two in view on the Windsor side) that is without turning round and viewing the line up standing in the yard !