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

[mansonlo49]

Almost definitely 5Q57 tomorrow. I have noticed a path appearing two days in a row on previous occasions. Even though todays 5Q57 appeared on systems later than tomorrows did. I suspect the assumption is made that getting the 701/5s and locos to work together properly is fraught and so an optimistic/normal path is put in and a back up path the following day. The second days path of course ties up resources (crew and loco) as I assume if all went as well as possible the same crew would be doing Bicester to Wimbledon as brought the locos from Derby earlier the same day.

Interesting that we might see a 93 on a new unit drag to Wimbledon.
(uninteresting that it has been around London already).

I noticed there is also a light loco that ran from Eastleigh to Bicester today BUT I think that might be for other MOD traffic.

That Eastleigh to Bicester Mod? Think it’s GBRF and seems SWR move to ROG from now on

 

[Peter Sarf]

That Eastleigh to Bicester Mod? Think it’s GBRF and seems SWR move to ROG from now on

It went light engine Eastleigh to Bicester and then light engine returrn - must be training.
EDIT/correction
Went loaded to Kineton next, don't know where I got the Eastleigh working from.

 

[Lewis66655]

2S15 had a GSM-R failure at Waterloo. I was just on it, driver reset the power and locked all the doors in the process!

 

[markle]

deleted

 

[Bobcp]

It went light engine Eastleigh to Bicester and then light engine returrn - must be training.

RTT on 29/04/26 shows the following :-
0Z46 - Eastleigh East Yard - Bicester MOD GBRf as being 66742
6M16 - Bicester MOD GBRf - Kineton MOD as being hauled by 66742

 

[Fincra5]

2S15 had a GSM-R failure at Waterloo. I was just on it, driver reset the power and locked all the doors in the process!

Standard if you do a full reboot..

 

[43096]

701011 had a distinct whiff of “Voyager bog” syndrome earlier.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Introduction seems to have slowed down again. Managing every three working days earlier this month (008,023,045 on 31st March, 7, 10 April (allowing for the four day Easter Bank Holiday weekend) but now nothing since 701019 on April 18th, nearly two weeks ago

 

[Snow1964]

With the 701s having toilets to be tanked now, versus the 455/6s and 707s that didn't, has capacity been made available (extra water bowser) at Waterloo to enable this? I guess most inner suburban terminal stations for the 701s don't have tanking facilities either. Short turnround times also mean that there is little time available to fill the water up I guess. So it remains for the sidings and depots to do this at night? Maybe they are the issues at play here?

So what happened in the days of HAPs and VEPs on services to Reading, Ascot, Windsor etc, or the SAPs on the Windsor lines suburban. Must have filled toilet tanks somewhere.

Is it a case of filling equipment has physically been removed, or that staff just got out of habit of remembering where it is and using it.

 

[Peter Sarf]

RTT on 29/04/26 shows the following :-
0Z46 - Eastleigh East Yard - Bicester MOD GBRf as being 66742
6M16 - Bicester MOD GBRf - Kineton MOD as being hauled by 66742

Apologies - Correct !.
I do not know where I got the light engine Bicester to Eastleigh from. I cannot believe I mis-read the destination as its not even light engine !.

 

[wickham]

So what happened in the days of HAPs and VEPs on services to Reading, Ascot, Windsor etc, or the SAPs on the Windsor lines suburban. Must have filled toilet tanks somewhere.

Is it a case of filling equipment has physically been removed, or that staff just got out of habit of remembering where it is and using it.

I might be wrong, but I think all the tanking on loacal area services was done at Waterloo when trains were in service, at night time of course when trains were stabled it would have been different. It is not really a case of "staff getting out of the habit", it is a case of no staff to actually do it - trains don't tank themselves, but there is a thought for the future maybe, automatic tanking and toliet discharge ??

 

[norbitonflyer]

I might be wrong, but I think all the tanking on loacal area services was done at Waterloo when trains were in service,

And of course discharge took place anywhere and everywhere, with no staff involved (unless anyone working on the line was unfortunate enough to be on the receiving end)

 

[Bobcp]

There’s another 5Q57 tomorrow from Bicester to Derby, let’s see would this be operating then

Today's 5Q57 showing as cancelled.
Replaced with 0Q57 Light Engine move to Derby RTC, Activated at 12.14.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Apr 2026 ==

Today's 5Q57 showing as cancelled.
Replaced with 0Q57 Light Engine move to Derby RTC, Activated at 12.14.

0Q57 reported elsewhere as being 37884 + 93001

 

[DelW]

So what happened in the days of HAPs and VEPs on services to Reading, Ascot, Windsor etc, or the SAPs on the Windsor lines suburban. Must have filled toilet tanks somewhere.

Is it a case of filling equipment has physically been removed, or that staff just got out of habit of remembering where it is and using it.

One difference is that those toilets had manual locks and direct emptying, so were still usable (if probably unpleasant) if/when the water ran out. I can remember using toilets on mk1s and finding no water available to flush or wash with.

 

[NSEWonderer]

Also the additional case of the train being more accessible from end to end meaning the toilets get a bit more use than older non open gangway setups.

Some 701s also have the occurrence where a passenger hasn't let the door fully open or close or manually attempted to maneuver it which caused the toilet to lock out in error. If you see a toilet with a slightly ajar door, just pulling it closed will reset the toilet into use again.

 

[nctd2306]

2S15 had a GSM-R failure at Waterloo. I was just on it, driver reset the power and locked all the doors in the process!

The same unit (701038) has just left Virginia Water 17 minutes late, despite arriving on time. I wonder if the same issue struck again...?

Edit: it's sat down again at Ascot, I think it's fair to say 038 isn't having a good day

 

[Siemens Staines]

Due to various problems, a pair of 450s are now allocated to a Kingston loop diagram later this evening. I may be wrong, but I don't think that has happened on weekdays for a few months?

Realtime Trains | 2K55 1857 London Waterloo to London Waterloo | 30/04/2026

Real-time train running information for 2K55 1857 departure from London Waterloo to London Waterloo on 30/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[davews]

The same unit (701038) has just left Virginia Water 17 minutes late, despite arriving on time. I wonder if the same issue struck again...?

Edit: it's sat down again at Ascot, I think it's fair to say 038 isn't having a good day

But it completed the return journey to Waterloo 2C54 with no issues.

 

[Andy1673]

Is there any news about next week new diagram?

 

[norbitonflyer]

Is there any news about next week new diagram?

Or when the next unit will enter service? Its been two weeks now.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Or when the next unit will enter service? Its been two weeks now.

No new 701s seem to be arriving on SWR recently either ?.
(although that might rely on a 458/5 or two leaving for Long Marston).

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 May 2026 ==

Moves in for a (pair of) 701/5 to go to Derby from Bicester next Wednesday 06/05/2026 and Thursday 07/06/2026.

Wednesday

Realtime Trains | 5Q57 1147 Bicester Mod Gbrf to Derby Litchurch Lane | 06/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q57 1147 departure from Bicester Mod Gbrf to Derby Litchurch Lane on 06/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Light loco from Derby for the above.

Realtime Trains | 0V71 0529 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Bicester Mod Gbrf | 06/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 0V71 0529 departure from Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Bicester Mod Gbrf on 06/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Thursday

Realtime Trains | 5Q57 1147 Bicester Mod Gbrf to Derby Litchurch Lane | 07/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q57 1147 departure from Bicester Mod Gbrf to Derby Litchurch Lane on 07/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 0V71 0529 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Bicester Mod Gbrf | 07/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 0V71 0529 departure from Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Bicester Mod Gbrf on 07/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Stephen42]

No new 701s seem to be arriving on SWR recently either ?.
(although that might rely on a 458/5 or two leaving for Long Marston).

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 May 2026 ==

Moves in for a (pair of) 701/5 to go to Derby from Bicester next Wednesday 06/05/2026 and Thursday 07/06/2026.

Wednesday

Realtime Trains | 5Q57 1147 Bicester Mod Gbrf to Derby Litchurch Lane | 06/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q57 1147 departure from Bicester Mod Gbrf to Derby Litchurch Lane on 06/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Light loco from Derby for the above.

Realtime Trains | 0V71 0529 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Bicester Mod Gbrf | 06/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 0V71 0529 departure from Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Bicester Mod Gbrf on 06/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Thursday

Realtime Trains | 5Q57 1147 Bicester Mod Gbrf to Derby Litchurch Lane | 07/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q57 1147 departure from Bicester Mod Gbrf to Derby Litchurch Lane on 07/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 0V71 0529 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Bicester Mod Gbrf | 07/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 0V71 0529 departure from Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Bicester Mod Gbrf on 07/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

The most recent arrival from Eastleigh was a week and a half ago. Two week gaps have been fairly common of late. The SWR operated moves from Eastleigh aren't normally published the week before so the final move could still be this week.

ROG often put in more paths than they will use for additional flexibility. I wouldn't be surprised if only one is planned to run this week.

 

[Peter Sarf]

The most recent arrival from Eastleigh was a week and a half ago. Two week gaps have been fairly common of late. The SWR operated moves from Eastleigh aren't normally published the week before so the final move could still be this week.

ROG often put in more paths than they will use for additional flexibility. I wouldn't be surprised if only one is planned to run this week.

Yes, I agree. And of course Bicester to Derby must be overdue from last weeks attempts.

 

[Juniper Driver]

Standard if you do a full reboot..

Isn't there an MCB, there was on 707s?

 

[Fincra5]

Isn't there an MCB, there was on 707s?

Depends on what you need to reset and the Fleet instruction.

 

[WWTownEnth]

So there is no new diagram today?

 

[swr444]

So there is no new diagram today?

It’s a BH Monday so no. There’s nothing from tomorrow either as far as I’m aware.

 

[wickham]

701055 was run 5Q53 Clapham Yard to Wimbledon Park thisevening (05/05) - an encouraging sign ??

 

[Peter Sarf]

701/5(s) move from Bicester to DerbyLL has left one hour early. So it looks like it is running at last !.

Looks like it must be dragged by 37512 as that worked the light engine from Derby RTC.

Realtime Trains | 5Q57 1147 Bicester Mod Gbrf to Derby Litchurch Lane | 06/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q57 1147 departure from Bicester Mod Gbrf to Derby Litchurch Lane on 06/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[wickham]

701/5(s) move from Bicester to DerbyLL has left one hour early. So it looks like it is running at last !.

Looks like it must be dragged by 37512 as that worked the light engine from Derby RTC.

Realtime Trains | 5Q57 1147 Bicester Mod Gbrf to Derby Litchurch Lane | 06/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q57 1147 departure from Bicester Mod Gbrf to Derby Litchurch Lane on 06/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Can anyone confirm that this is 701515/516 as planned last week or a different pair ?