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

[swr444]

It's an ill wind...........
Having just missed a rounder at Vauxhall and resigned myself to a 15 minute wait i was surprised to see the next train was a Shepperton (2h37) , running 18 minutes late - presumably due to the disruption earlier. Inevitably, as Shepps' don't call at Earlsfiled, we caught up the rounder ahead, and was 21 down at Kingston. I noticed it was then going to run non-stop from Kingston to Shepperton, but it didn't achieve much as RTT shows it reached Shepperton 25 minutes down, and the following train hot on its heels.

I can't remember the last time I found a working toilet on a 701 - both were out of action on this one.

The level crossing is also broken at Hampton (again) which is causing lots of issues on the shepperton branch

 

[Covshire1]

701032 on the move again. It worked todays 5Q52 1814 Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs to Clapham Yard Sidings.

 

[mansonlo49]

0V71 RTC to Bicester cancelled today, so drag of the 701 will not be operating

 

[Bobcp]

0V71 RTC to Bicester cancelled today, so drag of the 701 will not be operating

Not necessarily - 93004 went to Bicester on Monday 21st April and returned to Derby RTC last Friday 8th May.
Meanwhile a loco went to Bicester on Thursday 7th May and that days scheduled move to Derby Litchurch Lane was cancelled.
No other light engine moves show off of Bicester MOD so surely that loco is still present at Bicester ?

 

[St. Paddy]

Surely class 93s can’t couple to 701s without a barrier vehicle as they currently don’t have adapter couplers

 

[Bobcp]

Not necessarily - 93004 went to Bicester on Monday 21st April and returned to Derby RTC last Friday 8th May.
Meanwhile a loco went to Bicester on Thursday 7th May and that days scheduled move to Derby Litchurch Lane was cancelled.
No other light engine moves show off of Bicester MOD so surely that loco is still present at Bicester ?

37512 is the loco that went from Derby RTC on Thursday May 7th.

 

[GW43125]

Surely class 93s can’t couple to 701s without a barrier vehicle as they currently don’t have adapter couplers

93s are or can be fitted with the Dellner couplers for this exact purpose - there's a few photos doing the rounds of them set up as such.

 

[St. Paddy]

93s are or can be fitted with the Dellner couplers for this exact purpose - there's a few photos doing the rounds of them set up as such.

I remember reading they had been removed as they were causing a lot of problems. Perhaps they have been overcome. Not seen any photos or heard of them dragging anything without barriers but I may have missed it.

 

[GW43125]

I remember reading they had been removed as they were causing a lot of problems. Perhaps they have been overcome. Not seen any photos or heard of them dragging anything without barriers but I may have missed it.

Ah, I stand corrected! I'll drag myself over to the 93 thread as I've clearly missed something!

 

[WWTownEnth]

Are we likely to see additional diagrams added with the introduction of the new timetable next week?

 

[swr444]

Are we likely to see additional diagrams added with the introduction of the new timetable next week?

STPs are posted tomorrow, which will show properly if there will be any

 

[mansonlo49]

Realtime Trains | 5Q57 0947 Bicester Mod Gbrf to Derby Litchurch Lane | 13/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q57 0947 departure from Bicester Mod Gbrf to Derby Litchurch Lane on 13/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

There’s a 5Q57 on 13th May to derby litchurch lane

 

[JCO1406]

I wonder when the final train from Eastleigh will move over to Wimbledon

 

[WWTownEnth]

I wonder when the final train from Eastleigh will move over to Wimbledon

Probably as soon as the final pair of 458/5s have left and there is some space

 

[norbitonflyer]

Probably as soon as the final pair of 458/5s have left and there is some space

Thast happened over a month ago

 

[swr444]

Thast happened over a month ago

There are still two units at the park

 

[norbitonflyer]

There are still two units at the park

RAIL got the wrong end of the stick again - this week's issue says 530/533 were moved to Long Marston on March 12th, with 535 following on April 17th (picture of the latter, hauled by 93010, so presumably that at least happened) .

 

[OneTrackMinded]

There are still two units at the park

They’ve put some of 458/5 carriages in parks? I must’ve completely missed that because it was my understanding that Porterbrook hadn’t found anyone to sell them to.

If true though, it’s an interesting reuse of them.

 

[43096]

They’ve put some of 458/5 carriages in parks? I must’ve completely missed that because it was my understanding that Porterbrook hadn’t found anyone to sell them to.

If true though, it’s an interesting reuse of them.

You misunderstand. The "park" is Wimbledon Park depot.

 

[Peter Sarf]

There is now also a ROG 10:30 5Q87 Bicester to Wimbledon working for Thursday 14/05/2026.

Realtime Trains | 5Q87 1030 Bicester Mod Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 14/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q87 1030 departure from Bicester Mod Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 14/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Light Loco from DerbyRTC to supply the loco is 0V71

Realtime Trains | 0V71 0600 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Bicester Mod Gbrf | 14/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 0V71 0600 departure from Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Bicester Mod Gbrf on 14/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Also a Light Loco 10:14 0H71 to Wembley from Bicester via London (so mostly the same as the drag would be) - which is also where the loco goes to after dropping off at Wimbledon. It runs 16 minutes before the drag so I presume is a route to Wembley IF the actual 701/5 drag fails to run.

Realtime Trains | 0H71 1014 Bicester Mod Gbrf to Wembley Loco Sidings P,q,r | 14/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 0H71 1014 departure from Bicester Mod Gbrf to Wembley Loco Sidings P,q,r on 14/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[CR165022]

They’ve put some of 458/5 carriages in parks? I must’ve completely missed that because it was my understanding that Porterbrook hadn’t found anyone to sell them to.

If true though, it’s an interesting reuse of them.

Nope. They meant there's still two units at *Wimbledon* Park, the depot

 

[OneTrackMinded]

Nope. They meant there's still two units at *Wilmbledon* Park, the depot

Ohhh haha that makes more sense

 

[Bobcp]

There is now also a ROG 10:30 5Q87 Bicester to Wimbledon working for Thursday 14/05/2026.

Realtime Trains | 5Q87 1030 Bicester Mod Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 14/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q87 1030 departure from Bicester Mod Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 14/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Light Loco from DerbyRTC to supply the loco is 0V71

Realtime Trains | 0V71 0600 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Bicester Mod Gbrf | 14/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 0V71 0600 departure from Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Bicester Mod Gbrf on 14/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Also a Light Loco 10:14 0H71 to Wembley from Bicester via London (so mostly the same as the drag would be) - which is also where the loco goes to after dropping off at Wimbledon. It runs 16 minutes before the drag so I presume is a route to Wembley IF the actual 701/5 drag fails to run.

Realtime Trains | 0H71 1014 Bicester Mod Gbrf to Wembley Loco Sidings P,q,r | 14/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 0H71 1014 departure from Bicester Mod Gbrf to Wembley Loco Sidings P,q,r on 14/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

37512 is already at Bicester - arrived on Thursday 7th. May.

 

[Peter Sarf]

37512 is already at Bicester - arrived on Thursday 7th. May.

Thats true.

Istr last weeks drag from Bicester to DerbyLL got cancelled. Given the previous drag took three attempts I do not hold out much hope for a second attempt today. I also was surprised that it was instead to Wimbledon yesterday (Tuesday 12/05/2026) instead of DerbyLL - it did not run of course.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 May 2026 ==

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Realtime Trains | 5Q57 0947 Bicester Mod Gbrf to Derby Litchurch Lane | 13/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q57 0947 departure from Bicester Mod Gbrf to Derby Litchurch Lane on 13/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

There’s a 5Q57 on 13th May to derby litchurch lane

Todays (Wednesday 13/05/2026) run Bicester to DerbyLL looks likely to be cancelled. The auto activated incoming light loco from Derby was cancelled. The actual run is auto activated and now overdue (but delay is not rare for these moves). Bear in mid that, as @Bobcp says, 37512 has been at Bicester since Thursday 07/05/2026 so its not impossible.

My money is on the drag tomorrow (Thursday 14/05/2026) happening and to Wimbledon not DebyLL.

 

[bb21]

Whoever said 032 the other day. Keep it going. Expected in service this afternoon I expect.

 

[swr444]

Whoever said 032 the other day. Keep it going. Expected in service this afternoon I expect.

No allocation today, so maybe tomorrow?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 May 2026 ==

701015 was running on a 5Txx headcode today, wonder if it'll come out to play in passenger service soon

 

[WWTownEnth]

Whoever said 032 the other day. Keep it going. Expected in service this afternoon I expect.

No sign of it today yet.

 

[Peter Sarf]

DELIVERY in progress !
Bicester to Wimbledon today (Thursday 14/05/2026).
That is despite the supplying light engine not running so the resident since Thursday 07/05/2026 must be doing it.
Note slightly different timings to previous runs (less hanging around).

Realtime Trains | 5Q87 1030 Bicester Mod Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 14/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q87 1030 departure from Bicester Mod Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 14/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Presumably 37512 and a pair of 701/5s.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 May 2026 ==

UPDATE
From Urgent TOPS thread :-

37512 dragging 701521 and 701527

 

[swr444]

701014/15/16 all have been on test runs the past few days, must be close to entering service now

 

[Beemax]

There was a graffiti-drenched 701 being dragged eastward through Tilehurst, west of Reading , at about 11.30 this morning.