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

[Peter Mugridge]

No sign of it today yet.

The usual "first run" diagram 5U45 / 2U45 ( 15.33 Waterloo - Windsor ) hasn't got an allocation yet, might be worth keeping an eye on those...

 

[JulienD]

701001 - In Passenger Service (2 Mar 26)
701002 - Training duties
701003 - Stored at Derby Litchurch Lane
701004 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701005 - In Passenger Service (27 Aug 25)
701006 - In Passenger Service (6 Mar 26)
701007 - In Passenger Service (24 Feb 26)
701008 - In Passenger Service (31 Mar 26)
701009 - In Passenger Service (17 Oct 25)
701010 - In Passenger Service (22 Dec 25)
701011 - In Passenger Service (26 Feb 26)
701012 - In Passenger Service (21 Jul 25)
701013 - In Passenger Service (28 Jul 25)
701014 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701015 - Training duties
701016 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701017 - In Passenger Service (25 Nov 24)
701018 - In Passenger Service (6 Jul 25)
701019 - In Passenger Service (18 Apr 26)
701020 - In Passenger Service (8 Oct 25)
701021 - In Passenger Service (15 Sep 25)
701022 - In Passenger Service (9 Feb 26)
701023 - In Passenger Service (7 Apr 26)
701024 - Training duties
701025 - In Passenger Service (24 Jun 25)
701026 - In Passenger Service (3 Nov 25)
701027 - Stored at Eastleigh
701028 - Training duties
701029 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701030 - In Passenger Service (9 Dec 25)
701031 - In Passenger Service (28 Oct 24)
701032 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701033 - In Passenger Service (26 Nov 25)
701034 - In Passenger Service (18 Mar 25)
701035 - In Passenger Service (28 May 25)
701036 - In Passenger Service (7 Mar 25)
701037 - In Passenger Service (9 Jan 24)
701038 - In Passenger Service (5 Feb 26)
701039 - In Passenger Service (10 Jan 24)
701040 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701041 - In Passenger Service (17 Jun 25)
701042 - In Passenger Service (21 May 25)
701043 - In Passenger Service (16 Jan 24)
701044 - In Passenger Service (5 Feb 25)
701045 - In Passenger Service (10 Apr 26)
701046 - In Passenger Service (17 Mar 25)
701047 - In Passenger Service (31 Dec 25)
701048 - In Passenger Service (8 Nov 25j
701049 - In Passenger Service (20 Mar 26)
701050 - In Passenger Service (17 Nov 25)
701051 - In Passenger Service (14 Jul 25)
701052 - In Passenger Service (23 Dec 25)
701053 - In Passenger Service (26 Aug 25)
701054 - In Passenger Service (3 Jan 26)
701055 - In Passenger Service (6 May 26)
701056 - In Passenger Service (8 Sep 25)
701057 - In Passenger Service (13 Aug 25)
701058 - In Passenger Service (11 Aug 25)
701059 - In Passenger Service (5 Dec 25)
701060 - In Passenger Service (1 Nov 25)

In Passenger Service: 48/60
Training duties: 4/60 (028 briefly served passengers before training duties)
SWR preparing for passenger service: 6/60
Stored at Eastleigh: 1/60
Stored at Derby Litchurch Lane: 1/60


701501 - Stored at Derby Litchurch Lane
701502 - Stored at Derby Litchurch Lane
701503 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701504 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701505 - Stored at Derby Litchurch Lane
701506 - Stored at Bicester
701507 - Stored at Derby Litchurch Lane
701508 - Stored at Derby Litchurch Lane
701509 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701510 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701511 - Stored at Derby Litchurch Lane
701512 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701513 - Stored at Bicester
701514 - Stored at Derby Litchurch Lane
701515 - Stored at Bicester
701516 - Stored at Bicester
701517 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701518 - Stored at Bicester
701519 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701520 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701521 - Stored at Bicester
701522 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701523 - Stored at Bicester
701524 - Stored at Derby Litchurch Lane
701525 - Stored at Bicester
701526 - Stored at Bicester
701527 - Stored at Bicester
701528 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701529 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701530 - Stored at Bicester

In Passenger Service: 0/30
SWR preparing for passenger service: 11/30
Stored at Derby Litchurch Lane: 8/30
Stored at Bicester 11/30

The 701527 and 701521 are getting driven to Wimbledon Park Depot Sidings as I speak on the https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K65802/2026-05-14/detailed
5Q87 1030 Bicester Mod Gbrf to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs !

 

[bb21]

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

There are only four units on the book which are currently passed for training but not yet passed for passenger service and 028 has been a long-term training unit so the other three are all not too far away from introduction into service I would say.

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

Many thanks. How long until these four units are released from training duties and made available for service? I assume the conversion courses are nearly complete now and that would release a couple at least?

From memory I think the required work can be done in two days if unit is urgently required for service, but don't quote me on that. 024 has been a static training unit in addition to 028. I'm not a training buff so don't know that side of matters much. I thought most of the depots are trained now so can't have many people left.

 

[NSEWonderer]

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

Cet road testing at Feltham. 16 just left as 5Q22 from Waterloo P18

 

[dodger]

701006 went to Bournemouth TMD yesterday.

Dodger

 

[robert west]

The usual "first run" diagram 5U45 / 2U45 ( 15.33 Waterloo - Windsor ) hasn't got an allocation yet, might be worth keeping an eye on those...

rtt says 701030

 

[mansonlo49]

701006 went to Bournemouth TMD yesterday.

Dodger

some new special liveries to be applied??

 

[dodger]

some new special liveries to be applied??

Thank you.

 

[LambicHedgehog]

701032 allocated to 2D05 0610 London Waterloo to Guildford this morning, don't think it's been in service previously:

Realtime Trains | 2D05 0610 London Waterloo to Guildford | 15/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 2D05 0610 departure from London Waterloo to Guildford on 15/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Snow1964]

701032 allocated to 2D05 0610 London Waterloo to Guildford this morning, don't think it's been in service previously:

Realtime Trains | 2D05 0610 London Waterloo to Guildford | 15/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 2D05 0610 departure from London Waterloo to Guildford on 15/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Thank you, so that takes it to 49 units in service

With new timetable next week, how many diagrams are there, are they releasing more 450s for strengthening mainline workings.

Obviously still long way short of the diagramming planned when they were ordered 9 years ago which was nearer 67 daily diagrams

 

[swr444]

Thank you, so that takes it to 49 units in service

With new timetable next week, how many diagrams are there, are they releasing more 450s for strengthening mainline workings.

Obviously still long way short of the diagramming planned when they were ordered 9 years ago which was nearer 67 daily diagrams

You’ll find more 450s on the Weybridge next week

 

[Meglos]

701032 allocated to 2D05 0610 London Waterloo to Guildford this morning, don't think it's been in service previously:

Realtime Trains | 2D05 0610 London Waterloo to Guildford | 15/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 2D05 0610 departure from London Waterloo to Guildford on 15/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

And on it's 3rd ever service the 08:40 WAT-CSS (2D05) one of the toilets was already out of service!

 

[WWTownEnth]

Any news on new diagrams next week?

 

[swr444]

Any news on new diagrams next week?

There’s some readings going to 701 and some weybridges going 450. I don’t have time to go through and type them out sorry.

 

[WWTownEnth]

There’s some readings going to 701 and some weybridges going 450. I don’t have time to go through and type them out sorry.

Thanks. Seems like more focus on getting the 458/4s retired if Weybridge is getting 450s

 

[Siemens Staines]

Thanks. Seems like more focus on getting the 458/4s retired if Weybridge is getting 450s

From a cursory glance it looks like more inbound Reading trains then work to Weybridge, and conversely a lot of inbound Weybridge trains then work to Reading. Therefore many of the Windsor line diagrams are going to be quite different to now irrespective of traction type. I do not know for certain, but I presume this is as a consequence of the timetable change that results in Reading trains departing earlier so that they can call at Vauxhall.

 

[Phillipimo]

From a cursory glance it looks like more inbound Reading trains then work to Weybridge, and conversely a lot of inbound Weybridge trains then work to Reading. Therefore many of the Windsor line diagrams are going to be quite different to now irrespective of traction type. I do not know for certain, but I presume this is as a consequence of the timetable change that results in Reading trains departing earlier so that they can call at Vauxhall.

Yes it looks like the interworking evens out the turnaround times at Waterloo, otherwise Reading trains would only have 13 mins and Weybridge trains 25 mins. Now it's 21 mins for Weybridge forming Reading and 17 mins for Reading forming Weybridge.

 

[JCO1406]

Is there a rough number of how many 701 diagrams for next week? I think there are around 42/43 diagrams currently.

 

[TEW]

It's 45 701 diagrams next week.

 

[43096]

Yes it looks like the interworking evens out the turnaround times at Waterloo, otherwise Reading trains would only have 13 mins and Weybridge trains 25 mins. Now it's 21 mins for Weybridge forming Reading and 17 mins for Reading forming Weybridge.

That would explain it. Yet another slowdown on the Reading line.

 

[WWTownEnth]

It's 45 701 diagrams next week.

Still some way to go before we get to the promised “50 diagrams by summer”

 

[Bikeman78]

Yes it looks like the interworking evens out the turnaround times at Waterloo, otherwise Reading trains would only have 13 mins and Weybridge trains 25 mins. Now it's 21 mins for Weybridge forming Reading and 17 mins for Reading forming Weybridge.

Is 13 minutes not enough? I firmly believe that going back to seven self contained diagrams to Reading would improve performance. They seem to be going the wrong way.

 

[mansonlo49]

701032 allocated to 2D05 0610 London Waterloo to Guildford this morning, don't think it's been in service previously:

Realtime Trains | 2D05 0610 London Waterloo to Guildford | 15/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 2D05 0610 departure from London Waterloo to Guildford on 15/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Finally in service, just 040 left then the second half would be in service

 

[Ian Hardy]

Is 13 minutes not enough? I firmly believe that going back to seven self contained diagrams to Reading would improve performance. They seem to be going the wrong way.

If everything is running on time then yes, but before 07:30 the Weybridge to Waterloo services run 4 minutes in front of the Reading services from Virginia Water to Feltham Junction. The Weybridge services are usually 1 or 2 minutes late at Staines and then stop at Ashford which the Readings don't so they will eat into those 13 minutes. After 07:30 the Weybridge services sit at Virginia Water for 9 minutes and then invaribly follow a late Reading service but with a 25 layover at Waterloo the effects are not so much of a problem.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

.

 

[Robert Carroll]

Still some way to go before we get to the promised “50 diagrams by summer”

Perhaps not as the railway definition of summer is sometimes 31 August.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

Is 13 minutes not enough?

It should be. It was substantially less in BR/SWT days, but since then passenger numbers have soared combined with other reliability issues, so am guessing there is felt a need to add extra resilience in to the overall plan?

 

[43096]

It should be. It was substantially less in BR/SWT days, but since then passenger numbers have soared combined with other reliability issues, so am guessing there is felt a need to add extra resilience in to the overall plan?

The alternative would have been to leave the service pattern as it was and not slow the Reading service yet again.

 

[London Trains]

Is 13 minutes not enough? I firmly believe that going back to seven self contained diagrams to Reading would improve performance. They seem to be going the wrong way.

I do hope the timetable refresh next year can massively reduce the amount of interworking across different routes and try to make as many routes as possible self-contained, as the current situation is a bit of a mess and makes recovering from disruption extremely difficult.

 

[NSEWonderer]

There’s some readings going to 701 and some weybridges going 450. I don’t have time to go through and type them out sorry.

Yikes, 450s are inadequate for weybridges, surprised they didnt fling them on the Readings as they can actually keep cloae to time on those on average