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

[Peter Sarf]

The London route avoids a run around at Oxford where things could possibly go wrong.
At Derby there is no run around as they simply reverse the train from the station into the Litchurch Lane Works.
It may be that the train is also reversed from the Bicester MOD site to the main line, just south of Bicester Village station, thereby avoiding all run arounds.
If you recall the drags from Long Marston, where there was a run around at Worcester, proved problematic with the train cancelled at Worcester on several ocassions.

Thanks for reminding me about happenings at Worcester - makes sense.

 

[Flange Squeal]

… the ASDO (Automatic Stopping and Door Operation) system would stop the train with the doors lining up perfectly with the markings on the platform.

ASDO is Automatic Selective Door Operation, which was the system fitted to Desiros and 458/5s by South West Trains to allow more doors to open at short platforms, replacing the previous manual SDO system which could only open individual units. So for example, a 12 car 450 could only open eight coaches at a ten car platform, but now they can open ten.

I think you are referring to ABDO, which stands for Assisted Braking & Door Operation and is the system fitted to 701s (but which has only been used so far on test workings).

 

[Gag Halfrunt]

Yes, I realised that I had remembered it wrongly. Thanks for the correction.

 

[73128]

Always wondered, what is with the Arterio branding? I've also seen it on the departure boards at Waterloo "This is an Arterio service". I've never seen it for any other train types

some southern eastern services (at Waterloo east and London Bridge) are type branded on the CIS.

 

[Goldfish62]

some southern eastern services (at Waterloo east and London Bridge) are type branded on the CIS.

I've seen "City Beam" and "Networker" referred to on screens throughout the metro area.

 

[Snow1964]

Always wondered, what is with the Arterio branding? I've also seen it on the departure boards at Waterloo "This is an Arterio service". I've never seen it for any other train types

It does exist for some other types of train, but is rather pointless for Waterloo suburban because it's not like there is any choice to use an alternative brand or train type, or pay a premium for something better with bigger seats and/or catering etc.

If the branding is supposed to suddenly make someone want to travel by train, who wasn't going to make the journey, it is questionable if it actually works. Reality is most of the stations served have little or no car parking, many have no toilets, sparse seating, some have no canopy to stop passengers waiting for the Arterio getting wet. Fairly good train serving many suburban stations that have no more facilities than a tram stop.

 

[norbitonflyer]

It does exist for some other types of train, but is rather pointless for Waterloo suburban because it's not like there is any choice to use an alternative brand or train type, or pay a premium for something better with bigger seats and/or catering etc.

It was useful when it was the difference between having toilets or not. Also knowing where to stand to avoid the mad dash to the rear carriage when the train is the wrong length.

 

[Andy1673]

Is there any news about 701s new diagram this week?

 

[TEW]

Remains at 45 diagrams this week. AFAIK it should remain at roughly one new diagram every week until 50 diagrams are reached, but that doesn't necessarily mean a new one each week. I think some diagrams go in as pairs after a week's break.

 

[Andy1673]

Remains at 45 diagrams this week. AFAIK it should remain at roughly one new diagram every week until 50 diagrams are reached, but that doesn't necessarily mean a new one each week. I think some diagrams go in as pairs after a week's break.

Thank you!

 

[NSEWonderer]

Realtime Trains | 5Q02 0928 Clapham Yard Sidings to London Waterloo | 26/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q02 0928 departure from Clapham Yard Sidings to London Waterloo on 26/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

701/5s doing the usual testing runs

 

[mansonlo49]

Realtime Trains | 5Q39 0818 Clapham Yard Sidings to Shepperton | 26/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q39 0818 departure from Clapham Yard Sidings to Shepperton on 26/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Found something else just now, is this also 701 thanks

 

[SWT_USER]

Currently on 701002, first time on a 701 in this type of heat. I am disappointed with the air con - would have expected much better from a "new" train.

 

[43096]

Currently on 701002, first time on a 701 in this type of heat. I am disappointed with the air con - would have expected much better from a "new" train.

I was rather disappointed with the aircon on a 701 over the weekend. In contrast the 458 I also travelled on was an absolute fridge. Lovely.

 

[nctd2306]

Currently on 701002, first time on a 701 in this type of heat. I am disappointed with the air con - would have expected much better from a "new" train.

701s have a climate control where the onboard temperature is set and the AC (or heating in the winter) will automatically crank up or down to maintain said temperature. You might at some point hear a hissing sound coming from above your head, which will hopefully be followed by an increase in cold air. I find the 701s have perfectly decent Aircon, but maybe that's because I've spent a few too many summer days commuting on 455s with no AC at all

 

[Electrostar387]

Currently on 701002, first time on a 701 in this type of heat. I am disappointed with the air con - would have expected much better from a "new" train.

It is curious how they don't feel as good as other Aventras such as 720s or 345s. Providing it's been well maintained, Electrostar aircon is excellent, so I too share a bit of disappointment that a newer model of train such as 701 is not equivalent. Makes me wonder if there's a setting that SWR Fleet/Alstom could adjust slightly to make it more effective.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 May 2026 ==

but maybe that's because I've spent a few too many summer days commuting on 455s with no AC at all

Quite! Compared to the hell on wheels of a 455 in the heat, a 701 is in a different league, but still not as good, in my opinion, as equivelent other models as per my above comment.

 

[markle]

deleted

 

[swr444]

I do find that there are hotter / colder zones on the trains, but haven't yet figured out a consistent logic as to where specifically on the train has better AC.

There's also sometimes a noticeable effect of an air conditioned breeze flowing down the train as it accelerates away from a stop.

The best place for me is where the pantograph well is, you can feel the air blowing on you by the doors there

 

[Goldfish62]

Currently on 701002, first time on a 701 in this type of heat. I am disappointed with the air con - would have expected much better from a "new" train.

I assume it's simply the temperature they're set at. I agree that the summer setting needs dialling down a bit.

The one I went on yesterday was pumping out conditioned air efficiently enough, it was just coolish rather chilled.

 

[Peter Sarf]

I assume it's simply the temperature they're set at. I agree that the summer setting needs dialling down a bit.

The one I went on yesterday was pumping out conditioned air efficiently enough, it was just coolish rather chilled.

I will assume the hotter the air is outside then the less cool the air inside will be. The drop in temperature might still be significant but I wonder how much energy should be spent making the inside as cool as people really like.

Also out and about I encounter some people complaining about the heat when it is actually the humidity that is making them suffer. You can have a fairly reasonable temperature but feel very sticky and lethargic because your sweat is not evaporating !.

Being in 3rd rail land I can guess the 701s are not able to demand so much hotel power so comparing the 701s to most other Aventras might be unrealistic. Also the more the doors open (think metro) the more cooled air is being replaced by hot moist air.

We are going through a record breaking heat wave after all. Yesterdays temperature was only exceeded by seven other yearly maximums since 1950 and its not even summer yet !.

 

[Snow1964]

We are going through a record breaking heat wave after all. Yesterdays temperature was only exceeded by seven other yearly maximums since 1950 and its not even summer yet !.

Historically for recent centuries yes, although some tree ring data shows it was hotter during part of the Roman period 1900 years ago.

But for a train that is expected to operate through to 2060s, would have thought its climate system would have been designed to allow for increasingly warmer days

 

[Goldfish62]

I will assume the hotter the air is outside then the less cool the air inside will be. The drop in temperature might still be significant but I wonder how much energy should be spent making the inside as cool as people really like.

No, the temperature setting is a fixed temperature - it's not based on the difference between inside and outside, and works perfectly well on other units.

Being in 3rd rail land I can guess the 701s are not able to demand so much hotel power so comparing the 701s to most other Aventras might be unrealistic. Also the more the doors open (think metro) the more cooled air is being replaced by hot moist air.

Yet 458s and 377s seem to manage OK.

We are going through a record breaking heat wave after all. Yesterdays temperature was only exceeded by seven other yearly maximums since 1950 and its not even summer yet !.

It almost reached 40c one day a few summers ago. I had to use trains that day and it was like sitting in a fridge. Bliss.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Historically for recent centuries yes, although some tree ring data shows it was hotter during part of the Roman period 1900 years ago.

But for a train that is expected to operate through to 2060s, would have thought its climate system would have been designed to allow for increasingly warmer days

A case of reluctance to spend money on eventualities very few want to face up to ?.

I wonder if the train is reasonably OK but the third rail power supplies are not up to it ?.

 

[FRSZMZ56]

Yet 458s and 377s seem to manage OK.

I do wonder if the lack of vestibule partitions (or glass draft screens) on the 701s is a major factor.
Other stock like the 377s, 450s, and 458s have much narrower doorway areas flanked by glass panels, which effectively insulate the passenger saloon from the outside air when stopped. The 701s have a completely wide-open vestibule design to help with passenger flow, but the downside is that there's no thermal barrier.
Every time the doors open, the humid outside air can rush straight down the carriage completely unobstructed, completely disrupting the microclimate the AC is trying to maintain.

 

[Peter Sarf]

I do wonder if the lack of vestibule partitions (or glass draft screens) on the 701s is a major factor.
Other stock like the 377s, 450s, and 458s have much narrower doorway areas flanked by glass panels, which effectively insulate the passenger saloon from the outside air when stopped. The 701s have a completely wide-open vestibule design to help with passenger flow, but the downside is that there's no thermal barrier.
Every time the doors open, the humid outside air can rush straight down the carriage completely unobstructed, completely disrupting the microclimate the AC is trying to maintain.

Yes, that is true. The air exchange between outside and inside will be much more with fewer baffles in the way. What aids passenger flow will also aid airflow.

Also the more frequently the doors open then the more frequently the air has a chance to change. So a metro service will always be worse. The 458s have been working the same services though.

 

[OneTrackMinded]

I do wonder if the lack of vestibule partitions (or glass draft screens) on the 701s is a major factor.
Other stock like the 377s, 450s, and 458s have much narrower doorway areas flanked by glass panels, which effectively insulate the passenger saloon from the outside air when stopped. The 701s have a completely wide-open vestibule design to help with passenger flow, but the downside is that there's no thermal barrier.
Every time the doors open, the humid outside air can rush straight down the carriage completely unobstructed, completely disrupting the microclimate the AC is trying to maintain.

710s and 345s have really good AC and they use the same MELCO HVAC units. It’s just the thermostat setting that has been chosen on the 701s that causes the issue. Whether or not it will be changed in an upcoming software update depends on whether or not any of the project managers ride the train during the summer, and also if they agree with the assessment that it’s not cold enough.

 

[Electrostar387]

I do wonder if the lack of vestibule partitions (or glass draft screens) on the 701s is a major factor.
Other stock like the 377s, 450s, and 458s have much narrower doorway areas flanked by glass panels, which effectively insulate the passenger saloon from the outside air when stopped. The 701s have a completely wide-open vestibule design to help with passenger flow, but the downside is that there's no thermal barrier.
Every time the doors open, the humid outside air can rush straight down the carriage completely unobstructed, completely disrupting the microclimate the AC is trying to maintain.

Although this is true, 700s manage this issue relatively well - even in central London where every door opens automatically at stations like London Bridge or Blackfriars.

 

[Merle Haggard]

I am in the habit of pressing the 'door close' button on 350s after boarding on cold days - obviously checking to make sure there's no-one else trying to hard - particularly in the long layovers at Northampton. In the days of slam door regularly travellers would habitually close the door behind them,.
But the latest stock - 730/2s - doesn't have this facility. Presumably same with 701s
Seems dreadful that so much heated air is wasted with doors remaining open.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

But the latest stock - 730/2s - doesn't have this facility.

Will they not close automatically a short time after?

 

[Peter Sarf]

I am in the habit of pressing the 'door close' button on 350s after boarding on cold days - obviously checking to make sure there's no-one else trying to hard - particularly in the long layovers at Northampton. In the days of slam door regularly travellers would habitually close the door behind them,.
But the latest stock - 730/2s - doesn't have this facility. Presumably same with 701s
Seems dreadful that so much heated air is wasted with doors remaining open.

I agree. And of course the same energy waste occurs in summer as in winter if the air conditioning is trying to make the air cooler than the air outside.