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

[Merle Haggard]

Will they not close automatically a short time after?

They do indeed automatically close afterwards although I'm not sure of the time, but it seems easy to have a means to short-cut this. Just seems a waste of (electrical) energy letting all that hot air escape.
The situation only applies at departing terminals or where the train is booked to wait path, as at Northampton. On a suburban service that the 701s generally operate the dwell time at stations is short anyway, so I accept that the situation is unusual.

 

[LambicHedgehog]

701027 appears to have just arrived at Wimbledon hauled by 57306. Source: mark 1 eyeball

 

[Goldfish62]

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.

Exactly. It's the thermostat settings. Nothing else. It's nothing to do with the doors staying open for 30s once opened. You can feel the air blowing from the aircon and it's simply not as chilled as you find on other trains.

 

[NSEWonderer]

701s are set to a similar temperature as SWR Desiros. Thats around 21c if i last remember.

 

[wickham]

701027 appears to have just arrived at Wimbledon hauled by 57306. Source: mark 1 eyeball

The locomotive has now gone light to Farnham 0Z52 for a another drag ? Nothing in the system yet however for a move out of Farnham.

 

[Snow1964]

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.

Aren't 701s fitted with ABDO (even if it is not in use). I wonder if adding this caused a programming glitch, and the doors are not interfacing with the a/c fans.

It's good practice to link the circuits so that when doors are opened, the air circulation fans cut out, to avoid conditioned air being inadvertently blown out the doors. They would then start up again when door is closed.

As it appears the design has no (or minimal) draft screens by the doors, it is doubly important not to circulate the air whilst doors are open.

 

[Goldfish62]

701s are set to a similar temperature as SWR Desiros. Thats around 21c if i last remember.

And I also find 460s noticeably warmer than other trains as well.

Do you know what temperature the 458s are set to? They are definitely the chilliest of SWR's trains - when the aircon is working!

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

Aren't 701s fitted with ABDO (even if it is not in use). I wonder if adding this caused a programming glitch, and the doors are not interfacing with the a/c fans.

It's good practice to link the circuits so that when doors are opened, the air circulation fans cut out, to avoid conditioned air being inadvertently blown out the doors. They would then start up again when door is closed.

As it appears the design has no (or minimal) draft screens by the doors, it is doubly important not to circulate the air whilst doors are open.

None of that accounts for why the 345s and 710s are colder and is over-interpreting the issue.

I think we've already established that it's simply the temperature setting on the thermostat.

 

[OneTrackMinded]

And I also find 460s noticeably warmer than other trains as well.

Are you sure you’re not living in the early 2010s? 460s haven’t been in service for years haha

 

[NSEWonderer]

And I also find 460s noticeably warmer than other trains as well.

Do you know what temperature the 458s are set to? They are definitely the chilliest of SWR's trains - when the aircon is working!

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


None of that accounts for why the 345s and 710s are colder and is over-interpreting the issue.

I think we've already established that it's simply the temperature setting on the thermostat.

458s would be set to near the same temperature but their thermostats often have a mind of their own and you'll often find artic cold carriage followed by a warm moist carriage on some units.

 

[LambicHedgehog]

The locomotive has now gone light to Farnham 0Z52 for a another drag ? Nothing in the system yet however for a move out of Farnham.

Looks like there's a move scheduled for Thursday now

Realtime Trains | 5Z52 1336 Farnham C.S.D. to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 28/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Z52 1336 departure from Farnham C.S.D. to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 28/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Peter Sarf]

Today I had a journey on 701010 around 14:00. I thought the train was on the cold side but not unpleasantly so. I could hear the air conditioning fans working hard. I then had a trip on a 377 about 14:30, a little warmer but OK, noticeable how hard the air conditioning fans were working on this train as well.

TBH I think the temperature of both trains was good with the 701 being slightly cooler.

 

[talldave]

Being tall I find I have to be selective about where to stand on a 701 to avoid getting my head blasted with cold air!!

 

[Snow1964]

Being tall I find I have to be selective about where to stand on a 701 to avoid getting my head blasted with cold air!!

Bit of cost cutting during construction, the ventilation ducts are not properly graduated, so that air distributes evenly along and across in the saloon.

However at least the 701s mean there is a/c finally rolled out across whole SWR network fleet (with exception of few intercity Saturday extras from North West to Dorset coast in mid 1980s, a/c on SWR area started in 1988 with 442s, so taken 38 years to fully roll out across whole fleet)

 

[markle]

deleted

 

[Goldfish62]

Bit of cost cutting during construction, the ventilation ducts are not properly graduated, so that air distributes evenly along and across in the saloon.

It's no different on the 450s, possible worse on those.

 

[Cowley]

I think we’re starting to stray from the topic of class 701 updates here. Or at least it will do if we start comparing aircon on various different trains.

It might be worth a new thread if someone wants to start one?

 

[WWTownEnth]

701001 - In Passenger Service (2 Mar 26)
701002 - In Passenger Service (18 May 26)
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 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701028 - Training duties
701029 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701030 - In Passenger Service (9 Dec 25)
701031 - In Passenger Service (28 Oct 24)
701032 - In Passenger Service (15 May 26)
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: 50/60
Training duties: 3/60 (028 briefly served passengers before training duties)
SWR preparing for passenger service: 6/60
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 - SWR preparing for passenger service
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 - SWR preparing for passenger service
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: 13/30
Stored at Derby Litchurch Lane: 8/30
Stored at Bicester 9/30

Just one 10 car left in storage now. Anyone know why 701003 has been at Derby so long?

 

[LambicHedgehog]

701001 - In Passenger Service (2 Mar 26)
701002 - In Passenger Service (18 May 26)
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 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701028 - Training duties
701029 - SWR preparing for passenger service
701030 - In Passenger Service (9 Dec 25)
701031 - In Passenger Service (28 Oct 24)
701032 - In Passenger Service (15 May 26)
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: 50/60
Training duties: 3/60 (028 briefly served passengers before training duties)
SWR preparing for passenger service: 6/60
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 - SWR preparing for passenger service
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 - SWR preparing for passenger service
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: 13/30
Stored at Derby Litchurch Lane: 8/30
Stored at Bicester 9/30

I think the date for 701036 in this list should be 7th March 2024 instead of 2025, one of the first units to enter service iirc

 

[Invincible]

Just one 10 car left in storage now. Anyone know why 701003 has been at Derby so long?

As a guess so hardware mods and software updates can be tested at the test track?. But will eventually enter service, and test replaced by a 5 unit, or simulator

 

[wickham]

I think the date for 701036 in this list should be 7th March 2024 instead of 2025, one of the first units to enter service iirc

Indeed - I confirm it was 07.03.2024 !

 

[Peter Sarf]

Just one 10 car left in storage now. Anyone know why 701003 has been at Derby so long?

My guess is 701003 could be a guinea pig for any modifications Derby want to perform on 10car 701s - like software updates.

BUT, with the stored 701/5s leaving Bicester mostly for Derby I suspect Derby will be moving on to 701/5s soon unless some 701/5s make it into service before the last 701(003)n does.

I typed this a lot earlier but the "post" button did not know I meant to press it !.

 

[WWTownEnth]

I think the date for 701036 in this list should be 7th March 2024 instead of 2025, one of the first units to enter service iirc

Many thanks. Now corrected.

 

[swr444]

The diagram that has 2S09 on it goes to 701 from next week

 

[Siemens Staines]

The diagram that has 2S09 on it goes to 701 from next week

Thank you for this information. That diagram is currently a pair of 458s which I guess will be reduced to 14 diagrams (7 pairs) as a consequence. Also, 2S09 is a diagram that drops out between the peaks, so I am guessing the evening half of this diagram is 2R45 as per the current LTP diagrams?

 

[swr444]

Thank you for this information. That diagram is currently a pair of 458s which I guess will be reduced to 14 diagrams (7 pairs) as a consequence. Also, 2S09 is a diagram that drops out between the peaks, so I am guessing the evening half of this diagram is 2R45 as per the current LTP diagrams?

Weirdly 2R45 is still 458/4. So there must be something else going on

 

[Siemens Staines]

Weirdly 2R45 is still 458/4. So there must be something else going on

Thank you for checking. I guess all will become clear in time.

 

[TEW]

Thank you for checking. I guess all will become clear in time.

After working 2S18, 0802 Weybridge to Waterloo rather than going to depot the 701 works 2S23, 0952 Waterloo to Weybridge, and sticks on that diagram for the rest of the day, which after the Weybridge is 3 round trips to Reading before the 2352 to Hounslow.

458/4 diagrams are down to 7 pairs as a result.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

Weirdly 2R45 is still 458/4. So there must be something else going on

Will likely be just a case of ensuring remaining 458 diagrams ALL rotate through Wimbledon Depot at each stage of their run down.

 

[Siemens Staines]

After working 2S18, 0802 Weybridge to Waterloo rather than going to depot the 701 works 2S23, 0952 Waterloo to Weybridge, and sticks on that diagram for the rest of the day, which after the Weybridge is 3 round trips to Reading before the 2352 to Hounslow.

458/4 diagrams are down to 7 pairs as a result.

Thank you, that all makes sense. It looks like the 458/4s on 2C20 work 2C23 and 2V13 drops out to Wimbledon which explains how 2R45 remains 458/4

 

[Peter Sarf]

A move from Farnham to Wimbledon has appeared for today making use of GBRFs light loco move to Farnham after bringing 701027 from Eastleigh.

Realtime Trains | 5Z52 1336 Farnham C.S.D. to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 28/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Z52 1336 departure from Farnham C.S.D. to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 28/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk