Class 707 - SWT: Introduction into service

[fairysdad]

Still correct this week as far as I am aware. The 0558 Guildford-Waterloo was definitely a pair of 707s today, as the return working to Woking was reported as breaking down at Wimbledon causing chaos.

Hmm, I might "accidentally" oversleep at one point this week then!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Still correct this week as far as I am aware. The 0558 Guildford-Waterloo was definitely a pair of 707s today, as the return working to Woking was reported as breaking down at Wimbledon causing chaos.

Did they swap the sets afterwards? All three diagrams were pairs of 707s this afternoon at Waterloo:

15.58 off Waterloo was 707 006 + 707 009
16.15 off Waterloo was 707 011 + 707 012
16.37 off Waterloo was 707 003 + 707 008

The 16.37 is part of the same diagram that starts with the 05.58 from Guildford - I note it spends most of the day at Wimbledon anyway, which has a huge surplus of 707 pairs hanging around at the moment!

 

[TEW]

I'm not sure what the units were that failed earlier, but with 10 units for 6 diagrams at the moment it shouldn't be too much of an issue to find replacements.

 

[SWT_USER]

I'm not sure what the units were that failed earlier, but with 10 units for 6 diagrams at the moment it shouldn't be too much of an issue to find replacements.

It was an issue this morning. 7.21 from Windsor cancelled due to a train fault.

 

[EAD]

I went a bit out of my way to get 2U57, the 1828 Waterloo to Windsor as far as Putney. Was 2x707 as planned - afraid I did not get the numbers. First time on a 707 (but have been on plenty of their Thameslink stablemates). Sat over a bogie and ride was good though a little firm in places, mind you the track-work out of Waterloo is not exactly going to win any international awards so that means it was pretty good. I did notice the screens were not working - they just displayed a standard please do not put feet on the seats message.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I find it amusing how so many people prefer the 707 to the 700 when pretty much the only difference is that the 707 is shorter!

 

[EAD]

I find it amusing how so many people prefer the 707 to the 700 when pretty much the only difference is that the 707 is shorter!

Do they? I have not looked back over the whole thread to see if that is the consensus.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Well, you hear a lot of hate about the 700s, yet people seem to like the 707s.

 

[Suraggu]

Well, you hear a lot of hate about the 700s, yet people seem to like the 707s.

They are absolutely horrid. Miles per casualty is in the gutter.

 

[absolutelymilk]

Well, you hear a lot of hate about the 700s, yet people seem to like the 707s.

I think that is partly because of the routes they are used on, as the maximum journey on a 707 is an hour, compared to 2 hours on a 700.

 

[Goldfish62]

Well, you hear a lot of hate about the 700s, yet people seem to like the 707s.

I could be mischievous and say it's because the latter were ordered by the hallowed SWT, but I won't.

Having travelled on both I've found, unsurprisingly, that they're basically exactly the same.

What I have noticed is that the ride is rougher than a 450, more akin to a 458, particularly over pointwork.

 

[spark001uk]

If the 707 seat cushions (and power sockets), and WiFi were transferred to the 700s, they'd be perfect.

 

[Goldfish62]

If the 707 seat cushions (and power sockets), and WiFi were transferred to the 700s, they'd be perfect.

The 700s are having WiFi fitted, plus fold down tables.

 

[43096]

If the 707 seat cushions (and power sockets), and WiFi were transferred to the 700s, they'd be perfect.

707 seat cushions are nearly as bad as the 700s. Certainly a long way short of being even remotely adequate. Absolutely no cushion at all - might as well but hard wooden or metal seats in.

 

[spark001uk]

707 seat cushions are nearly as bad as the 700s. Certainly a long way short of being even remotely adequate. Absolutely no cushion at all - might as well but hard wooden or metal seats in.

Kinda what I meant really; the lesser of two evils and probably as good as it'd get.

 

[Bungle965]

I find it amusing how so many people prefer the 707 to the 700 when pretty much the only difference is that the 707 is shorter!

They are less powerful also.
Sam

 

[Suraggu]

707 seat cushions are nearly as bad as the 700s. Certainly a long way short of being even remotely adequate. Absolutely no cushion at all - might as well but hard wooden or metal seats in.

Reminds me of ex USSR suburban units with 3rd class benches.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Prefer 707s to 450s!

Prefer 458/0s over both though... wah.

 

[43096]

Prefer 707s to 450s!

Prefer 458/0s over both though... wah.

Oh look, someone is trying to be all controversial....!

 

[Suraggu]

Oh look, someone is trying to be all controversial....!

Is he old enough to remember 458/0?

 

[WWTownEnth]

Is there another delivery due this weekend?

 

[Dr_Intoxicated]

Prefer 707s to 450s!

Prefer 458/0s over both though... wah.

I agree because the space between seats goes in that order.

 

[class387]

I agree because the space between seats goes in that order.

To be honest I think that out of SWR's suburban fleet the 455s are the most comfortable. A really high quality refurbishment.

 

[pompeyfan]

Other than toilets and lack of modern commodities, the only thing wrong with the 455s is what the passengers do to them, fruit peelings, bodily fluids, general litter, fast food detritus. It’s a pure lack of respect for their fellow passengers and the employees of the toc, wouldn’t do it at home, why do it on the train?

 

[HarleyDavidson]

Other than toilets and lack of modern commodities, the only thing wrong with the 455s is what the passengers do to them, fruit peelings, bodily fluids, general litter, fast food detritus. It’s a pure lack of respect for their fellow passengers and the employees of the toc, wouldn’t do it at home, why do it at home?

When you shunt the 455s in the evening its not uncommon to find a turd, pee & puke on them. There's a significant amount of SW London population which are just plain vile, you can't call the animals because animals don't behave like it.

 

[EAD]

Well quite pompeyfan. I am a daily 455/456 user and my fellow users never cease to amaze me. I do agree the refurbishment on the 455s was a very good job - just compare it to the Eversholt Southern 455s. Anyhow we are drifting here, so to bring it back on topic I see Thursday nights 2R53 1816 ex WAT was cancelled so I assume the booked 707 had gone kaput.http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/W37833/2017/10/26/advanced

 

[43096]

Well quite pompeyfan. I am a daily 455/456 user and my fellow users never cease to amaze me. I do agree the refurbishment on the 455s was a very good job - just compare it to the Porterbrook Southern 455s. Anyhow we are drifting here, so to bring it back on topic I see Thursday nights 2R53 1816 ex WAT was cancelled so I assume the booked 707 had gone kaput.http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/W37833/2017/10/26/advanced

The Southern 455s are Eversholt owned.

 

[EAD]

The Southern 455s are Eversholt owned.

Yes indeed, thanks - I was on autopilot and switched them over in my head! Now edited.

 

[HarleyDavidson]

Well quite pompeyfan. I am a daily 455/456 user and my fellow users never cease to amaze me. I do agree the refurbishment on the 455s was a very good job - just compare it to the Eversholt Southern 455s. Anyhow we are drifting here, so to bring it back on topic I see Thursday nights 2R53 1816 ex WAT was cancelled so I assume the booked 707 had gone kaput.http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/W37833/2017/10/26/advanced

The set failed on depot.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Do we know when a forth diagram will be introduced?