Class 701 'Aventra' trains for South Western Railway

[TEW]

Using the photo kindly posted on page 247 but zoomed, the new CET equipment is the orange equipment cases. Vogelsang kit.


They have underfloor heating

I thought I had seen mention of new equipment at Wimbledon, but presumably only a relatively small percentage of the fleet can use it every day.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

I thought I had seen mention of new equipment at Wimbledon

There's also the CET on 3 Top Yard, but probably not enough room for those new cabinets up against the shed wall?

 

[SWT_USER]

Any chance they could do these out and back runs to Windsor in the morning peak (where it is desperately needed) rather than empty in the middle of the day?

Written from a full and standing train with several more stops before Waterloo

 

[Vanmanyo]

2U91 isn't even activated yet (I believe this time yesterday it was), so we might not even get a 701 today..

 

[DelW]

Any chance they could do these out and back runs to Windsor in the morning peak (where it is desperately needed) rather than empty in the middle of the day?

Written from a full and standing train with several more stops before Waterloo

Someone of a cynical disposition might think that these services have very little to do with carrying ordinary passengers, and a lot to do with ticking the KPI boxes that trigger management bonuses. According to "Dr B Ching" in the current Private Eye, SWR directors' emoluments went up 48.7% last year, and no doubt they'll be wanting the gravy train to carry on.

 

[AJDesiro]

2U91 isn't even activated yet (I believe this time yesterday it was), so we might not even get a 701 today..

It was activated at 09:01 yesterday.

 

[popeter45]

whats the diagram?, 9-5 in a office along the route this week so curious if i have any chance to catch a ride?

 

[Bletchleyite]

And the idea that two average sized people can’t fit into the seats is ludicrous anyway.

From what I've seen (you've posted a few pics on here) you're quite skinny, not average. Two of you might fit, two of me (I'm above average) definitely wouldn't, two average blokes probably wouldn't either. That's true of all 3+2 width seating, though I think these are slightly wider than the seats used on the 730s (which having measured them are about 1.5cm narrower than the 350/2 seats - I've not measured an ironing board but suspect they're probably 45cm as that seems fairly standard).

They don't appear to be spaced from the sidewall unlike the 700, which is disappointing. Can anyone see if there's a spacer between them? This makes a huge difference - inconsistent manufacturing on Merseyrail 777s has allowed a direct comparison (those slide on a bar, so some units have them spaced and some not).

The back cushion appears quite thick, which of course means poor legroom too. Thick base, thin back is the way to go for commuter services.

 

[norbitonflyer]

They don't appear to be spaced from the sidewall unlike the 700, which is disappointing. Can anyone see if there's a spacer between them?

No, there isn't

 

[Bletchleyite]

No, there isn't

Thanks. The 700 has a small spacer (2cm I think) so while these look 700 like they're going to be inferior for the bigger gentleman

 

[norbitonflyer]

whats the diagram?, 9-5 in a office along the route this week so curious if i have any chance to catch a ride?

1025 from Waterloo, arr Windsor 1119.
1130 from Windsor, arr Waterloo 1228

Usual stopping pattern for Windsor services (Vauxhall, Clapham Junction, Putney, Richmond, Twickenham and all stations thence) except Sunnymeads was clsoed yesterday as it was inaccessible due to local flooding near the station.

But, it looks like it won't be running today - the ECS would be leaving Wimbledon depot within the next 30 minutes, (and yesterday it left 9 minutes early, at 0944) and there is no sign of it being activated yet.

 

[Goldfish62]

Thanks. The 700 has a small spacer (2cm I think) so while these look 700 like they're going to be inferior for the bigger gentleman

Except the seats are wider by about 2cm (fact reported either here or somewhere else a couple of years ago). Hence no room for a spacer. The seats are not the same as on the 700. So they will in fact superior for the bigger gentleman.

1025 from Waterloo, arr Windsor 1119.
1130 from Windsor, arr Waterloo 1228

Usual stopping pattern for Windsor services (Vauxhall, Clapham Junction, Putney, Richmond, Twickenham and all stations thence) except Sunnymeads was clsoed yesterday as it was inaccessible due to local flooding near the station.

But, it looks like it won't be running today - the ECS would be leaving Wimbledon depot within the next 30 minutes, (and yesterday it left 9 minutes early, at 0944) and there is no sign of it being activated yet.

What's the betting yesterday was the one and only day? Get the press along, say everything's wonderful and ensure Claire Mann gets her bonus for getting a 701 "into service" before she goes back to TfL.

 

[davews]

Well I had a plan hatched for tomorrow or possibly Friday if the chap coming to fix my car at 8.30 sorts it quickly, but it looks like me failing to dash out yesterday when I saw it might have been the wrong decision ......

 

[mangyiscute]

The train has just been activated, I can't see a number assigned to it on RTT but it's no longer runs as required

 

[Goldfish62]

The train has just been activated, I can't see a number assigned to it on RTT but it's no longer runs as required

Just seen that!

I'm off out....

 

[Gag Halfrunt]

Activated at 09:41.

Realtime Trains | 2U91 1025 London Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside | 10/01/2024

Real-time train running information for 2U91 1025 departure from London Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside on 10/01/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[MrJeeves]

I can't see a number assigned to it on RTT but it's no longer runs as required

It's still runs as required, it just happens to be running as required today.

 

[willt156]

The train has just been activated, I can't see a number assigned to it on RTT but it's no longer runs as required

Likely to be 039 based on what I heard from a driver yesterday.

 

[davews]

OK, change of plan, pub lunch in London, will catch it at Staines on its return trip!

 

[mangyiscute]

Likely to be 039 based on what I heard from a driver yesterday.

Yep that's what RTT is now reporting

 

[nctd2306]

Likely to be 039 based on what I heard from a driver yesterday.

It is indeed 039 according the RTT allocation which has now shown up!

 

[74A]

Empty stock is on the way in to Waterloo

 

[hwl]

I thought I had seen mention of new equipment at Wimbledon, but presumably only a relatively small percentage of the fleet can use it every day.

Don't forget lots of CET kit fitted in Feltham. If you managed to get the equivalent of a different 10x 10car units though Feltham every night then the equipment there should more than cope with the entire fleet needs (emptying an circa half of the expected interval), in practice that is impossible to diagram...

 

[Whiggism]

Just saw it pass Vauxhall Station!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Are 701 037 and 701 039 the only two approved for use on this - or could the remaining two days produce a third unit?

Not that it helps me much as I'm in the office... but I'd just like to know...

 

[3973EXL]

701525/523

Realtime Trains | 5Q75 0921 Eastleigh Trsmd to Bicester Mod Gbrf | 10/01/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q75 0921 departure from Eastleigh Trsmd to Bicester Mod Gbrf on 10/01/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Rick1984]

How much gangway space would you lose putting small spacers between the seats and also the carriage side?

 

[43096]

Are 701 037 and 701 039 the only two approved for use on this - or could the remaining two days produce a third unit?

Not that it helps me much as I'm in the office... but I'd just like to know...

I believe there’s two or three others fully authorised for service.

 

[Mikey C]

From what I've seen (you've posted a few pics on here) you're quite skinny, not average. Two of you might fit, two of me (I'm above average) definitely wouldn't, two average blokes probably wouldn't either. That's true of all 3+2 width seating, though I think these are slightly wider than the seats used on the 730s (which having measured them are about 1.5cm narrower than the 350/2 seats - I've not measured an ironing board but suspect they're probably 45cm as that seems fairly standard).

It's worse in winter too, as everyone is wearing thick coats and more layers of clothing.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Except the seats are wider by about 2cm (fact reported either here or somewhere else a couple of years ago). Hence no room for a spacer.

I've just seen a photo that shows that they do have the same 2cm middle spacer as the 700, just not the sidewall one.

The seats are not the same as on the 700.

The frames are, the cushions aren't (as per Northern).