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

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4REP

4REP

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TRAX said:
Aren't all trains snakes (sort of) ?
Why the constant need for nicknames ?
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Alot of unit types seem to have a special name and locos too. It's like a personality.
The cabs of 701 stock resembles a snake and looking at the photo of the first 10 car at Eastleigh Snake just came into mind.
444 stock are known as arkwrights
Class 66 sheds etc etc
 
trainmania100

trainmania100

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Few weeks ago there was a Rog 37 between Horsham / Crawley / Dorking for driver training, some people mentioned this was for future 701 training , is there any truth to this? Will 701s maybe be stored at Horsham whilst the rest of SWR fleet is still in service?
 
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pompeyfan

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I get the impression they’re designed to get as many people as possible from A-B quickly on relatively short journeys. I’m sure there’s other stock that’s much worse!
 
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Goldfish62

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trainmania100 said:
Few weeks ago there was a Rog 37 between Horsham / Crawley / Dorking for driver training, some people mentioned this was for future 701 training , is there any truth to this? Will 701s maybe be stored at Horsham whilst the rest of SWR fleet is still in service?
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I believe the intention was to swap out old units as 701s were delivered, with of course the additional capacity at Feltham also being utilised. That was of course before the world was turned upside down.
 
Ethano92

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43096 said:
Probably be more comfortable standing, too.
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In all fairness standing on a train with more dedicated standing capacity would be more comfortable. I suppose the aisles of the 701 will be able to fit 2 standing across, like the current wide gangway stock in service. This is already an improvement on the 455/6s and 458s. I'd hope these have better handles/grab hold provisions than the Desiro city's too to make them better than 707s too.
 
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Bigfoot

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Goldfish62 said:
I believe the intention was to swap out old units as 701s were delivered, with of course the additional capacity at Feltham also being utilised. That was of course before the world was turned upside down.
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Feltham won't be ready for some time yet.
 
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Flange Squeal

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Mikey C said:
Following on from the unofficial codes 4DES and 5DES for the 450 and 444, perhaps these will be the 5ADV and 10ADV!
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But there's no 'D' in Aventra ;) I seem to recall a staff competition was set up by SWR to come up with a new name for the fleet of 701s shortly before the pandemic took hold - not sure what's happening with that now.
 
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Dr_Intoxicated

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Yes I think that the construction was exempt from the close down as being for essential work as was the nearby station works
 
TrainTube

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Apparently the 701 failed a test last night before even running on its own power. It was planned to run on its own power between Wareham and Weymouth but it wouldn't and it's now in a siding in Weymouth.
 
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Snow1964

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TrainTube said:
Apparently the 701 failed a test last night before even running on its own power. It was planned to run on its own power between Wareham and Weymouth but it wouldn't and it's now in a siding in Weymouth.
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Seems an odd choice as the power supply is not the strongest there.

Not usually that keen to have 10car 444s on that stretch so having a 10car 701 seems brave (even if it is fairly quiet line). Wonder how many amps a 701 can draw on full power. I thought I read it was rated at 4MW which is a hefty 5333 amps (but I might be wrong)
 
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northernbelle

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Snow1964 said:
Seems an odd choice as the power supply is not the strongest there.

Not usually that keen to have 10car 444s on that stretch so having a 10car 701 seems brave (even if it is fairly quiet line). Wonder how many amps a 701 can draw on full power.
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I suspect it's because it's a stretch of third-rail electrification where test trains are in total isolation, with no danger of affecting other train operations if there's a fault with the train, the power supply or the signalling. The Weymouth line was previously used for regenerative braking testing using Class 458s and a Gatwick Class 460. The line can handle a longer electric formation if it's the only train drawing power - particularly on the climb through Bincombe out of Weymouth towards Dorchester.
 
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pompeyfan

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TrainTube said:
Apparently the 701 failed a test last night before even running on its own power. It was planned to run on its own power between Wareham and Weymouth but it wouldn't and it's now in a siding in Weymouth.
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what’s your source for this?

theres no paths in the system for last night to drag it down and I’m almost certain if there was a SPZ someone would have more formal details.

I’m not convinced
 
fgwrich

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pompeyfan said:
what’s your source for this?

theres no paths in the system for last night to drag it down and I’m almost certain if there was a SPZ someone would have more formal details.

I’m not convinced
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Well, it certainly moved down to Wareham on the 6X70 20:36 Eastleigh Works to Wareham.

Realtime Trains - 6X70 2036 Eastleigh Works Gbrf to Wareham

Realtime Trains provides live realtime running information for the Great British railway network using open data.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk www.realtimetrains.co.uk

www.flickr.com

66775 Millbrook.

66775 ‘HMS Argyll’ works 6X70 20:36 Eastleigh Works to Wareham at Millbrook hauling 701002 inbetween barriers and 66745 on the rear. Sunday 14th June 2020.
www.flickr.com www.flickr.com

As the return path is showing as cancelled, I can only presume it didn't leave Wareham than Weymouth and is currently still down there.
 
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pompeyfan

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fgwrich said:
Well, it certainly moved down to Wareham on the 6X70 20:36 Eastleigh Works to Wareham.

Realtime Trains - 6X70 2036 Eastleigh Works Gbrf to Wareham

Realtime Trains provides live realtime running information for the Great British railway network using open data.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk www.realtimetrains.co.uk

www.flickr.com

66775 Millbrook.

66775 ‘HMS Argyll’ works 6X70 20:36 Eastleigh Works to Wareham at Millbrook hauling 701002 inbetween barriers and 66745 on the rear. Sunday 14th June 2020.
www.flickr.com www.flickr.com

As the return path is showing as cancelled, I can only presume it didn't leave Wareham than Weymouth and is currently still down there.
Click to expand...

ive made myself look like a right twit... If anybody needs me I’ll be in the corner eating humble pie... sorry to the original poster that I was so quick to discredit.
 
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swt_passenger

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fgwrich said:
Well, it certainly moved down to Wareham on the 6X70 20:36 Eastleigh Works to Wareham.

Realtime Trains - 6X70 2036 Eastleigh Works Gbrf to Wareham

Realtime Trains provides live realtime running information for the Great British railway network using open data.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk www.realtimetrains.co.uk

www.flickr.com

66775 Millbrook.

66775 ‘HMS Argyll’ works 6X70 20:36 Eastleigh Works to Wareham at Millbrook hauling 701002 inbetween barriers and 66745 on the rear. Sunday 14th June 2020.
www.flickr.com www.flickr.com

As the return path is showing as cancelled, I can only presume it didn't leave Wareham than Weymouth and is currently still down there.
Click to expand...
A chap posting in another forum said it was intended to remain in Jersey sidings after the test run anyway.
 
fgwrich

fgwrich

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As I understand it, after the 66s were split off from the formation, only the Weymouth 5 took power. Several attempts to reset it were undertaken, but declared a failure.
 
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