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

[JonathanH]

Given how they can get 6 units out fairly regularly what is preventing other units from being ready for service?

Previous posts report no agreement to the modifications made to allow further units into service - https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...progress-updates.148717/page-389#post-7109986

 

[PG]

Given how they can get 6 units out fairly regularly what is preventing other units from being ready for service?

Going by these posts from early January it seems like SWR haven't done the final 'entry into service' mods.

Yes - Alstom isn’t responsible for the final round of ”entry into service” mods.

Do you know who is responsible?

Well if it’s not Alstom I’d assume it’s Wimbledon

 

[norbitonflyer]

Going by these posts from early January it seems like SWR haven't done the final 'entry into service' mods.

Previous posts report no agreement to the modifications made to allow further units into service - https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...progress-updates.148717/page-389#post-7109986

Does this mean the six in service have more, fewer, or just different mods from the others?

 

[GW43125]

We've come full circle. 2U09/2U16 covered by 5 car 458 this morning.

 

[3973EXL]

57310

Realtime Trains | 0V89 0752 Leicester L.I.P. to Long Marston | 24/02/2025

Real-time train running information for 0V89 0752 departure from Leicester L.I.P. to Long Marston on 24/02/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

57310 701060 terminated Worcester

Realtime Trains | 5Q89 1234 Long Marston Gbrf to Worcester T.C. | 24/02/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q89 1234 departure from Long Marston Gbrf to Worcester T.C. on 24/02/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q90 1833 Eastleigh East Yard to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 24/02/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q90 1833 departure from Eastleigh East Yard to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 24/02/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[swtrains]

Today's testing is on the Woking line:

5T91 - Clapham Yard - Clapham Yard - Goes to Woking, then Guildford, reverses, heads up to Surbiton, reverses, goes back to Woking, reverses and heads back to the Yard.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:Q32903/2025-02-24/detailed

 

[alanc]

(deleted)

 

[norbitonflyer]

We've come full circle. 2U09/2U16 covered by 5 car 458 this morning.

The unit off the Surbiton peakbuster did take over the rest of the Windsor diagram though. This often seems to happen if they are a unit down at Wimbledon

 

[Craig1122]

Noticeable that 701's seem to have the same problem as 458's where manual announcements constantly cut out. Doesn't effect the auto announcer so presumably it's a problem with the handsets/associated wiring. Although with so few in service it may be just one unit! Either way it's poor for something so new.

I've also noticed an auto announcer issue where it lists off the calling points but doesn't always get to the end of the line.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Either way it's poor for something so new.

They're not that new - they are five years old (and most have been sitting in a Warwickshire field for most of that time)

 

[TEW]

Noticeable that 701's seem to have the same problem as 458's where manual announcements constantly cut out. Doesn't effect the auto announcer so presumably it's a problem with the handsets/associated wiring. Although with so few in service it may be just one unit! Either way it's poor for something so new.

I've also noticed an auto announcer issue where it lists off the calling points but doesn't always get to the end of the line.

It's the handsets in the GOPs that are the problem. If an announcement is made from the cab it is better.

 

[swtrains]

It's the handsets in the GOPs that are the problem. If an announcement is made from the cab it is better.

At this point, no one's surprised they cheaped out on that too.

 

[PG]

It's the handsets in the GOPs that are the problem. If an announcement is made from the cab it is better.

Can't exactly help the handset if thats where the leaks are.

 

[DMckduck]

Can't exactly help the handset if thats where the leaks are.

Only one mention of leaks in the gops in 415 pages, it should be taken with a pinch of salt.

The PA system overall is rubbish and a step backwards, repeating information within seconds not announcing the station it's at until the train has started departing said station.

 

[OneTrackMinded]

Only one mention of leaks in the gops in 415 pages, it should be taken with a pinch of salt.

The PA system overall is rubbish and a step backwards, repeating information within seconds not announcing the station it's at until the train has started departing said station.

The system itself is very slow. Almost like they’re running it on some cheap windows i3 processor laptop from 10 years ago. It can barely even render text moving across the screen, so I bet it struggles to play audio too. They’ve obviously been able to heavily optimise it on the other Aventras like the 345 where it usually performs without issues but as usual that doesn’t apply to the 701s…

 

[Towers]

Only one mention of leaks in the gops in 415 pages, it should be taken with a pinch of salt.

The PA system overall is rubbish and a step backwards, repeating information within seconds not announcing the station it's at until the train has started departing said station.

That’s a clear accessibility requirements fail, surely?!

 

[3973EXL]

Yesterdays 5Q89 701060 terminated Worcester

Realtime Trains | 0Z57 0921 Leicester L.I.P. to Worcester Middle Siding | 25/02/2025

Real-time train running information for 0Z57 0921 departure from Leicester L.I.P. to Worcester Middle Siding on 25/02/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q91 1338 Worcester T.C. to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs | 25/02/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q91 1338 departure from Worcester T.C. to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs on 25/02/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

5Q91 13 early Norton Junction

 

[OneTrackMinded]

Truly astonishing how there’s been absolutely no progress with the introduction for almost 2 months now

 

[Goldfish62]

Truly astonishing how there’s been absolutely no progress with the introduction for almost 2 months now

I should be astonished, but I'm not. I've given up hope for any progress in the foreseeable future. I simply cannot see full introduction of the 701s ever happening on SWR now. Quite what happens instead, I have no idea!

 

[OneTrackMinded]

I should be astonished, but I'm not. I've given up hope for any progress in the foreseeable future. I simply cannot see full introduction of the 701s ever happening on SWR now. Quite what happens instead, I have no idea!

Can’t imagine it’ll ever happen on FirstMTR SWR but I’m still quite optimistic it’ll happen on DfT SWR

 

[wickham]

Strange that 5Q91 Worcester to WPS is coming a different route (via Kensington) to yesterday's plan (via Eastleigh). Via Kensington is much more straightforward so I can't really understand why recent moves have been via Eastleigh, but presumably the routeing is because of crewing reasons.

 

[fairysdad]

That’s a clear accessibility requirements fail, surely?!

Not sure what is worse - the 701s announcing after the station, or what often happened on the 456s where it would catch up on itself to the extent of announcing the next station as the train pulled into the current station!

(I mean, it's probably the late announcements really, but there we go.)

 

[Class15]

Strange that 5Q91 Worcester to WPS is coming a different route (via Kensington) to yesterday's plan (via Eastleigh). Via Kensington is much more straightforward so I can't really understand why recent moves have been via Eastleigh, but presumably the routeing is because of crewing reasons.

When I asked why a 458 move was sent via Basingstoke I was told there weren’t any paths via Kensington!

 

[OneTrackMinded]

Not sure what is worse - the 701s announcing after the station, or what often happened on the 456s where it would catch up on itself to the extent of announcing the next station as the train pulled into the current station!

(I mean, it's probably the late announcements really, but there we go.)

On the 458s, the announcement system apparently relies on wheel rotations to work out where it is. If the train wheel slips for whatever reason, the system can become quite out of sync

On another note, the 701 announcement system appears to “pop” a lot. Not because of the PA but rather with automated announcements, before and after they finish playing. Very very odd

 

[Big Jumby 74]

. Deleted, with apologies.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Is there even much point in this thread still being open at the moment? No progress is being made and I'm personally sick of getting thread alerts just for the same "this is such a shambles" comments, I don't know about anyone else

On the 458s, the announcement system apparently relies on wheel rotations to work out where it is. If the train wheel slips for whatever reason, the system can become quite out of sync

There's a fairly interesting SWT SDO video somewhere which shows how the 458s wheel rotations work out that as well, as well as the Desiros more modern systems in comparison. It's actually quite a good watch.

 

[NSEWonderer]

Is there even much point in this thread still being open at the moment? No progress is being made and I'm personally sick of getting thread alerts just for the same "this is such a shambles" comments, I don't know about anyone else


There's a fairly interesting SWT SDO video somewhere which shows how the 458s wheel rotations work out that as well, as well as the Desiros more modern systems in comparison. It's actually quite a good watch.

I agree, its becoming too repetitive. The next will be another few posts mentioning what operator the 701s can be sent to etc etc. There is a speculation chat somewhere which would be of much better use at this point for non updates.

 

[Towers]

Is there even much point in this thread still being open at the moment? No progress is being made and I'm personally sick of getting thread alerts just for the same "this is such a shambles" comments, I don't know about anyone else


There's a fairly interesting SWT SDO video somewhere which shows how the 458s wheel rotations work out that as well, as well as the Desiros more modern systems in comparison. It's actually quite a good watch.

Well we’ve entered a whole new dimension with 458 PIS chat now! What more do you want?!

 

[DMckduck]

On the 458s, the announcement system apparently relies on wheel rotations to work out where it is. If the train wheel slips for whatever reason, the system can become quite out of sync

On another note, the 701 announcement system appears to “pop” a lot. Not because of the PA but rather with automated announcements, before and after they finish playing. Very very odd

Funny you say I've noticed that pop aswell, i thought it was just me. Spec across the board must have all been the absolute cheapest option no ifs, buts or maybes.

Does it still think TFL rail exists or have they finally fixed that?

That’s a clear accessibility requirements fail, surely?!

An oversight it would seem, a sort of worry about it later situation which shouldn't be the case.

 

[D365]

Is there even much point in this thread still being open at the moment? No progress is being made and I'm personally sick of getting thread alerts just for the same "this is such a shambles" comments, I don't know about anyone else

That’s why I avoid using thread alerts for the most part.