Could ex Merseyrail 507/508s be used on SWR services?

[adc82140]

In the class 701 discussion

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

surely not different doors to 720's which regularly do 100mph I believe the issue has been the cab doors which are different on 701s.

www.railforums.co.uk

it was suggested slightly tongue in cheek that given the ongoing class 701 delays that the 507s and 508s could be sent to SWR once they have finished on Merseyrail.

At this rate, the 507/508 going for scrap soon will be sent to SWR as back ups.

Would this actually be a good idea? Can they be re-formed into 4 car units? Or is this a solution looking for a problem?

 

[43096]

In the class 701 discussion

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

surely not different doors to 720's which regularly do 100mph I believe the issue has been the cab doors which are different on 701s.

www.railforums.co.uk

it was suggested slightly tongue in cheek that given the ongoing class 701 delays that the 507s and 508s could be sent to SWR once they have finished on Merseyrail.



Would this actually be a good idea? Can they be re-formed into 4 car units? Or is this a solution looking for a problem?

Solution looking for a problem. And that’s before you get to the 777s being delayed into service (for different reasons) so the 507/508 fleet isn’t available anyway. Then there’s crew and maintenance staff training…

 

[A0]

Would this actually be a good idea? Can they be re-formed into 4 car units? Or is this a solution looking for a problem?

Bit in bold sums it up.

They are 40 year old inner suburban units with a top speed of 75mph and no drivers who are able to drive them on SWR without training.

 

[Juniper Driver]

Bit in bold sums it up.

They are 40 year old inner suburban units with a top speed of 75mph and no drivers who are able to drive them on SWR without training.

Probably a one (or two)-day conversion like the 456's at a guess.
Top speed is not a problem, but I thought Wimbledon needed spares anyway.

 

[Paul Jones 88]

They started working on the South Western Division when they were new, I wonder if any of the drivers that drove them are still there.

 

[A0]

They started working on the South Western Division when they were new, I wonder if any of the drivers that drove them are still there.

Only the 508s - the 507s went straight to Merseyside.

 

[fgwrich]

Probably a one (or two)-day conversion like the 456's at a guess.
Top speed is not a problem, but I thought Wimbledon needed spares anyway.

I wonder if it's worth dragging any down to Wimbledon to become Christmas Trees, or if a 317 would be better for that purpose?

 

[Energy]

If SWR need temporary cover until the 701s arrive then they could always borrow the 707s back from SE, some of the Southern 455s (Southern don't have high utilisation of them), 350/1s from LNWR, the 387s other operators are borrowing.

 

[Juniper Driver]

If SWR need temporary cover until the 701s arrive then they could always borrow the 707s back from SE, some of the Southern 455s (Southern don't have high utilisation of them), 350/1s from LNWR, the 387s other operators are borrowing.

Don't think SE would agree to that.
350/1s would be a better idea.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Oct 2021 ==

I wonder if it's worth dragging any down to Wimbledon to become Christmas Trees, or if a 317 would be better for that purpose?

I think 507's+508s are more compatible, although not fully sure.

 

[43096]

I wonder if it's worth dragging any down to Wimbledon to become Christmas Trees, or if a 317 would be better for that purpose?

Why's everyone ignoring the fact that the 507/508 fleet isn't available as they're covering the 777 (non-)introduction?

Anyone want to put bets on which goes into service first, 701s or 777s?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

some of the Southern 455s (Southern don't have high utilisation of them)

The Southern 455s are no longer compatible with the SWR ones though; for a start they're now set up for DOO operation and they have different electrical systems on them. They also still have the original DC traction package.

 

[WarrenTManager]

The Southern 455s are no longer compatible with the SWR ones though; for a start they're now set up for DOO operation and they have different electrical systems on them. They also still have the original DC traction package.

The green 456s couldn’t multi with the red ones as there is a difference with 27 wire (and either 26 or 28) and how its used. Same applies to green 455s.