Are The Class 701s In Service Yet?

No.

 

I came to this thread for answers, I wasn't disappointed.

 

You are right derek#2931. However I do believe at somepoint between mid-late 2023 or sometime 2024 running London- Surrey/West Surrey luckily I've seen a few on my Eastleigh visits so I don't need to worry too much for when they go to Surrey

 

If you have a lot of time on your hands, the whole saga can be followed at https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...ins-for-south-western-railway.148717/page-179

 

Wait so the Class 701s I saw at Clapham Junction Depot are just sitting there? What a waste!

 

Same for Eastleigh T&R.S.M.D & HNRC Worksop.

 

I understand SWR are reluctant to accept them. Bombardier pretty much ditched quality control in their later days so the units have a lot of faults, with many stored sets needing substantial rectification works. If any enter service it will probably be the 5 cars which were built once Alstom had reinstated quality control.

The 701s are not the only Bombardier failure - OBB rejected their first batch of Talent 3 units as the Austrian authorities would not approve them for operation in the state they were delivered in. They then cancelled the entire 300 unit order

 

No.

 

Oh wow ok. Man. I liked Bombardier as well (because of the Electrostars and various trams they made).

 

Still no.

 

From what I know, no.

 

[EDITED - Jan - hilarious but inappropriate]
SWR fans

 

LOL!!!

 

Half the time they don't even go under their own power! (Not my image)

 

Whilst we wait have some more superior traction

 

Wooohoooo!

 

And some more

 

Yeah!

 

Also why did I think 380s had straight door things on the front like 385s.

 

A lot of folk think that Dk why

 

It's probably cuz most emus are like that possibly.

 

Probably that they don't know the 380s gangways fold into each other during coupling and think they have normal gangways like Electrostars and the 385

 

That's what I thought for some reason but I was mistaken.

 

Yeah I think there designed like that for aerodynamics as they run along quite windy coastal routes

 

Saltcoats coming to mind there

 

Yeah lol

 

And between Irvine and barassie cause of how flat it is

 

Some things I’ve collected over time

 

Cool but what an earth is that rusty looking thing?

 

That’s a track clip straight off the WCML

 

Oh wow! That's awesome!

 

Talent 3 Austria this is the ÖBB Baureihe 4758. Instead of that train ÖBB S-Bahn Voarlberg Tirol Wien Niederösterreich Salzburg got more ÖBB Baureihe 4744-4746 Siemens Desiro ML. Which is seen in train simulator classic provided you own Inselbahn Stralsund Sassnitz

 

The most recent issue of Railway Magazine says that the 701's are expected in service from the December timetable change.

 

So 4 years late then?

 

Pretty much.

 

I can confirm as of today's Eastleigh visit they are still sat in the works doing they're usual that is, surprise surprise, nothing.

 

From the latest issue of Modern Railways magazine.
"42 units have been accepted by SWR.
The first depot drivers have now been trained on the new fleet, which the operator says is a significant milestone. After depot drivers, training will switch to main-line drivers. SWR says it has 769 drivers to train, a programme that will take eight days per driver across two concurrent weeks. No specific entry into service date has yet been given for them."

 

Just found this on the BBC.
https://www-bbc-co-uk.cdn.ampprojec...2351956&csi=0&referrer=https://www.google.com

 

derek#2931 I'm in Eastleigh tommorow. I'll check if they're still in the depot rotting away.

 

Yes they're still there. Got to see one running for the first time though!