The Class 701 Train Now In Service

The New Class 701 train on South Western Railway has finally entered service! It was the end if 2019 that I first made a preview video of them, but there's now a limited service of them running between London Waterloo and Windsor & Eton Riverside.
I went down for a ride on one, to see what they're like ...
The SWR page on these new 'Arterio' trains (as they're branding them) is here : www.southwesternrailway.com/t...

[@yy17782]

Long live Celia! Surprised to hear her on these new units. May she rest in peace ❤

[@kiradotee]

Is this like an AI resurrection of her voice?

[@LordEverythingtrains]

Probably just existing recordings from the old swr stock

[@KieronQuinn]

My understanding for the "Not for Public Use" sockets at 4:08 is that they're higher current sockets than your standard at-seat socket, so they don't have the same protection for the circuit to prevent passengers from plugging in higher power devices (this one does seem to have its own RCD though). I guess they're used by cleaning staff for vacuums and things like that.

[@FarmYardGaming]

Supposedly the fluctuations in voltage from those sockets aren't great for your devices too, but at the depot they're used where the train has access to stable electricity

[@KieronQuinn]

@@FarmYardGaming Makes sense! I'm not sure why they don't just make them non-functional when not connected to the ground based supply

[@velogoo]

possibly more of a trip hazard as well.

[@garybroadhurst3548]

@@velogoo I agree, they probably don't want to encourage people to sit down there on the floor when the train is crowded either.

[@stephensaines7100]

@@velogoo That's the most rational comment. "Voltage Surges" etc as espoused to others make no difference to scaling power supplies. (I'm a tech. Think about it, you can use the same supply for 100v to 250v in most cases). Tripping hazard seems by far the best reason, especially considering where the outlet is placed.

[@badbob1982]

I’m sure the “Not for Public Use” plugs have a full 13A rated current load, for cleaning staff to use vacuum cleaners. Whereas the ones by the seats have something like 3A or maybe even smaller breakers, which is why they are for “laptops only”. I did watch a passenger on a ScotRail 380 try to use hair straighteners with the at seat sockets, and after a few minutes all the at seat sockets (or at least the ones I tried around where I was sat) stopped functioning. I assume the breaker was tripped.

[@whyamiwhat]

the 2+2 seating look so much better than the 2+3 on GA. more of the train might actually be accessible for people and it wont bruise you as you walk down the corridor lol

[@daliverpoolfan69]

Lol me and my friends always walk through the 720 and we always get hurt on the headrest but it's good fun

[@annabelholland]

Yeah, plus they are not wide enough to pass another person without having to move to a seat. The only advantage is that if you are a family/group of 5/6, then it might make sense but imagine sitting in the middle between two strangers. I think they should remove most of the third seats for this reason as it only removes like 80 seats. (One 720 with 3+2 seating has a capacity of just under 500 seats). And why are they have to be a five car train when they are often coupled together, to make it a ten car train? I have never seen just one five car 720. You cannot even walk between them, unlike the 158 East Midlands Railway (EMR) service from Norwich to Liverpool. (side note:) Some of the 745s used on services to Stansted and Norwich really need tables, first class and a bistro. Some 755 units run as triples also.

[@chrisholman9029]

Seats are the same width as 3+2. One of the 2 seats is rendered useless.

[@michaeltb1358]

It is just to allow more standing passengers

[@ryoga-hibiki]

I'm seeing more and more 2+2 seating trains, especially with operators swapping out their old fleet. But yes, it's to allow more standing passengers and have them psychologically move along the train.

[@teapot2186]

I am old enough to remember being so excited the first time I rode on a shiny new 455. Can't believe their time is nearly up. New ones look great though.

[@BernardCastle]

Built at Derby Litchurch Lane Works. I really hope that plant finds some orders and is able to continue building trains.

[@philh1462]

They need to ditch this chassis and build some low-floor accessible trains. There are plenty of Sprinters that need replacing.

[@OneTrackMinded]

@@philh1462 Low floor trains only work if the platforms are all the same height, which they are far from on SWR.

[@philh1462]

@@OneTrackMinded Or the same theory as the 777 on Merseyrail. Something has to give, or we will be damned to inaccessible trains for another 40 years across the whole country.

[@OneTrackMinded]

@@philh1462Merseyrail platforms I assume are all the same level

[@paulsengupta971]

Trains of your childhood? C'mon Geoff, you and I both know that the trains of our childhood had slam doors! I commuted to Cardiff to school on them, with a door for every row of seats. Great for commuters. Then when I bought my house next to the London-Portsmouth line in Guildford in 1996, for some years they still had the slam door trains operating on that line!

[@jonathanirons231]

Geoff, I always admire your attention to detail for people with restricted mobility. You're a credit to the game.

[@michaeltb1358]

I guess Staines is the first station that can use all 10 coaches. I remember the trains used on these lines in the 60s. Especially the pre-war Portsmouth corridors which ended their days on the Reading line. 455s were not used on the Windsor line. All Enduros (class 444).

[@ce1834]

Great to see 2+2 seating - shame we seem to be baking in no level boarding for decades to come, something Stadler seem to have a grip on

[@Yawwie]

Decent trains I must say. After all that waiting they definitely exceeded my original expectations. Still doesn't beat the former SWT fleet though.

[@iliketrains3546]

ChEaP pLaStIc BoXeS fRoM tEsCo ExPrEsS

[@xanderawood]

Wow that was supprising with the amout of hate it got given.

[@user-kd6ry6nn4k]

OMG Yawwie, I'm surprised you actually like these trains now. A bit.

[@BusesFromStHelier]

So you’re admitting that you’re liking the 701? SHAME ON YOU

[@user-kd6ry6nn4k]

But yes, I have memories of the old SWT fleet. And a few more when the Southern 455s were in service. Nice times.

[@ValentinZino]

I will miss the 455s so much, they were also my childhood trains and remain my favourite

[@CallumClass450]

I’ll miss them as well hopefully some get put into preservation

[@StanleyV64]

Im so glad they kept Celia on as the announcer! Oh, and I'm also so sad that the 455s will eventually be withdrawn. One of my favourite classes in the country.

[@bongman123]

Sad but we must move on with the times. They are starting to show their age. However the same cannot be said the the 458s!!! They are potentially going to be scrapped after refurbishment!!!

[@StanleyV64]

@@bongman123 Oh no! That really sucks.

[@elibennett.x]

Unfortunately it's only temporary

[@olliet2977]

@@bongman123458s are going to be refurbished for use on the Portsmouth direct line I thought

[@michellebell5092]

I used to work at Woking and was so hoping to allow customers to board instead of having to warn them to Stand Away, train not in public service. I now look forward to riding them myself as a customer

[@mdhazeldine]

Don't think I've ever waited this long for a KZbin video (4 years!). Nice to see them finally online, but will be sad to see the 455s go.

[@mr_b4544]

Hey Geoff! It was a pleasure to meet you on the train just before waterloo! Brilliant camera shots in the video too.

[@daliverpoolfan69]

57 years later... GRANDPA THEY ARE IN SERVICE edit Ty for likes

[@TrainspottingTom]

😂😂

[@dimiop]

Lol

[@mgtrains]

🤣🤣🤣

[@eastlancsesteem]

😂

[@Jjtwhite]

True!😂😂

[@johnstark1322]

It’s very like the 720s we have on Greater Anglia. They have replaced the 317s that were the overhead power version of the 455 (though with toilets). I quite like the 720s apart from the narrow corridor between the 2+3 seats.

[@robertcoleman4861]

I wish we had trains like that on the Sydney suburban network thanks Geoff love all your vids cheers Bob.🦘🐨☕🍩

[@nicholasjones9705]

If I want to have something like a cup of coffee on this train, it sounds I'd have to choose my seat wisely and also find the ideal position on the very small table.

[@gibsonms]

I saw that roll through Feltham this very morning! Very smart!

[@Keithbarber]

Rode on it last week Quite impressed Seating is quite comfortable - far better than the "ironing boards" on the class 700

[@zepic9093]

are the seats better then the class 345?

[@Fedderz]

Love the 700 seats thanks !!!!

[@Keithbarber]

@@zepic9093 that I will leave you to form your own opinion on

[@Keithbarber]

@@Fedderz there is no doubt that there are some people who like the "ironing board" seats, but i think you are in a minority, they are not the most "bum friendly" seats on the network

[@TransporterTony]

Was certainly nice to see them in action. Certainly a stand out for me over the rest of Aventra family. The uniqueness and the fact that you have walkthrough and detachable versions of the trains.

[@guillaumemaurice3503]

Thank you for sharing the video Geoff that was very interesting. ❤

[@UnderwurldChris]

Had the pleasure of seeing a few of these test running through Brockenhurst and Southampton last year. Brilliant showcase as always Geoff.

[@johnledingham852]

Onya Geoff! Love all your work and your enthusiasm old sausage!

[@HenrysAdventures]

Good to see them finally in service! I'll look forward to riding these soon.

[@carlteacherman194]

Nice video, thank you. It's amazing to see 10 coach walk-through trains on the Windsor (and Reading?) Southern line. The trains of my childhood were 2 BILs, HALs and EPBs. 😅

[@MarkDibley]

I'm always shocked by how empty the trains are that Geoff travels on. I live on the South East coast and every train is busy, even the London-bound 8+ car trains. Great video, Geoff!

[@andrewreynolds4949]

These are on dedicated, very quiet off-peak services for now

[@firesurfer]

I guess Geoff always picks off peak trains for the best camera shots.

[@MarkDibley]

Down here, off peak means busy, but you at least get a seat. Although I imagine those 6am journeys are probably quite spacious :-)

[@FarmYardGaming]

Off-peak today there were like... 5 people in each carriage, when the first one left around 10:30

[@willingshelf]

Good to see they’re finally in service

[@lennart442]

Thanks Geoff! 👍

[@Sim0nTrains]

It great to see the Class 701 finally entered service and what I can see it reminds me of the Class 730/0 for a bit how they laid it out for suburban traffic, great video Geoff

[@VladimirPutinIsGood]

Good To See 701s In Service 👍

[@teejayy2130]

Finally got enough time back to myself to start watching Geoffs videos again.😊 my life is better again

[@ccsaun]

Gew up in Staines. Moved to Australia in 2008. I admit it was so nice to see a little shot of Staines Station. So many good memories hopping onto the train to go on adventures as a kid.

[@frankharris5647]

Well done. Keep up the good work.

[@liamburke1741]

Very nice looking trains, and nice interior 🤩👌

[@Listenerandlearner870]

Thanks Geoff.

[@CynicalPlatapus]

The sockets labelled as not to be used are solely for cleaning staff, they have a much higher rated mcb than passenger sockets and have a dirtier supply of electricity, meaning devices such as laptops or phones plugged into them can be damaged. Hoovers or carpet cleaners are known to have a higher load so would cause the normal sockets to trip, and they're also more tolerant of dirty electricity.

[@bfapple]

Correct answer.

[@GreenJimll]

So perfect for the early morning commuter toasted sandwich maker, kettle, hair dryers, curling tongs and shavers then... ;-)

[@CynicalPlatapus]

@@GreenJimll certainly a kettle as I've seen it done, the others I'm not so sure about

[@grahamwhitworth9454]

Does anyone else, like me, remember this route served by 2-EPB units? The train divided at Staines, the other portion going to Weybridge.

[@bingbong7316]

2-EPBs ran the Weybridge service. Windsor and Reading was 2-BIL/2-HAL, dividing/joining at Staines.

[@grahamwhitworth9454]

@@bingbong7316 I remember the Weybridge and Windsor trains dividing at Staines. The Reading and Aldershot trains made up of 2-BIL and 2-HAL units divided at Ascot.

[@dieseldragon6756]

2EPB units? I can remember the days when they announced the forthcoming Class 701s... 🚈 ...And nine months after that; A horde of Navvis descended on Staines to build the new L&SWR line between London and Reading with a branch off to Windsor. 😋

[@paulking9734]

I remember seeing 8 coach epbs (4x2epb) going through putney..headcode 18 as it was then in the 60s..I assume this was the same train..eventually they reduced the train to 4 cars (2x2epb) off peak and number changed to 58..( I suppose in case of a mixup with 18s going to Chessington south)..long time ago so a bit hazy on detail.

[@bingbong7316]

@@grahamwhitworth9454 There must have been both at some point! Don't think the 2-EPBs had any 1st class, could be wrong, can't imagine that going down well in Windsor :-)

[@mikehindson-evans159]

Thanks Geoff - a useful expose as always - nicely done. Good to see that toilets are included. Excellent side-story with "Tablegate" around 4:25 ... Hang on - HOW many years to commission a new set of trains??? At least 2+2 seating is better for the post-1950s population. A reminder of the pantograph wells (never used, but future-proofed for other lines) on the 444s at 7:49 -

[@tededmunds8476]

These trains have been stealthily going past us early morning commuters at Winchester for quite a while now. Covers on all the seats, approaching the platform at varying speeds, and generally looking very sleek and shiny. External displays indicated they were heading to Poole or Bournemouth but that always seemed unlikely. Amusing when they would test the doors and occasionally someone would think about getting on 😅 They look nice inside, but as with most trains on the SWR network, the legroom looks tight.

[@dougle03]

Fault free running pathing...

[@ethans-dk4bk]

The Class 701 is replacing the Class 455, 456, 707 (Remaining moved to Southeastern Railway), and the Class 458 (on Certain Routes)

[@trimley]

Hope to be riding one soon from New Malden

[@russvhill2]

A good report as usual, thanks, though the Pedant in me cringed every time you called a charging socket a "plug".

[@HesterClapp]

They look *much* nicer than a 455 - but I hope they don't replace the 450s, they're also really good trains

[@FarmYardGaming]

I believe they're actually keeping the 444s and 450s in the fleet and ditching the 455s (which I can get behind at this point) and 458s. Sadly the other Desiro, the pair of 707s, will be ditched eventually too.

[@Jarrell-pn5dt]

They only have 4 707? I see it everyday morning and evening. Am i lucky?​@@FarmYardGaming

[@FarmYardGaming]

@@Jarrell-pn5dt I thought it was just 2 on South Western nowadays, 024 and in particular 030

[@walkingtheboogie]

Nice to see this finally in service. I'm looking forward to them on the New Line Guildford as there will be loos on the line once again.

[@ndinnen]

Likewise Geoff, the 455's were the train of my childhood growing up in Twickenham / Whitton in the 1980's. It will be a sad day for me to see them replaced by the 701's.

[@british_railway]

Took their sweet time!

[@technoandrew]

I also grew up with the 455s, including catching them to secondary school for 7 years. Will be sad to see them gone, but they’ve had their time.

[@bottletopgirl]

I managed to ride on the first journey. They're really nice!

[@soundssensational4568]

Definitely Nerd Central today! Love it.

[@edwardburek1717]

These 701's look good. What I particularly like is the screen showing the availability of seats on each carriage - I dare say that they will turn red whenever the train is heaving with humanity. I reckon that test will come at the end of April, when the Army-Navy game takes place at Twickenham. And at 4:18, I think we've found Geoff's perfect office.

[@MrGreatplum]

Seats look grim but air conditioning is going to be a game changer on these routes!

[@apuldram]

AC nice, but do we really need it, or afford it. For commuter trips?

[@MrGreatplum]

@@apuldram - having commuted for a number of years without and then with a/c, it makes life tolerable

[@apuldram]

I lived in Oakland, California for a number of years, and our buses were A/C free, due to the microclimate. Just a few miles away A/C was essential.

[@mdhazeldine]

@@apuldramYes we do. The climate is only getting hotter. Imagine what it'll be like in 40 years when these retire.

[@FarmYardGaming]

Seats are nice! For me at least. Better than the 707s, at least.

[@thetraininator40]

They were stabled in HNRC on Worksop sidings seen a few of them

[@TomBradfordUK]

They’ll also be the main units on the Reading service going forward which wasn’t included your map for some reason.

[@johnstilljohn3181]

Nice. As you say, it's the end of the 455s - the last trains I maintained over 30 years ago...

[@user-md2ow7ky8n]

Nice video Geoff!

[@tinsujintinsujin2766]

Splendid from 11

[@christopherwright4573]

Goodstuff Geoff a true anorak i'm currently watching your All Station series thats fantastic i also liked your Piccadilly line video which one i hear you ask all of them lol my son is a driver on the line.

[@ChoobCubed]

If I recall correctly, the "Not for public use" sockets are configured for shed/ shore supply. I think they have a seperate breaker too.

[@Bobberfy]

I Just Missed Riding On These Trains I Went To Richmond Park In The Summer Of 2023 We’re I Got Off At Mortlake But Went To Richmond On The Way Back Home And A Few Weeks Ago In January 2024 I Went To Hampton Court Palace And On The 455 I Looked In Clapham Junction Depot And Saw These 701s And I Thought ‘ i will ride on one of them soon’ And I Never Saw One Bypass From Waterloo-Suburton

[@neville132bbk]

Well done, Geoff--it's Magic--- from Windsor to... Levin NZ by 9pm NZSuT on Jan 17th :-)) Pity I'll never get to LHR again unless I win Lotto..

[@mooncowtube]

The "not for public use" sockets will probably have higher current ratings so that higher power appliances can be used, like vacuum cleaners etc. Also, the one you pointed to looked like it was in a walkway, rather than under seats, so plugging things in there while the train is in use could be a trip hazard and obstacle for emergency exit etc etc.

[@oforid2227]

Celia is on 455s but normally doesn't always work definitely will miss them 😢

[@Anonymoususer_2023]

I have to say that the new Class 701 Arterio trains are very nice and should also be in service on other services to replace the Class 455 that are scheduled to be scrapped. With the Class 458 that are to be converted back to 4-Car to be used on the Portsmouth Direct line.

[@K-o-R]

Surprised the grab poles aren't the light blue of the seat handles. The units look good though!

[@nigelbriggs5369]

Yup. Would be nice to see it on the 6:20 Waterloo to reading service. All the people who crowd on at earley

[@tahmedurrahman666]

HALLELUJAH AT LAST! How long did we have to wait!

[@CloudmasterOnYoutube]

After so long it is rolling out now!

[@williamwildcat]

I never thought id see the day

[@noahbowie5985]

About damn time too

[@Samuelgamer4]

The class 701 trains are nice.

[@MorganTheTimeLord]

These are the only modern trains I genuinely think look like toys, something about the design makes them look like they’re from a child’s play set

[@TanVasinTrains]

You finally reviewed this train. The arterios

[@bfapple]

Finally? Geoff was there on the first day.

[@TanVasinTrains]

@@bfapple He finally did a review after 4 years

[@norbitonflyer5625]

2:36 That's the carriage number (unless you have accidetally timeshifted to one of the old 4VEC units that used to run on the Isle of Wight until the 1990s! )

[@Sifalie]

the plugs near the floor are specifically made fore vacuums. So the cleaning team use only these ones.

[@Dean0G]

These trains are running on my local so I can’t wait to ride on then when I get the chance

[@miahaskurti4539]

I Like How The Class 701 Still Uses Celia

[@shihanthetrainspotter]

It’s about time these entered service after it’s sneak peek 4 years ago now it’s very nice to see these in service they are great trains i can’t wait for them to go on the express lines and go on the express routes later on in 2024 so they can run along with the 450s and 44s once the 455s leave which will be sad to see them go but these 701s are great even though I’m not that much of a fan of Aventras apart from the 730s are 701s these are great trains.

[@bfapple]

Class 701 for suburban routes only, not long distance.

[@eastmidlandparkway6267]

Hi Geoff great 👍🏻 news seeing the infrastructure being upgraded back to bring passenger services to where they are needed live in Sheffield and Dore and Totley station is also being upgraded to having double track 2 platforms and lifts it’s to eliviate the train bottleneck on the Sheffield to Manchester hope valley line it used to be double track and there were also more stations between Sheffield and Dore and Totley hope you could come and have a look Kind regards Kev Beighton Parkway Sheffield

[@dougle03]

Route gauging clearance was completed over 2 years ago now. A great train from a gauging point of view with only a handful of station platform mods needed... Looks like SWR have resolved the union disputes that have prevented these trains from running 18 months ago.

[@lapiswake6583]

I got told of the first service at about the time the outbound service was leaving Twickenham last Tuesday, so I got up and raced to Staines station to ride it into Waterloo on the return journey. I got on in coach 8, and walked to the back. Then I walked down to the front after we left Clapham Junction, and came into platform 17 at Waterloo. I really liked them, and although the seats are hard, they're clearly padded so should soften up given use. But, the seats seem too close together for a 2+2 seated train, as though they've taken the spacers from a 3+2 seat coach and used them here to give more standing room. It isn't comfortable to sit in a window seat when you realise you're taking up room on the seat next to you. I'm guessing this was recorded on Thursday?

[@marcodebrouillard9259]

Hello, I only know South Eastern Railways coming from Folkestone via Chanel Tunel and I see those lines are fitted with same electric third rail device. In every country the fashion for new deliveries is to all access trains from head to end. In France we also had some problems for longer or higher, or larger trains than platforms. Before running big works had to be done to adapt platforms and stations. Like you i suspect this brand new marvelous unit will be spoiled by massive, frequent passengers using above all in bad weather. Carpet floors won't last fresh. It seems to be confortable, clear and roomy, specially inside round w c for disable person access. It 's not about the same subject but if TGV Eurostar still used Waterloo Line access they would'nt have been stopped in nothern new high speed line by big flushes of water in tunnels ! best regards. Marco

[@EuropeanRailfanAlt]

FINALLY AFTER MORE THAN 4 YEARS

[@mijos3]

I saw the title and literally shouted „Wooow“ 😂

[@medicj8481]

Two services a day now. I did them both today.

[@anthonylloyd6094]

Seen a few sitting at Clapham Junction for ages ......

[@Phoenix-jm7iv]

love Celia Drummonds voice, she did the best announcements

[@blight4959]

No rush.

[@Pop_o_Rap_Photo085]

Not St David’s services then yet only suburban services. Good to see new trains in though. Nice vid Geoff.

[@dorsettyke]

Very unlikely that you'll ever see one of these in Exeter.

[@tizer8471]

ooo nice trains

[@riggermortiss69]

everytime I go that far down a platform at waterloo, get yelled at, good to see this unit in service at last

[@King_K_Rool_]

SWR is one of the only London networks left with trains with openable windows. Love these new trains, but I often feel like im travelling in a hermetically sealed box and the fresh air will be missed..

[@Paco_Gaepedores]

Amazing woohoo ❤

[@jacobporrett]

They look good.

[@dlb9283]

The 701 is very uncomfortable. It is not stable and has a lot of vibration. The seats by the table are not good, I could not get up and get around the table!

[@FarmYardGaming]

So long as they don't reek of... a toilet like the 720s this might well be the best Aventra I get to use daily. I can't wait to no longer have to rely on 455s and 458s.

[@charlieOkeene]

The video said they don't smell new: they aren't! We've had these things stabled in Eastleigh TRSMD since forever. Not that they've been static. They've done a lot of test runs along the south coast.

[@marcleslac2413]

FINALLY!

[@JamesEverett91]

As someone who used to commute for many years from Southampton to London, I always hated SWR's other types of trains compared to the 444, as without the armrests the 444s have, all of SWR's seats are too narrow to actually comfortably sit next to someone on. So I always hated when they didn't have a 444 and we had to squeeze ourselves into the seats of a 450 for the 90 mins journey - especially since these would be in situations where trains are delayed and even more people than normal are trying to squeeze onto them. So, glad that these aren't in the 2 - 3 configuration, but it doesn't actually make them more comfortable to ride on, in my eyes, especially if packed with commuters - even for short journeys.