First Bombardier Class 701 arrives at Wimbledon depot for training

Training has begun at Wimbledon depot after the first South Western Railway Class 701 Aventra arrived there on June 30.

Ten-car electric multiple unit 701004 is the second to be released by Bombardier for testing on the SWR network, after 701002 was moved to Eastleigh Works for main line testing earlier in June (RAIL 908).

The ‘701’ is the first of 90 that will be based at the depot. It will initially be used for driver and maintenance training and ‘dynamic’ testing which is due to start from August.

SWR confirmed that the ‘701s’ will replace the Class 455, ‘456’, ‘458’ and ‘707’ trains over a two-year period from when the first Aventra enters traffic. Only the ‘707s’ have a confirmed future, with a transfer to Southeastern.

• To read more on the Class 701s, read RAIL 908, out now.