3:23 that box is where the flux capacitor is located. Very important for combatting delays, but does require a linespeed increase to 88mph on the Kingston Loop.
Well done with this first class channel and all the hard work you but in is paying off with good invitation with cakes too.....we all love a good free cake.
I remember when I first found (and subscribed to) this channel and thought "this is good, he should have at least 10000 subscribers"... and here we are a few years later, getting invites to the big train and tube related events. 🙂
I just had a look at the TfL map of tube/OG stations with toilets; tube trains don't have toilets, but the map does show some consideration for customer comfort and, of course, almost all tube trains run at least every 10 minutes (though many OG are only 4tph), so a toilet stop doesn't affect the timing of a journey too much. On SWR however most services are only half-hourly, as you point out, and no one seems to have any plan to improve that (apart from Crossrail 2, which is not coming any time soon).
@ricktownend9144 also toilets at stations close relatively early, especially ones outside the TFl fare region. Even my loos at a zone 4 station is closed at 5pm. None of the cafés or take aways around the station have loos and the pubs are both closed. They also removed the public toilets that existed. Many people have to get on buses for an onward journey. So if you have been running to catch a train from a theatre and then have to hold it for an hour or more, is pretty dreadful. If I went to Stanmore on the tube, I can pop to the loo in the theatre and take a train later. Also, busses in places further out stop earlier especially during the week, which means sometimes you have to get a certain train to even get home.
There was a big hullabaloo in the Netherlands, when the national operator (which is a 100% state-owned private company) ordered commuter trains without toilets. Parliament got involved (because, you know, they have to be seen doing _something_), and decided that the toilets should be retrofitted.
I was on my way home from Waterloo one evening after a perhaps one too many. I soon realised I wasn't going to make it and had to get off at Clapham Junction, run along the bridge, and vault the turnstile into the gents'. Gap to the next train was 30 minutes so I coughed up £30ish on a black cab. 'Spending a penny' indeed. Less amusingly, I have seen pissed-up office workers relieving themselves between the interconnecting doors late in the evening too. Grim.
I’m not a train guy at all, but got this video in my recommended. My work commute is from Putney to Vauxhall. Your comment about the difference during rush hour is absolutely true! The difference between the Arterio and 455 is night and day. I’ve got mental notes of when the Arterio service shows up at Putney in the mornings - it’s usually on a route that skips Wandsworth Town and Queenstown Road. I always make sure I get that one as it’s just so much more comfortable to be on - much more space for us who have stand like packed-in livestock in the mornings!!👍
Yeah see, I just wrote a critical comment about these trains, but I think that's going to be absolutely true - people who commute from late in the line for short distances (like Putney, Richmond) are going to like these trains a lot more than those who have to ride them from much further out. If you are guaranteed to stand every day anyway, you aren't going to care that the seats are awful, or that the inside feels like a hospital waiting room. My only comment would be that your commute is mercifully short no matter how comfortable or uncomfortable it is - many people are going to have to ride these trains for up to a couple of hours a day! I wish they had thought about those people as well. Perhaps it's the network that is the problem, or the timetable, and there should be somehow further separation of longer and shorter distance commutes.
Driving for them, The 701s are easily the best units I've driven compared to the existing units, especially the 455s that are being withdrawn slowly. Noticeably better in areas of low adhesion compared to the other stock.
@@kinocchio 707s were before I arrive but colleagues I know say that these are just as good, more so better in the 10 car formation as you can walk fully from cab to cab where as the 707s you had to be at a platform or siding(with a authorized walking route) to change cabs when two 707s were coupled up, this meant certain times 707s would mess up contingency plans as you'd not be able to safely change ends.
@@DazzaS83 Nope the wipers was sorted quickly. It was more so the method of door control that was the issue. That was sorted and then issues with the train itself, software wise has prolonged things aswell as infrastructure stuff.
I can't wait for these to come out onto my local SWR line - at Ewell West. I'm really looking forward to having the toilets, charging facilities and air conditioning on board - something I already have on the southern trains from Ewell East.
The 455s came out in 1982, the year I was born. I've been riding them on my local line (Waterloo to Woking stopper) for most of my life on and off. I will miss them, but they've had a good innings and it's time for something newer. I will be glad to have trains with air conditioning and toilets, like the 450s. The seats also don't look too bad. Thank goodness they're 2+2 and not 2+3 (the biggest down side of the 450s).
You should try driving a 450, the drivers seat is not comfortable considering the amount of time spent driving them. Even the passengers seats are awful.
You know you are getting old when you recognise a "heritage" livery and remember when it was introduced the first time. Faster acceleration and stopping might be more of a problem for those hanging from a strap. Look nice though.
The issue of comfort and getting tossed around inside mainly comes down to jolt, or how quickly the acceleration changes. If the drivers are trained to apply and reduce power and braking smoothly, and/or the electronics do that for them, it should be a more comfortable ride despite the higher acceleration.
The number of times I've been stuck for an hour between Vauxhall and Clapham Junction, and have been grateful for having used "the offboard facilities", it sounds likeca good idea.
@@Eragor-h5n Depends on what you are calling commuter trains, surely? The Metra in Chicago that I used for five years has toilets, but not the L, which is a frequent stop train, like a subway. The Metra is what I would call a commuter train. That being said, that has not much to do with me saying goodbye and good riddance to those 455s that I dealt with for 9 years.
Whereas commuters into Paddington from the Reading direction had to say goodbye to trains with toilets, and hello to Elizabeth Line trains with no toilets. Such is progress...
3:23 that Box is the Sander Box. Allows it to be filled from inside the train when stabled at a depot or platform aswell as the Driver or competent personnel can see the actual level of the sand when checking.
@@highpath4776 Usually you only just have to see that the box is filled, The automatic Wheel Slip Protection system controls the release of the sand. You'd don't check that it flows as if rarely ever gets clogged and will warn if so.
I moved down to London as an embryonic yuppie in 1982, just as the slam-door trains were being replaced by the 455's. This is yet another reminder of the march of time and my increasing decrepitude.
The seats are horrifically uncomfortable - I live on the Windsor & Eton Riverside line and we've had these in service for a while. But yeah, you can get a whole bunch o' people in it.
@Flymochairman1 These trains have been in limited service since January, and I've been able to ride on them twice. They are an improvement on thameslink "ironing board" seats that I term as not very bum friendly as I've had numb bums from extended periods on sitting on them
@@Keithbarberthe current seats on the Shepperton line may have had cushioning once but there’s no sign of it now, I’ve also heard rumours that they were clean at some point in time
I'll miss the 455's. Seeing one, always reminds me of the good times visiting my nan in Shepperton. I'm old enough to remember the slam door trains they replaced. Which as a little kid, scared me top death. As I was always worried a door would fly open
I’m so envious, I have to endure slow diesels on the Chiltern line into Marylebone. Chiltern line are clueless, they often run a 2 carriage units at peak times. Anyway keep up the excellent work. 🚉🚂
These might be new in the 'burbs, but they've been rattling around Eastleigh here for 5 years. They must now be contenders for the Oldest New Trains award. Soon be time for their mid service life refits.
The invitation shows a belief in the credibility of Jago and a belief in the new stock, as they would have known Jago would give a “warts and all” review, and is not afraid to give adversely critical comments….but always politely put.
I find it interesting that the Class 701s were also introduced to replace the relatively new Class 707 Desiro City trains, as the lease rates of the Arterios are apparently lower than the rates for the Desiros.
I've seen the 701's on test at Farnborough plenty of times, I'm so glad to see them getting launched. I have a feeling I might see some 701's on the Ascot to Aldershot branch in the future.
When the 455s replaced EPBs it felt like a step back in passenger comfort as, when new, the 455s were fitted with low-backed seats. Good to see a step up in passenger comfort this time round.
Great video as usual, thank you especially for getting the proof of the pudding quote right. The one most people use today drives me ever so slightly MAD!
Living on The West of England Line, I sometimes fear we are getting left behind, but hope SWR, in fact believe they are, working on the future of this wonderful line. It needs quite a lot of TLC.
Update! I actually had the chance to ride one of these yesterday! I took a trip out to Feltham. I rode there from Waterloo on a Class 450 and then back on a 701; so I can't compare to the older 455s or indeed what any of these are like during rush hour or anything. What I can say is that they're rather nice - very seating-orientated as you say and more akin to suburban rolling stock than the higher-density layout of the 710 or the hybrid layout of the 345. I think they're comfier and just, a bit more pleasant to be in than the 450s. I have to say too, a 2+2 layout just makes navigating the train so much easier than a 3+2 layout; makes it distinctly less cramped. On the way there the 450 ran a stopping commuter service round the Hounslow Loop, but on the way back the 701 ran a limited stop service along the Waterloo-Reading straight back. The 701 definitely seems suited to a 'mainline' service like that, for sure. They seem like good trains, overall. I quite like the Aventras used on other parts of London's railways so I figured these would be good - and I was right. Incidentally, these two represented one half of their respective legs of my journey. The trips to and from Waterloo East to get to Waterloo were done on a 376 and a 465 respectively. The 701 is, as you'd hope, the best of this bunch; the lighting, the space, the smoothness... nearly everything really. I hate to say it though, the 465 still has the comfiest seats, lol. Class 465 my beloved Great video!
What is that large bird at 7:35 in the background all about? In memory of the birds that the previous trains might have hit? Anyway, it was dancing around nicely... I guess doing the "Funky Chicken"? I've just reviewed the footage again and it's doing the "Locomotion."
All these new trains seem to ignore tall passengers who wish to sit, unless they are lucky enough to get the two sets that face each other. Or in this case one of the fold down ones. Tube trains dont have the problem with their longitudinal seating rather than sideways pairing. Just a tall grumpy old man's observation !
Oh, cool! I really don't use SWR's services at all - one time I used one of their main line services out to Feltham, it was a Class 450, quite a nice train IMO. Good to see them finally getting these new 701s into service; I already recognised them as one of Aventra siblings of the 345s and 710s - the Aventras are also somewhat closely related to the Electrostars they replace, and I'm quite familiar with the 375/376s/377s/378s. This reminds me of my local Southeastern and the 465s they use. Between the 466s which they can no longer use as solo units due to accessibility requirements (so they're used to bulk up the 465s into 6 and 10 car formations) and also the fact they're slowly being replaced by 707s for metro services, and 377s for mainline services (the 465s currently pull double duty.) Those new trains will accelerate faster - for the 375s/377s, they're more seating-orientated whilst the 707s are more standing-orientated (the 465s are honestly more outfitted for long distance mainline services - they have toilets like the Electrostars but not the Desiro Citys - but their seats are more cramped due to being a 3 + 2 layout much of the time.) I haven't looked into their capacities but I'm sure both can best the 465s. I will miss them, I love their goofy boxy faces and the sound their traction equipment makes, and their warm lighting. But there's no doubt that their replacements provide a better service in almost all aspects. About the only ways they're worse is that the 376s currently in use on metro services and the 707s have less comfortable seats, and neither have toilets. But yeah, just like the 701s will hopefully improve SWR's service as they take over from the 455s, so too will the 377s and 707s improve SE's services as they take over from the 465s/466s. Great video!
When Greater Anglia were replacing their fleet with the class 720, they considered a slew of 10 coach sets, but then it was pointed out to them ... if one of the 10 coach set has an issue you lose a full 10 coach set, whereas if you couple two 5 coach sets if one coach has an issue you can still run the train (albeit 1/2 the size), also at non-peak times the sets can be split down thus reducing the hours run on each unit - so one would question the sense in having 10 coach units versus more 5 coach units.
THATS EXACTLY WHAT I SAID IN RAIL FORUMS ONCE. And then one of the people were making excuses about testing and getting them out faster if you test 10 cars first . But what makes more sense is getting out the smaller units into service incase some of them fail and then losing a whole bunch of carriages. The 701/5s were tested a while back. But who knows what's happening to them. Using smaller trains during less busy periods as intro is better . You can also attach 2, 5 cars to make 10 cars during longer services. The ACTUAL 10 cars can be delivered later on.
On other parts of SWR, their 444s are in rakes of five, doubling to ten coaches on the longer routes. If these 701s are split into two rakes of five, the coach numbering will obviously be incorrect. SWR must be planning to maintain the ten coach units and not split them.
@@grahamrowntree5573 but the main issue is they could have converted their 10 coach orders into 5 coach orders for a minimal uncharge exactly in the way GA did with theirs - but the downside of a 10 coach unit is that it can't be split so if one coach has an issue then all 10 are out of service rather than just 5 in the problematic set ... obviously they are hoping the uplift in reliability is going to avoid this happening, but it does seem like a risk to take.
Getting rid of the Class 707s that came into service in 2017 was a bit of a head scratcher. I heard the reason was that it was cheaper to lease new rolling stock. Apart from the rock hard ironing board seats. They were perfectly decent rolling stock and ideal for the commuter routes coming out of Waterloo.
It is weird. Those trains have (I think?) ended up going to Southeastern; they're part of their metro commuter fleet trains now - stopping services from Sevenoaks and Orpington up to Charing X and Cannon St most notably - taking over from some of their old 465s on those routes, and working alongside the 376s they had already. I haven't noticed too many issues with reliability as a passenger. It did surprise me to see SWR get rid of them so soon but hey, I guess those served by SE get to use them now. I rather like them - they are good for the roles they serve (more so than the 465s which are clearly more meant for long distance routes in the way SE's 375s/377s are) and really the only complaints are no toilets, and the seats not being especially comfy. I prefer them to the 376s too personally, to be in.
I see from the map at 06:40 that these trains will go South beyond Aldershot to Farnham. I wonder why they won't go the last few miles to Bentley and Alton (which is the end of the line).
Because they will be working the Farnham to Guildford service, (and the Ascot to Guildford service) but not the Waterloo - Alton line which will still have 450s, with 1st class.
As a class 720 user (c2c) these aventra trains are really good. Prefer them over the 357. These will surely be way better than the 455. Im sure that the 701 shares similar parts to the 720 so it will be fast and reliable
701s are not famed for their reliability, there's a reason they're 5 years late 455s on the other hand are some of the most reliable electric trains in the country, with multiple golden spanners this is without getting into issues like wheel hunting & ride quality, 455s are extremely smooth, with 701s you feel every bump, and the seats are of less ergonomic design, have less padding, and feel more cramped as they tend to hug your body in a weird way - not to then mention the build quality, they're expected to last 20 years, they've already had 5, 455s have lasted over 40 years, and when it comes to reliability, they show no signs of stopping - the general quality of construction and materials is far superior on the 455s, 450, and 458s they're by no means as bad as 710s for the passanger but what they make up for in capacity and amenities, they fall short on for reliability, ride quality, build quality, and comfort
@@khidorahian they weren't 5 years late 💀 like, that goes beyond "teething issues" lol same for 777s, their unreliability is embarrassing after being in service for so long
As someone who uses the old trains most days this change seems great. The added capacity will probably be almost immediately consumed by the latent demand that I'm sure is there but avoids the peak peak rush hours because the trains are too full.
Any train with air conditioning is a blessing, and we have endured yet another hot summer with stuffy 455s, a stock which needs to be retired without any further delay. I travelled on a 701 for the first time late one evening in October. While the ride and speed were impressive (it was a very late-running Shepperton service which ran non-stop from London Waterloo to Kingston on the fast road as far as New Malden), the seats are hard and too upright, features which stood out instantly because I had just travelled from Manchester on a class 390. I’d even venture that they’re worse than a 707. 450s and 458/4s, by contrast, are more comfortable than 701s. Also, the 701’s seat/window alignment is poor, and some seats have a noticeably large expanse of grey wall beside them. In view of the 5-year delay in the introduction of these trains, today's announcement of the re-nationalisation of SWR is unsurprising.
I will not miss how the windows on the 455s got slammed shut by the suction of a passing train. You could see how in a crowded train this caused passengers to jump slightly from their seats in a sort of Mexican Wave as the effect passed down the carriage.
Very nice video very interesting too. I remember as a child seen the 455 replacing theHAP/EPB units. As my auntie who lived in Strawberry Hill., would say; as long as they are fit for the purpose they are built for issue not matter. Then again train punctuality is most important. It’s no good being comfortable if you are late.!
Having commuted on Bulleid 4-SUbs and 4EPBs, I was disappointed with the 455s, which I found uncomfortable. So, fingers crossed, that the new units will be a success.
It has to be said, the ride on 4EPBs on the Gillingham to Charing Cross via Woolwich Arsenal and Lewisham ( *62* ) in their latter days was north of alarming at anything resembling speed.
I'll miss the evocatively mellifluous moan of the 455s (and the preceding 508s, 4-EPBs and 4-SUBs), it's been the soundtrack to South London and Surrey suburbia for decades and always brings to mind that part of the world.
In my experience it's easy nowadays to find a seat on London commuter services even during rush hour. In the post Covid world the days of super dense crush loaded trains are thankfully a thing of the past. The recently published usage figures also reflect this new reality.
As you don't follow cricket, you may be unaware that "Nighthawk" is Stuart Broad's self-coined, semi-jocular nickname - based on his (let's say kindly) "mixed" success as England's night watchman batter. 🏏😄
Actually Stuart Broad is a batsman and not a batter - a batter is the mixture of flour, eggs and water that fish are coated with and cooked in at the fish n chip shop🏏
@@calummackenzie1050 😄 I could not agree more - but the powers-that-be now prefer the term "batters" for reasons beyond my ken. 🙄 As far as I know all the current test team identify as men 🤔 ...and I never saw Geoff Boycott or Brian Close as in any way gender fluid - so I will stay old school along with your good self! (I was, I'm glad to say, there in person to witness Stuart scoring 169. Now that was an innings!)
@@brianparker663 It just means commentators don't have to remember to keep switching between batsman for men's matches and batter for women's matches. But I have still heard YT commentators for county championship matches use batsman and nightwatchman on the grounds that these are men's matches. Frankly there are bigger things to care about.
They were test-running these down to Poole and Bournemouth literally years ago! I wondered what had become of them. Despite having very big "do not board" banners across the vestibules, visible when the doors were opened whilst performing "practice" station stops I was amused to see many travellers making determined attempts to board these trains!
I thought i got on a new train on my friday commute. Inside looked quite similar to thier other modern trains apart from the walk through. It was very comfortable!
Missed your thoughts on the actual seating, but good to know the driver’s comfortable at least, and keeping guards on the train can mitigate the social issue you raised about the gangways. Not sure how I feel about them, not that I’m in any place to ride them, but for commuter stock it’s excellent to see a 2+2 configuration again! Maneuverability is MUCH easier this way for every passenger, without the need to crabwalk, and it adds crush capacity while retaining decent seating capacity. The 345’s should’ve had at least some cars fitted out like this, but retaining the 3 double doors on each side.
How nice to hear the expression “The proof of the pudding is in the eating”. So much better than🎉 the anaemic and meaningless modern squitter “The proof is in the pudding”. The word “squitter”, by the way, seems to be a Douglas Adams invention whose meaning is self explained by its context. I like it and intend to use it more often when discussing the vagaries of modern life.
They remind me more of the Class 730/0s that come into service for the West Midlands.... expect they have less carriages but he interesting to ride one. Great video
I've been on these twice. A week or so back a colleague and I attempted to sit opposite each other with the table between. We were unable to without our knees meeting so we had to sit diagonally. The seats are also barely cushioned and as a result very uncomfortable.
Jago, as an American it surprised me that the speed indicator was MPH instead of KPH. I thought that the UK was on the Metric system. And I am sure that the Prime Minister said that you should be invited. You are an important man, you know.
@@TrainLifeGB Yes. I would like to see both in TSC, but it may be a while yet. I am fairly confident we'll eventually get at least one of those two. Anyway, we have everything else, so pretty good going.
@mdhazeldine yeah...maybe the 960 that SWT had could be added at some point. I might repaint that at some point and upload it for people. And maybe I could learn modelling and model the 458/0,/4 and /5 and the 701 in but that would take a couple months or a year at least.
My main thought on the controls is that I'm glad the Emergency Stop button is obvious and (AFAICT) conveniently placed, rather than doing anything stupid with it.
So this is why they decided to close the gates at platform 19 the other day, and funnel everyone from packed trains through the few gates at platform 18. I was inconvenienced for at least three minutes, I'll have you know. The trains are quite nice though. Basically feels like the overground, or whatever they're calling that this week.
'Arterio' sounds like a branded cholesterol reducing pharmaceutical.
May cause anal leakage
Perhaps people are the cholesterol and this train is supposed to reduce clogging.
@@mateuszdrab Arteriosclerosis
Sounds like a new brand of butter
Sounds like there was an arterio motive for introducing these trains
3:23 that box is where the flux capacitor is located. Very important for combatting delays, but does require a linespeed increase to 88mph on the Kingston Loop.
👍🤣
Great Scott!
Great scott!
It reverses the polarity of the neutron flow. Apparently.
Let's be realistic. It will be 90 mph, not 88.
It’s so exciting to see our friendly neighbourhood UA-camrs being invited for events.
P.S. The musicians seem fun!
The people illustrating the various sports must have had many cups of quite strong tea, but I am here for it. 😆
I felt for the lady having to lug the cello and play it simultaneously.
What's the betting a certain Mr. Marshall was also on the invite list? 😁
Well done with this first class channel and all the hard work you but in is paying off with good invitation with cakes too.....we all love a good free cake.
Sorry if I'm being dense: was it 90 trains or 90 units equals 9 trais?
I remember when I first found (and subscribed to) this channel and thought "this is good, he should have at least 10000 subscribers"... and here we are a few years later, getting invites to the big train and tube related events. 🙂
Mic up kid, my content is better than this sloppy channel 🔥 📛 🔥 📛
So nice to have loos back. Taking them out of trains that run only every half an hour for over an hour journey was always a stupid idea
I just had a look at the TfL map of tube/OG stations with toilets; tube trains don't have toilets, but the map does show some consideration for customer comfort and, of course, almost all tube trains run at least every 10 minutes (though many OG are only 4tph), so a toilet stop doesn't affect the timing of a journey too much. On SWR however most services are only half-hourly, as you point out, and no one seems to have any plan to improve that (apart from Crossrail 2, which is not coming any time soon).
@ricktownend9144 also toilets at stations close relatively early, especially ones outside the TFl fare region. Even my loos at a zone 4 station is closed at 5pm. None of the cafés or take aways around the station have loos and the pubs are both closed. They also removed the public toilets that existed. Many people have to get on buses for an onward journey. So if you have been running to catch a train from a theatre and then have to hold it for an hour or more, is pretty dreadful. If I went to Stanmore on the tube, I can pop to the loo in the theatre and take a train later. Also, busses in places further out stop earlier especially during the week, which means sometimes you have to get a certain train to even get home.
Most services on which these will run have never had toilets
There was a big hullabaloo in the Netherlands, when the national operator (which is a 100% state-owned private company) ordered commuter trains without toilets. Parliament got involved (because, you know, they have to be seen doing _something_), and decided that the toilets should be retrofitted.
I was on my way home from Waterloo one evening after a perhaps one too many. I soon realised I wasn't going to make it and had to get off at Clapham Junction, run along the bridge, and vault the turnstile into the gents'. Gap to the next train was 30 minutes so I coughed up £30ish on a black cab. 'Spending a penny' indeed.
Less amusingly, I have seen pissed-up office workers relieving themselves between the interconnecting doors late in the evening too. Grim.
I’m not a train guy at all, but got this video in my recommended. My work commute is from Putney to Vauxhall. Your comment about the difference during rush hour is absolutely true! The difference between the Arterio and 455 is night and day. I’ve got mental notes of when the Arterio service shows up at Putney in the mornings - it’s usually on a route that skips Wandsworth Town and Queenstown Road. I always make sure I get that one as it’s just so much more comfortable to be on - much more space for us who have stand like packed-in livestock in the mornings!!👍
Yeah see, I just wrote a critical comment about these trains, but I think that's going to be absolutely true - people who commute from late in the line for short distances (like Putney, Richmond) are going to like these trains a lot more than those who have to ride them from much further out. If you are guaranteed to stand every day anyway, you aren't going to care that the seats are awful, or that the inside feels like a hospital waiting room.
My only comment would be that your commute is mercifully short no matter how comfortable or uncomfortable it is - many people are going to have to ride these trains for up to a couple of hours a day! I wish they had thought about those people as well. Perhaps it's the network that is the problem, or the timetable, and there should be somehow further separation of longer and shorter distance commutes.
Driving for them, The 701s are easily the best units I've driven compared to the existing units, especially the 455s that are being withdrawn slowly. Noticeably better in areas of low adhesion compared to the other stock.
Mic up kid, my content is better than this sloppy channel 🔥 📛 🔥 📛
Do you drive 707? Are these better than 707?
@@kinocchio 707s were before I arrive but colleagues I know say that these are just as good, more so better in the 10 car formation as you can walk fully from cab to cab where as the 707s you had to be at a platform or siding(with a authorized walking route) to change cabs when two 707s were coupled up, this meant certain times 707s would mess up contingency plans as you'd not be able to safely change ends.
What was it about the windscreen wipers that the unions did not like?
@@DazzaS83 Nope the wipers was sorted quickly. It was more so the method of door control that was the issue. That was sorted and then issues with the train itself, software wise has prolonged things aswell as infrastructure stuff.
I can't wait for these to come out onto my local SWR line - at Ewell West. I'm really looking forward to having the toilets, charging facilities and air conditioning on board - something I already have on the southern trains from Ewell East.
I like the Freudian slip at 4:22 talking about the "anticipation of the 501s". Now *that* would have been an interesting replacement for the 455/456s.
The 455s came out in 1982, the year I was born. I've been riding them on my local line (Waterloo to Woking stopper) for most of my life on and off. I will miss them, but they've had a good innings and it's time for something newer. I will be glad to have trains with air conditioning and toilets, like the 450s. The seats also don't look too bad. Thank goodness they're 2+2 and not 2+3 (the biggest down side of the 450s).
You should try driving a 450, the drivers seat is not comfortable considering the amount of time spent driving them. Even the passengers seats are awful.
@@soulman3590 I would much prefer the driver's seat over the middle seat of 3 in rush hour. lol
@mdhazeldine well,, I just chucked the job in so there's a vacancy for you 😀
@@soulman3590 haha. I'd love to, but I don't think my health would be up to it. I just do Train Simulator instead 😊
@@mdhazeldine simulators? Eww, we had to do simulator assessments. Was a horrible experience. Nobody likes it.
You know you are getting old when you recognise a "heritage" livery and remember when it was introduced the first time.
Faster acceleration and stopping might be more of a problem for those hanging from a strap. Look nice though.
Mic up kid, my content is better than this sloppy channel 🔥 📛 🔥 📛
On the Elizabeth Line and Overground the acceleration/deceleration is only moderately faster and not at all uncomfortable.
The issue of comfort and getting tossed around inside mainly comes down to jolt, or how quickly the acceleration changes. If the drivers are trained to apply and reduce power and braking smoothly, and/or the electronics do that for them, it should be a more comfortable ride despite the higher acceleration.
Newer trains i cant stand on, but also being disabled doesnt help with that. The extra seats do help though
Always happy to say goodbye to commuter trains with no toilets. You won't be missed!!
Most of the commuter trains in the States have no toilets, though. Such amenities are generally only found on long distance and intercity trains.
The number of times I've been stuck for an hour between Vauxhall and Clapham Junction, and have been grateful for having used "the offboard facilities", it sounds likeca good idea.
@@Eragor-h5n Depends on what you are calling commuter trains, surely? The Metra in Chicago that I used for five years has toilets, but not the L, which is a frequent stop train, like a subway. The Metra is what I would call a commuter train. That being said, that has not much to do with me saying goodbye and good riddance to those 455s that I dealt with for 9 years.
Whereas commuters into Paddington from the Reading direction had to say goodbye to trains with toilets, and hello to Elizabeth Line trains with no toilets. Such is progress...
@@andrewhotston983 I would have to move, full stop.
I imagine the loos will have commuters flush with excitement
3:23 that Box is the Sander Box. Allows it to be filled from inside the train when stabled at a depot or platform aswell as the Driver or competent personnel can see the actual level of the sand when checking.
I hope they check it flows out
@@highpath4776 Usually you only just have to see that the box is filled, The automatic Wheel Slip Protection system controls the release of the sand. You'd don't check that it flows as if rarely ever gets clogged and will warn if so.
@@mattbicazette502 true, however there was a crash in Wales a few weeks ago, and one of the contributing factors was blockage of the sanding pipes
@@mattbicazette502 See the rail collision in wales (RAIB report pending). We had to check on locomotives (steam operations)
@MercenaryPen That is very true indeed. These ones are very advance, they can detect blockages as they fire a little off during every train prep
I moved down to London as an embryonic yuppie in 1982, just as the slam-door trains were being replaced by the 455's. This is yet another reminder of the march of time and my increasing decrepitude.
Oh boy, can I ever identify with *that* !!
The seats are horrifically uncomfortable - I live on the Windsor & Eton Riverside line and we've had these in service for a while. But yeah, you can get a whole bunch o' people in it.
The internal seating looks good. Nice styling externally too. Good to see you're getting in to some of these nice events. Cheers!
@Flymochairman1 These trains have been in limited service since January, and I've been able to ride on them twice. They are an improvement on thameslink "ironing board" seats that I term as not very bum friendly as I've had numb bums from extended periods on sitting on them
@@Keithbarberthe current seats on the Shepperton line may have had cushioning once but there’s no sign of it now, I’ve also heard rumours that they were clean at some point in time
They named a train Nighthawk - but only once.
"'Allo London, this is Nighthawk."
Does it have “ The Flashing Knobs “ Or “ Space to hide the British Airmen “ 😂😂
@@paulsengupta971 I always thought the 'Allo 'Allo reference was wordplay for "Sh*tehawk"
Very official, much cupcakes, wow. Congrats, Jago!
Mic up kid, my content is better than this sloppy channel 🔥 📛 🔥 📛
Wow! At 7:28 it would appear that the drivers will be trained at eating pizza while on duty! Now that's impressive and efficient!
I'll miss the 455's. Seeing one, always reminds me of the good times visiting my nan in Shepperton. I'm old enough to remember the slam door trains they replaced. Which as a little kid, scared me top death. As I was always worried a door would fly open
I’m so envious, I have to endure slow diesels on the Chiltern line into Marylebone. Chiltern line are clueless, they often run a 2 carriage units at peak times.
Anyway keep up the excellent work. 🚉🚂
having been on the Arterios as a Fellow SWR sufferer, they're bloody lovely vs the 455s and Junipers.
These might be new in the 'burbs, but they've been rattling around Eastleigh here for 5 years. They must now be contenders for the Oldest New Trains award. Soon be time for their mid service life refits.
😂😂😂
The invitation shows a belief in the credibility of Jago and a belief in the new stock, as they would have known Jago would give a “warts and all” review, and is not afraid to give adversely critical comments….but always politely put.
4:21 Did you say in anticipation of the 501s ? They were introduced in 1957 and all gone by 1985 !
I find it interesting that the Class 701s were also introduced to replace the relatively new Class 707 Desiro City trains, as the lease rates of the Arterios are apparently lower than the rates for the Desiros.
Yes, living in South East London we now get these trains now on a few journeys. A step up from the old dilapidated Networkers
Think a lot of them were sold on to the Thameslink fleet as well
Nice to see that the seats are somewhat identical to the old Southern and GWR knockoffs we get up to Kings Lynn these days. Great.
I've seen the 701's on test at Farnborough plenty of times, I'm so glad to see them getting launched.
I have a feeling I might see some 701's on the Ascot to Aldershot branch in the future.
When the 455s replaced EPBs it felt like a step back in passenger comfort as, when new, the 455s were fitted with low-backed seats. Good to see a step up in passenger comfort this time round.
Waited so long for these I've now given up commutting into Waterloo!
I don't blame you. I would have done the same. 😂
Great video as usual, thank you especially for getting the proof of the pudding quote right. The one most people use today drives me ever so slightly MAD!
How do people get it wrong?
Living on The West of England Line, I sometimes fear we are getting left behind, but hope SWR, in fact believe they are, working on the future of this wonderful line. It needs quite a lot of TLC.
JAGO: You are the extended-capacity to my growing knowledge of London trains and transit.
Thanks for an excellent and very informative video.
Hmmm, at 6:15 inside the cab there's a "Hazard Warning" light. Spelling aside, why didn't it go off when Jago is around?
because it's actually a button to activate the flashing hazard headlights on the front of the train 😉
I'm old enough to remember the 455s being brand new on my daily journey from Chertsey to Strodes 6th Form College in Egham. About 40 years ago now.
Oh god I feel suddenly so old - I still think of them as newish because they don't have slam doors 😢
@@charlesmoss8119 Remember when SWT had to reintroduce slam doors? 99% of passengers didn't know the inherent dangers.
@@charlesmoss8119 so do I, for the same reason.
Update!
I actually had the chance to ride one of these yesterday! I took a trip out to Feltham. I rode there from Waterloo on a Class 450 and then back on a 701; so I can't compare to the older 455s or indeed what any of these are like during rush hour or anything. What I can say is that they're rather nice - very seating-orientated as you say and more akin to suburban rolling stock than the higher-density layout of the 710 or the hybrid layout of the 345. I think they're comfier and just, a bit more pleasant to be in than the 450s. I have to say too, a 2+2 layout just makes navigating the train so much easier than a 3+2 layout; makes it distinctly less cramped.
On the way there the 450 ran a stopping commuter service round the Hounslow Loop, but on the way back the 701 ran a limited stop service along the Waterloo-Reading straight back. The 701 definitely seems suited to a 'mainline' service like that, for sure. They seem like good trains, overall. I quite like the Aventras used on other parts of London's railways so I figured these would be good - and I was right.
Incidentally, these two represented one half of their respective legs of my journey. The trips to and from Waterloo East to get to Waterloo were done on a 376 and a 465 respectively. The 701 is, as you'd hope, the best of this bunch; the lighting, the space, the smoothness... nearly everything really. I hate to say it though, the 465 still has the comfiest seats, lol.
Class 465 my beloved
Great video!
Thank you - as an Epsom resident, I have been waiting for these trains for ages
Stuart broad is such a fitting touch to name it Nighthawk
What is that large bird at 7:35 in the background all about? In memory of the birds that the previous trains might have hit? Anyway, it was dancing around nicely... I guess doing the "Funky Chicken"? I've just reviewed the footage again and it's doing the "Locomotion."
That's their advertising mascot.
Pro tip: Give the timestamp when it enters the screen, not leaves it. ;)
Sandy the Seagull.
All these new trains seem to ignore tall passengers who wish to sit, unless they are lucky enough to get the two sets that face each other. Or in this case one of the fold down ones. Tube trains dont have the problem with their longitudinal seating rather than sideways pairing.
Just a tall grumpy old man's observation !
Oh, cool! I really don't use SWR's services at all - one time I used one of their main line services out to Feltham, it was a Class 450, quite a nice train IMO. Good to see them finally getting these new 701s into service; I already recognised them as one of Aventra siblings of the 345s and 710s - the Aventras are also somewhat closely related to the Electrostars they replace, and I'm quite familiar with the 375/376s/377s/378s.
This reminds me of my local Southeastern and the 465s they use. Between the 466s which they can no longer use as solo units due to accessibility requirements (so they're used to bulk up the 465s into 6 and 10 car formations) and also the fact they're slowly being replaced by 707s for metro services, and 377s for mainline services (the 465s currently pull double duty.) Those new trains will accelerate faster - for the 375s/377s, they're more seating-orientated whilst the 707s are more standing-orientated (the 465s are honestly more outfitted for long distance mainline services - they have toilets like the Electrostars but not the Desiro Citys - but their seats are more cramped due to being a 3 + 2 layout much of the time.) I haven't looked into their capacities but I'm sure both can best the 465s.
I will miss them, I love their goofy boxy faces and the sound their traction equipment makes, and their warm lighting. But there's no doubt that their replacements provide a better service in almost all aspects. About the only ways they're worse is that the 376s currently in use on metro services and the 707s have less comfortable seats, and neither have toilets. But yeah, just like the 701s will hopefully improve SWR's service as they take over from the 455s, so too will the 377s and 707s improve SE's services as they take over from the 465s/466s.
Great video!
When Greater Anglia were replacing their fleet with the class 720, they considered a slew of 10 coach sets, but then it was pointed out to them ... if one of the 10 coach set has an issue you lose a full 10 coach set, whereas if you couple two 5 coach sets if one coach has an issue you can still run the train (albeit 1/2 the size), also at non-peak times the sets can be split down thus reducing the hours run on each unit - so one would question the sense in having 10 coach units versus more 5 coach units.
Indeed. And unit ends without gangways.
THATS EXACTLY WHAT I SAID IN RAIL FORUMS ONCE. And then one of the people were making excuses about testing and getting them out faster if you test 10 cars first . But what makes more sense is getting out the smaller units into service incase some of them fail and then losing a whole bunch of carriages.
The 701/5s were tested a while back. But who knows what's happening to them. Using smaller trains during less busy periods as intro is better . You can also attach 2, 5 cars to make 10 cars during longer services. The ACTUAL 10 cars can be delivered later on.
On other parts of SWR, their 444s are in rakes of five, doubling to ten coaches on the longer routes. If these 701s are split into two rakes of five, the coach numbering will obviously be incorrect. SWR must be planning to maintain the ten coach units and not split them.
@@henrybn14ar maybe some should have and some shoundnt. 5 cars with and 10 cars without.
@@grahamrowntree5573 but the main issue is they could have converted their 10 coach orders into 5 coach orders for a minimal uncharge exactly in the way GA did with theirs - but the downside of a 10 coach unit is that it can't be split so if one coach has an issue then all 10 are out of service rather than just 5 in the problematic set ... obviously they are hoping the uplift in reliability is going to avoid this happening, but it does seem like a risk to take.
6:00 “So while i’ll miss the 455s, i won’t miss being squeezed like a toothpaste tube in Rush Hour”
Really, Jago? A TOOTH PASTE TUBE? 😂
Loads of the 701s were parked up at Worksop for years…
Good Morning, good Sir! from the US west coast.
4:23 a slip of the tongue me thinks 😂😂
Even tho it Have 10 coaches, the seats are borderline padded since they use the ironing board seats on the 700s
I did realise they was that recently new. I got it a couple of days ago from Clapham junction to Windsor & Eton riverside. It really is a nice train
Getting rid of the Class 707s that came into service in 2017 was a bit of a head scratcher. I heard the reason was that it was cheaper to lease new rolling stock.
Apart from the rock hard ironing board seats. They were perfectly decent rolling stock and ideal for the commuter routes coming out of Waterloo.
Mic up kid, my content is better than this sloppy channel 🔥 📛 🔥 📛
I'm not an expert but I've heard that despite being new they're extremely unreliable.
@robinbunchofnumbers4566 if you mean the 707s being unreliable, they are actually WAY more reliable, the 701s are the unreliable ones here.
It is weird. Those trains have (I think?) ended up going to Southeastern; they're part of their metro commuter fleet trains now - stopping services from Sevenoaks and Orpington up to Charing X and Cannon St most notably - taking over from some of their old 465s on those routes, and working alongside the 376s they had already.
I haven't noticed too many issues with reliability as a passenger. It did surprise me to see SWR get rid of them so soon but hey, I guess those served by SE get to use them now. I rather like them - they are good for the roles they serve (more so than the 465s which are clearly more meant for long distance routes in the way SE's 375s/377s are) and really the only complaints are no toilets, and the seats not being especially comfy. I prefer them to the 376s too personally, to be in.
The 707's have one major flaw and that is the absence of a toilet.
I see from the map at 06:40 that these trains will go South beyond Aldershot to Farnham. I wonder why they won't go the last few miles to Bentley and Alton (which is the end of the line).
Because they will be working the Farnham to Guildford service, (and the Ascot to Guildford service) but not the Waterloo - Alton line which will still have 450s, with 1st class.
"There's this box here. I don't know what it does, but I don't have to"
Nice colour scheme. Thanks JAGO
As a class 720 user (c2c) these aventra trains are really good. Prefer them over the 357. These will surely be way better than the 455. Im sure that the 701 shares similar parts to the 720 so it will be fast and reliable
been on the 720s briefly, I just wish they the 357s were given a proper refurb and wash!
701s are not famed for their reliability, there's a reason they're 5 years late
455s on the other hand are some of the most reliable electric trains in the country, with multiple golden spanners
this is without getting into issues like wheel hunting & ride quality, 455s are extremely smooth, with 701s you feel every bump, and the seats are of less ergonomic design, have less padding, and feel more cramped as they tend to hug your body in a weird way - not to then mention the build quality, they're expected to last 20 years, they've already had 5, 455s have lasted over 40 years, and when it comes to reliability, they show no signs of stopping - the general quality of construction and materials is far superior on the 455s, 450, and 458s
they're by no means as bad as 710s for the passanger but what they make up for in capacity and amenities, they fall short on for reliability, ride quality, build quality, and comfort
@@antigod8385 didn't the 455s have teething troubles when they were first introduced?
@@khidorahian they weren't 5 years late 💀
like, that goes beyond "teething issues" lol
same for 777s, their unreliability is embarrassing after being in service for so long
@@antigod8385 alright mate keep being negative, let's get you to bed
4:53 just pretend you’re moving carriage to go to the toilet 😁
As someone who uses the old trains most days this change seems great. The added capacity will probably be almost immediately consumed by the latent demand that I'm sure is there but avoids the peak peak rush hours because the trains are too full.
5:00 That's a good one 😂
Any train with air conditioning is a blessing, and we have endured yet another hot summer with stuffy 455s, a stock which needs to be retired without any further delay. I travelled on a 701 for the first time late one evening in October. While the ride and speed were impressive (it was a very late-running Shepperton service which ran non-stop from London Waterloo to Kingston on the fast road as far as New Malden), the seats are hard and too upright, features which stood out instantly because I had just travelled from Manchester on a class 390. I’d even venture that they’re worse than a 707. 450s and 458/4s, by contrast, are more comfortable than 701s. Also, the 701’s seat/window alignment is poor, and some seats have a noticeably large expanse of grey wall beside them. In view of the 5-year delay in the introduction of these trains, today's announcement of the re-nationalisation of SWR is unsurprising.
I will not miss how the windows on the 455s got slammed shut by the suction of a passing train. You could see how in a crowded train this caused passengers to jump slightly from their seats in a sort of Mexican Wave as the effect passed down the carriage.
Very nice video very interesting too. I remember as a child seen the 455 replacing theHAP/EPB units. As my auntie who lived in Strawberry Hill., would say; as long as they are fit for the purpose they are built for issue not matter. Then again train punctuality is most important. It’s no good being comfortable if you are late.!
3:15 Cycle rack? That's the kids' toilet!
Having commuted on Bulleid 4-SUbs and 4EPBs, I was disappointed with the 455s, which I found uncomfortable. So, fingers crossed, that the new units will be a success.
It has to be said, the ride on 4EPBs on the Gillingham to Charing Cross via Woolwich Arsenal and Lewisham ( *62* ) in their latter days was north of alarming at anything resembling speed.
I'll miss the evocatively mellifluous moan of the 455s (and the preceding 508s, 4-EPBs and 4-SUBs), it's been the soundtrack to South London and Surrey suburbia for decades and always brings to mind that part of the world.
In my experience it's easy nowadays to find a seat on London commuter services even during rush hour. In the post Covid world the days of super dense crush loaded trains are thankfully a thing of the past. The recently published usage figures also reflect this new reality.
Good to see toilets are included. It will be really great if they will not be "Out of Order".
As you don't follow cricket, you may be unaware that "Nighthawk" is Stuart Broad's self-coined, semi-jocular nickname - based on his (let's say kindly) "mixed" success as England's night watchman batter. 🏏😄
Actually Stuart Broad is a batsman and not a batter - a batter is the mixture of flour, eggs and water that fish are coated with and cooked in at the fish n chip shop🏏
@@calummackenzie1050 😄 I could not agree more - but the powers-that-be now prefer the term "batters" for reasons beyond my ken. 🙄 As far as I know all the current test team identify as men 🤔 ...and I never saw Geoff Boycott or Brian Close as in any way gender fluid - so I will stay old school along with your good self! (I was, I'm glad to say, there in person to witness Stuart scoring 169. Now that was an innings!)
@@brianparker663 It just means commentators don't have to remember to keep switching between batsman for men's matches and batter for women's matches. But I have still heard YT commentators for county championship matches use batsman and nightwatchman on the grounds that these are men's matches. Frankly there are bigger things to care about.
I think there was once a sledge that a bowler had 'seen better batters in his fridge' 😁
AIR Conditioning!! ❄️❄️❄️❄️🌡️🚆🛤️👌
Air Cut? (Fellow Curved Air fan?)
Happy Sunday guys! The countdown to christmas has begun, and there is no way to start it better than watching the newest Jago Video :D
Mic up kid, my content is better than this sloppy channel 🔥 📛 🔥 📛
Surprised Hendy was able to pry himself from visiting call girls and writing threats to employers of people who call out safety issues to attend this
They were test-running these down to Poole and Bournemouth literally years ago! I wondered what had become of them.
Despite having very big "do not board" banners across the vestibules, visible when the doors were opened whilst performing "practice" station stops I was amused to see many travellers making determined attempts to board these trains!
2:23 you are a tease Jago!
06:00 I can give you a comparison, imagine a rusty biscuit tin with slightly less waterpoofing than you'd expect
I thought i got on a new train on my friday commute. Inside looked quite similar to thier other modern trains apart from the walk through. It was very comfortable!
Missed your thoughts on the actual seating, but good to know the driver’s comfortable at least, and keeping guards on the train can mitigate the social issue you raised about the gangways.
Not sure how I feel about them, not that I’m in any place to ride them, but for commuter stock it’s excellent to see a 2+2 configuration again! Maneuverability is MUCH easier this way for every passenger, without the need to crabwalk, and it adds crush capacity while retaining decent seating capacity. The 345’s should’ve had at least some cars fitted out like this, but retaining the 3 double doors on each side.
Mic up kid, my content is better than this sloppy channel 🔥 📛 🔥 📛
Quite simple! It’s amazing! Very anticipated 😃
I thought the cup cakes deserved more air time, but at least you showed them, well done.
I've seen plenty of them just sitting idle at Clapham Junction sidings for a while.
How nice to hear the expression “The proof of the pudding is in the eating”. So much better than🎉 the anaemic and meaningless modern squitter “The proof is in the pudding”.
The word “squitter”, by the way, seems to be a Douglas Adams invention whose meaning is self explained by its context. I like it and intend to use it more often when discussing the vagaries of modern life.
They remind me more of the Class 730/0s that come into service for the West Midlands.... expect they have less carriages but he interesting to ride one. Great video
I've been on these twice. A week or so back a colleague and I attempted to sit opposite each other with the table between. We were unable to without our knees meeting so we had to sit diagonally. The seats are also barely cushioned and as a result very uncomfortable.
5:00 Not "arterio-sclerosis"? Jago, we have standards to maintain here. 😺
That is just begging for use as an Evening Standard headline.
They were also ment to displace the class 458's so that they can be refurbished back to mainline specification
Mic up kid, my content is better than this sloppy channel 🔥 📛 🔥 📛
That's progress! Not to down play the importance of toilets but I was sold on free wifi and charging ports🤩
Jago, as an American it surprised me that the speed indicator was MPH instead of KPH. I thought that the UK was on the Metric system. And I am sure that the Prime Minister said that you should be invited. You are an important man, you know.
UK is hybrid, we use miles for speed and distrance with road and rail traffic, and of course beer & other drinks are sold in pints at the pub.
1:29 Nice to see Jago's cake bribe was well supplied. What is the going rate for the number of cakes for a top-notch UA-camr?
Will miss the rattling compressor noise…
Same, I think 455s are better. More reliable.
If you're into Train Simulator, you can still hear it whenever you like. haha.
@mdhazeldine if I had a PC and unfortunately the 458 and 701s aren't in TSC but at least all the other trains are.
@@TrainLifeGB Yes. I would like to see both in TSC, but it may be a while yet. I am fairly confident we'll eventually get at least one of those two. Anyway, we have everything else, so pretty good going.
@mdhazeldine yeah...maybe the 960 that SWT had could be added at some point. I might repaint that at some point and upload it for people. And maybe I could learn modelling and model the 458/0,/4 and /5 and the 701 in but that would take a couple months or a year at least.
"there's this box here..." 😂😂😂
My main thought on the controls is that I'm glad the Emergency Stop button is obvious and (AFAICT) conveniently placed, rather than doing anything stupid with it.
I always thought it was Seven-Ten now Seven-One-Oh is stuck in my head 😂
Mic up kid, my content is better than this sloppy channel 🔥 📛 🔥 📛
I really really love driving 455s and will miss them dearly… 😭💔
They look great for 2014!
Mic up kid, my content is better than this sloppy channel 🔥 📛 🔥 📛
So this is why they decided to close the gates at platform 19 the other day, and funnel everyone from packed trains through the few gates at platform 18.
I was inconvenienced for at least three minutes, I'll have you know.
The trains are quite nice though. Basically feels like the overground, or whatever they're calling that this week.
They look good and hopefully the seats are comfier than the thameslink ones which the interiors are very reminiscent of.
I think i remember the 455s starting to serve the Dorking branch from Horsham back in the early 1980s. RIP the "new modern trains" 😂
5:02 😆😆
I asked SWR how many of the 90 701s are in service at the time of this "launch" - they said *_five_*
i am surprised they weren't delayed until after the franchise ends.
Is there almost a Jago reflection at 2:46?
I thought exactly the same - a very rare cop indeed for any Jago Spotters out there
Why hasn't Lord Hendy resigned yet over the Gareth Dennis affair?