New Arterio trains on South Western Railway finally sees driver training commence
After year’s of delay driver testing has finally begun to enable the wide-scale introduction of new trains on South Western Railway.
Class 701 “Arterio” trains were ordered seven years ago for introduction in 2019. Five years on and a skeletal service runs daily with few drivers fully trained.
That is finally set to change as training begins which will see 40 year old trains scrapped and two further Class 707s move to Southeastern, which they’ve branded as City Beams.
It could still take up to two years for the full fleet to be introduced. Stock built years ago has been sitting in sidings across the country.
The Department for Transport denied a Freedom of Information request earlier this year to reveal how much the delay has cost. With trains delayed, leasing costs have been paid on keeping other stock running.
Issues with cab design and software have been highlighted for the trains which form part of the Aventra family which also includes Elizabeth line stock.
Network
Arterios are to be used across suburban and Metro routes.
When in service the air conditioned trains will offer relief to passengers used to older Class 455 stock.
A number of older trains have already been withdrawn which in turn has seen shorter trains and reduced frequencies.
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The Class 701s should have entered service in 2021 despite the COVID-19 pandemic that has caused these new trains to be delayed. And some of the Class 701s have entered service on the Windsor & Eton Riverside service. I do think that South Western Railway should start introducing the Class 701 Arterio trains before Christmas.
I personally would like to see the Class 701 units coming into service at least in the Autumn and not to be delayed again until next year.
These new trains should have entered service in late 2021/early or mid 2022 and would have replaced the Class 455 and the 30 Class 707s cascaded to Southeastern.