British Rail Class 701
| Company type | Electric multiple unit passenger trains |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | 2019 |
| Founder | Bombardier Transportation and Alstom |
| Headquarters | Derby , United Kingdom |
Area served | South West London, routes between Waterloo and Windsor, Reading, suburban lines |
| Products | Electric multiple unit trains (Aventra platform) |
| Owner | South Western Railway |
| Parent | Bombardier Transportation and Alstom (manufacturers) |
The British Rail Class 701 Arterio represents a fleet of electric multiple unit passenger trains constructed collaboratively by Bombardier Transportation and Alstom at the Derby Litchurch Lane Works facility. These units, developed on the Aventra platform, are currently operated by South Western Railway (SWR), primarily servicing routes between Waterloo and Windsor. Plans are underway to extend their operation to the Reading, Windsor, and suburban lines across South West London.
The Class 701 order, placed in 2017, encountered several setbacks that delayed its launch beyond the initially scheduled mid-2019 introduction. As of December 2023, SWR had taken delivery of 50 trains. The gradual rollout commenced in January 2024, reflecting a £1 billion investment aimed at modernizing SWR’s suburban train fleet. These new units are set to replace older stock and facilitate the redeployment of existing trains to longer-distance routes.
Background
In March 2017, South Western Railway (SWR) won the South Western franchise, committing to the acquisition of 750 new carriages. By June that year, SWR had entered into a contract with Bombardier Transportation for 90 DC electric multiple units based on the Aventra design—comprising 60 ten-car and 30 five-car sets—scheduled for delivery starting mid-2019 at a cost of £895 million. An option was included for an additional five ten-car units by October 2020. Maintenance responsibilities for the fleet are assigned to the Wimbledon depot and the newly established Feltham depot.
These trains were intended to supplant SWR’s existing suburban fleets, including Classes , , , and . At that time, procuring new rolling stock was deemed more economical than extending leases on older trains. The full deployment of Class 701 units was projected to span two years following initial service commencement.
The introduction of these units increases peak suburban route capacity into Waterloo by 46% and brings improvements such as air-conditioning, open gangways between cars, and onboard restroom facilities.
Initially, the order was divided into Classes 705 for five-car units and 711 for ten-car units; however, this was later adjusted so that ten-car trains were classified as Class 701/0 and five-car sets as Class 701/5.
Construction and delays
Production experienced a temporary suspension in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The first completed ten-car train (701002) arrived at Eastleigh Works on 10 June 2020 to undergo testing and certification processes. By this point, the entry into service was delayed by over five months. As of June 2021, only 19 units had been delivered, none having been formally accepted by SWR.
By January 2022, SWR reported ongoing delays related to Alstom—who had acquired Bombardier Transportation in January 2021—not delivering trains that met required specifications. This situation compelled SWR to extend leases on its remaining twelve Class 707 units until late 2022, postponing their transfer to Southeastern. Meanwhile, the Class 456 fleet was withdrawn without replacement following reductions in service levels.
Rail industry analyst Roger Ford characterized the programme as significantly behind schedule, with no units accepted and at least 280 vehicles yet to be manufactured—contradicting contractual obligations for full operational status by the end of 2021. Causes for delay included pervasive software problems affecting all Aventra models, manufacturing faults, and concerns raised by driver unions about cab design deviations from agreed standards.
SWR’s Business Plan for 2022–2023 acknowledged ongoing challenges impeding driver training and train acceptance. The company committed to deploying the Arterio fleet promptly through updated rollout targets coordinated with the Department for Transport.
By December 2022, SWR had accepted 24 units; however, software finalization and driver training remained incomplete. Service entry was then scheduled for December 2023. By mid-2023, acceptance had risen to 42 units with depot-based driver training underway; by year-end, this increased to 50 units with preparations for mainline driver training in progress.
In December 2023, the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) advised its members to halt any plans related to service commencement or training until critical issues were satisfactorily resolved. The union formally opposed modifications to the guard’s responsibilities and resisted implementation of driver-only operation on these new trains.
Introduction to Service
In December 2023, South Western Railway (SWR) finalized an agreement with unions to initiate a "Soft Launch" of the Class 701 train fleet. The inaugural unit commenced operations on 9 January 2024, running between and . Since this initial deployment, a limited number of daily services—typically two to three—have been operated utilizing several trains, primarily on this specific route. The complete integration of the fleet into regular service is projected to span approximately two years.
By February 2024, SWR had accepted 71 units, with plans for the entire fleet to be fully operational by 2025 following the completion of driver training programs. However, by April 2024, the number of accepted trains slightly decreased to 70, despite all 90 units having been constructed.
On 30 September 2024, the Class 701 trains began revenue operations on the Shepperton Branch Line, marking a significant step in expanding capacity and improving passenger comfort across SWR’s suburban routes.
Further expansion was announced on 28 November 2024, when SWR confirmed that an additional ten Class 701 units would enter service by June 2025.
In April 2025, SWR revealed that once the entire fleet is active, train guards will be responsible for closing doors at stations due to safety concerns related to platform visibility under different lighting conditions. To support this change and maintain future driver-only operations, station infrastructure modifications are planned.
Technical Specifications
The Class 701 trains feature regenerative braking systems, wide gangways and doors designed for swift boarding and alighting, a seating arrangement in a 2+2 format, onboard Wi-Fi connectivity, USB charging ports at each seat, real-time passenger information displays, air conditioning units, and dedicated bicycle storage accommodating three bikes per five-car set.
Each five-car configuration includes a Universal Accessible Toilet (UAT) equipped with Britain’s first bioreactor Controlled Emission Toilets (CETs), which enhance waste management by treating wastewater onboard and extending intervals between tank emptying.
Seating capacity stands at 274 passengers per five-car unit with additional standing room for up to 361. For ten-car formations, seating increases to 556 with standing space for up to 746 individuals. The trains are also fitted with external door cameras and cab monitors that allow drivers to manage door operations directly.
Fleet Composition
| Subclass | Operator | Quantity | Year of Manufacture | Cars per Unit | Unit Numbers | Formation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 701/0 | South Western Railway | 60 | 2019–present | 10 | 701001–701060 | DM-M(P)-TLW-M-EM-EM-M-TLW-(P)M-DM |
| 701/5 | 30 | 5 | 701501–701530 | DM-M-TLW-(P)M-DM |
Named Trains
| Unit Number | Name | Description | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Named Trains | ||||||
| 701028 | Jockey | Honours horse racing traditions along the SWR network | ||||
| 701031 | Nighthawk | Named in tribute to English cricketer Stuart Broad | ||||
| 701034 | Red Rose | Symbolizes England’s rugby union heritage | ||||
| 701039 | Ace | Celebrates Wimbledon tennis championships | ||||
| 701043 | Thames Racer | Commemorates the Oxford-Cambridge university boat race | ||||
| Special Liveries | ||||||
| 701046 | Displays Great British Railways branding reflecting South Western Railway’s nationalisation status | |||||
External links
- Official site