British Rail Class 701

An unbranded 701/5 at Velim railway test circuit in March 2020

In March 2017, SWR was awarded the South Western franchise with a commitment to introduce 750 new carriages.[5][6][7] In June 2017, SWR awarded a contract to Bombardier Transportation for 90 Aventra DC EMUs, with 60 ten-car and 30 five-car trains to be introduced from 2019 at a cost of £895m.[8][9] There is an option to purchase a further five ten-car units if required by October 2020.[10] The units will be maintained at Wimbledon depot and the future Feltham depot which will open in 2021.

These new trains will eventually replace all of SWR's suburban fleet, which comprises classes 455, 456, 458 and 707.[11] [8]

Initially classified as Class 705 (5-car) and Class 711 (10-car), the units were subsequently given the number Class 701 with 701/0 for the 10-car sets and 701/5 for the 5 car sets.[1]

After a brief production halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[12] the first unit was delivered to SWR's Eastleigh depot on 10 June 2020,[13] with test runs first taking place in August 2020. As of October 2020, eight sets have been delivered.[14]

The Class 701 will feature regenerative braking, wide gangways between coaches, wide doors for ease and efficiency of boarding and alighting, 2+2 standard class seating arrangement, Wi-Fi and at-seat USB charging points, as well as real-time passenger information screens, air conditioning, cycle racks and accessible toilets for disabled passengers. SWR will also provide a complimentary entertainment service called SWR|Stream which will be available when connected to the onboard WiFi.[8]

Each five-car train will have 274 seats with room for 361 standing passengers, while a 10-car set will seat 556 passengers with space for 746 standing.[15]

SWR have called the 701s "a near £1 billion investment," and they have said that "these modern trains are designed and operated to reduce station dwell times, so more customers can arrive at their destinations on time more comfortably".[2] They want to use the trains to increase peak capacity on suburban routes into London Waterloo by 46%.[15]

They mentioned that "there will be several multi-use spaces available, where seating can be tipped up to accommodate prams or luggage. Dedicated wheelchair spaces are available as well as cycle racks so passengers can safely and conveniently store their bicycles" as well as showing off preview images of the new trains.[16]

The trains will also feature external door camera and monitors within the cab to enable them for Driver Controlled Operation.[17]

The first Class 701, 10 car unit 701002, was delivered from Derby Litchurch Lane Works to Eastleigh Works on 10 June 2020, for testing, in order to progress to certification from the Office of Rail & Road before passenger introduction later in the year. As of September 2020, seven ten car units have been moved to SWR facilities in Eastleigh and Wimbledon for initial testing.[18]