British Rail Class 701

British Rail Class 701
Arterio
Class 701 at Egham in 2020
Interior of a Class 701
In service9 January 2024 - present[1]
Manufacturer
Built atDerby Litchurch Lane Works
Family nameAventra
Replaced
Constructed2019–2024
Number built90[3]
Formation
  • 10 cars per 701/0 unit
  • 5 cars per 701/5 unit
(See § Fleet details)
Fleet numbers
  • 701/0: 701001–701060
  • 701/5: 701501–701530
Capacity
  • 701/0: 556 seats
  •  plus 746 standees
  • 701/5: 274 seats
  •  plus 361 standees[4]
OperatorsSouth Western Railway
Depots
[5]
Lines served
Specifications
DoorsDouble-leaf sliding plug (2 per side per car)
Maximum speed100 mph (160 km/h)
Traction systemBombardier IGBT Inverter [6]
Traction motors
  • 701/0: 16x 250kW (335hp)
  • 701/5: 8x 250kW (335hp)
[7]
Power output
  • 701/0: 4000kW (5364hp)
  • 701/5: 2000kW (2682hp)
[8]
AccelerationMaximum Current:
Starting: 0.96 m/s2 (3.1 ft/s2)
Reduced Current:
Starting: 0.7 m/s2 (2.3 ft/s2) [4]
Deceleration0.9 m/s2 (3.0 ft/s2)
Electric system(s)750 V DC third rail
Current collector(s)Contact shoe
BogiesFlexx B5000[9]
Braking system(s)Electro-pneumatic (disc) and rheostatic/regenerative[4]
Safety system(s)
Coupling systemDellner
Multiple workingWithin subclass /5 only[12][13]
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The British Rail Class 701 Arterio is a class of electric multiple unit passenger train built by Bombardier Transportation (now Alstom) at Derby Litchurch Lane Works. Built on the Aventra platform, they are operated by South Western Railway, and operate some services between Waterloo and Windsor. In the future the trains are planned to operate services on the Reading, Windsor and South West London suburban lines.

Ordered in 2017, the trains were originally due to enter service from mid-2019, but were subject to several delays which prevented this.[14] By December 2023, 50 units had been accepted by SWR.[15]

SWR began their phased entry into service from January 2024.[1][16] They will eventually allow the withdrawal of SWR's fleets of Class 455 units and the cascade of the Class 458 fleet to longer-distance services.

  1. ^ a b @SW_Help (9 January 2024). "Lots of excitement today as our first customers got to experience our fabulous new Arterio trains" (Tweet). Retrieved 9 January 2024 – via Twitter.
  2. ^ "Arterio Our new fleet to transform suburban travel". South Western Railway. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  3. ^ a b Pritchard, Robert (May 2024). "SWR timetabling and fleet update". Today's Railways UK. No. 267. pp. 40–42.
  4. ^ a b c d "SWR Unveils '701'". Modern Railways. Stamford: Key Publishing. 24 December 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Soft launch introduction for SWR '701'". News Front. Modern Railways. No. 905. February 2024. pp. 8–9.
  6. ^ "Class 701". sremg.org.uk. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  7. ^ "Class 701". sremg.org.uk. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  8. ^ "Class 701". sremg.org.uk. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Class 701". sremg.org.uk. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  10. ^ "South Western Railway's first Class 701 delivered". Rail Business UK. 11 June 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  11. ^ "Selective Door Opening & Correct Side Door Enabling References" (PDF). Sella Controls. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  12. ^ Fletcher, Steve (1 October 2020). "The Railways (Interoperability) Regulations 2011, as amended – Authorisation of Class 701/0 and 701/5" (PDF). Letter to Paul Carter (Bombardier Transportation UK Ltd). London: Office of Rail and Road. UK/51/2020/0054. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 November 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  13. ^ Fletcher, Steve (28 June 2021). "The Railways (Interoperability) Regulations 2011, as amended – Authorisation of Cl 701/5 Aventra (DC & DV) upgrade for multiple unit operation" (PDF). Letter to Franco Cataldo (Bombardier Transportation UK Ltd t/a Alstom). London: Office of Rail and Road. UK/51/2021/0044. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 July 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  14. ^ Beilby, Luise (21 July 2023). "Consent to supplement the track usage price list (Class 701)" (PDF). orr.gov.uk. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  15. ^ Clifton, Paul (13 December 2023). "SWR plans a "soft launch" for much-delayed Arterios". Rail Magazine. No. 998. pp. 14–15.
  16. ^ "First of £1bn Arterio trains completes inaugural journey". BBC News. 9 January 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.