Thursday, November 28, 2024 The South Western Railway (SWR) is poised to unveil its long-awaited Class 701 Arterio trains during a ceremonial event at London Waterloo Station. This significant milestone marks the end of a prolonged five-year delay for the £1bn fleet, originally commissioned in 2017 and expected to enter service by November 2019. While delays have hindered the fleet’s initial rollout, the deployment is set to reshape regional travel, bringing modernized infrastructure to one of the UK’s busiest rail networks.
The Class 701 Arterio trains, built by Derby-based Bombardier, faced extensive delays due to significant software faults, leaving many trains unused and stored in sidings for years. Additionally, disputes over operational roles on the new trains led to the RMT union organizing 78 days of strikes before reaching a resolution with the train operator. The operational standoff not only delayed the trains’ rollout but also created uncertainty for passengers and stakeholders relying on SWR’s commuter services.
The first Arterio train entered limited service in January 2024, operating a single daily round trip between London Waterloo and Windsor during off-peak hours. This initial “development” phase allowed SWR to test the trains in live conditions while addressing ongoing operational challenges. Passenger exposure to the fleet, however, remained minimal during this period, as only a handful of trains were integrated into regular timetables.
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