South Western Railway Rolls Out First Class 701 Train at Wimbledon Depot
South Western Railway’s (SWR) Wimbledon depot has welcomed its first Class 701 train, marking a huge step forward in a £1bn overhaul of suburban travel. The arrival of this sleek, 10-car ‘Train 6’ sets the stage for a brand-new era of faster, more reliable journeys.
Biggest Upgrade in Years
The Class 701 fleet, made up of 90 brand-new trains, promises a major boost for daily commuters. Designed to improve speed and reliability, these trains are central to SWR’s transformation plans.
Training and Testing Underway
‘Train 6’ isn’t just showpiece – it’s the heart of intensive training and dynamic testing at Wimbledon depot. Drivers, maintenance crews, and depot staff are gearing up with hands-on experience ahead of the full fleet launch later this year.
Wimbledon will soon become the main hub where all Class 701 trains are serviced and maintained, keeping these shining new beasts in tip-top shape for passengers.
Industry Praise for Next-Gen Service
Neil Drury, SWR’s Engineering Director, said: “We’re delighted Wimbledon depot has received its first Class 701 train. There will be many significant developments in this programme, this is one of them. Train 6 allows us to prepare our drivers, maintenance staff and other colleagues for a generational step-change in service performance, and ensure that the important components which define the experience of travelling on these new trains are ready before the fleet’s eventual introduction.”
The countdown is on for passengers to experience the future of suburban rail travel with SWR’s game-changing Class 701 trains.
