SWR Class 707s Move to Southeastern

Class 707 moves to South Eastern Trains are now underway, with the first units having moved from Wimbledon EMUD to Southeastern territory. Below are a list of the Southwestern Railway trains and when they moved over to a Southeastern depot. This information is from sighting reports and railway forums, so may not be 100% accurate.

707001
707002
707003 - Moved to Grove Park on 09/01/21
707004 - Moved to Grove Park on 09/01/21
707005 - Moved to Grove Park on 16/01/21
707006 - Moved to Grove Park on 16/01/21
707007 - Moved to Southeastern
707008 - Moved to Southeastern
707009 - Moved to Southeastern
707010 - Moved to Southeastern
707011 - Moved to Grove Park on 05/09/21
707012 - Moved to Grove Park on 05/09/21
707013
707014
707015
707016
707017
707018
707019
707020
707021
707022
707023
707024
707025
707026
707027 - Moved to Grove Park 02/10/21
707028 - Moved to Grove Park 02/10/21
707029
707030

From April 2020:

Ordered by South West Trains in 2014, the now South Western Railway class 707s will be transferred to Southeastern as part of a leasing deal between the two train operating companies.

They will be leased by Southeastern when they’re no longer required by SWR, which will most likely be as and when the new class 701s arrive.

The 30 5-car units are predominantly seen on metro services in south west London and are based at Wimbledon depot. Having been constructed by Siemens at Krefeld, Germany, they were delivered through the channel tunnel to Dollands Moor. Thereafter, they were transported to Clapham Yard by a variety of heritage traction, mainly UKRL clsas 56s. The fleet of 707s consists of units 707001 through to 707030.

They entered service in 2017 and it was around this time, that it was agreed that they would be replaced by the new Bombardier Aventra class 701 units, of which 90 are being produced.

Southeastern have a wide fleet ranging from class 375 and 377s – some of which originally worked with First Capital Connect and Southern. Southeastern also operate class 465/466 “Networker” trains in South East London as far as East Kent.

Whilst not confirmed, I would expect to see that the class 707s compliment the bombardier class 376 metro units on inner London services, to destinations such as Hayes.

Whilst nothing is moving in the immediate future, could this be the start of a wider rolling stock transfer between train operating companies?

Author: matt

Owner of Rail Record

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Paul Raven-Hill

3 years ago

According to The Railway Magazine (Jan 2021 issue – Track Record – Operations, page 90, under SWR), 707003 & 707004 were reported to be at Wimbledon Traincare Depot in early December, prior to transfer to Southeastern Trains, presumably for driver training, etc.

I have it on good authority that 707003 & 707004 are now with SET, having been debranded, and have done several driver training runs on the SE Main Line. Photo attached of these at Tonbridge. The next pair 707005 & 707006 have been taken out of traffic are now at Wimbledon TRSMD in preparation for transfer to SET.