Class 701 'Aventra' trains for South Western Railway

[Dan G]

This couldn't be further from the truth.

A reduced rate during training - yes, but once productive length of service has no link to rate of pay. Other non SWR TOCs may have different pay scales.

Are you saying train drivers don't get annual increments? No pay progression?

 

[43066]

Are you saying train drivers don't get annual increments? No pay progression?

Correct. Only where agreed as part of pay deals - many haven’t had an increase since 2019.

Some have a lower rate for first year drivers, but not SWR AIUI.

 

[DMckduck97]

Correct. Only where agreed as part of pay deals - many haven’t had an increase since 2019.

Some have a lower rate for first year drivers, but not SWR AIUI.

Correct, SWR drivers go straight on the full wack as soon as they are PQ.

Obviously some depots get paid more due to location/retention allowances but I suspect that is standard practice across the industry?

 

[Bigfoot]

Are you saying train drivers don't get annual increments? No pay progression?

That's not how the railway works. Least not for frontline staff.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Are you saying train drivers don't get annual increments? No pay progression?

I think it is only in the Civil service that you get pay rises by just sitting tight regardless of performance or promotion.

 

[PG]

I think it is only in the Civil service that you get pay rises by just sitting tight regardless of performance or promotion.

IIRC most NHS grades get annual increments too.

With the heat starting to approach us, we’ll soon get a taste of the air conditioning on the 701

Let's hope it functions better than the 158s

 

[boiledbeans2]

Let's hope it functions better than the 158s 455s

Fixed that for you

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Fixed that for you

I'm pretty sure the 455s have/had no AC, 158s had AC which later got banned (some units had it re-engineered) due to containing CFCs, which damaged the Ozone Layer and had a strong Greenhouse effect.

Hopefully the 701s don't destroy the ozone layer

 

[PG]

I'm pretty sure the 455s have/had no AC, 158s had AC which later got banned (some units had it re-engineered) due to containing CFCs, which damaged the Ozone Layer and had a strong Greenhouse effect.

Hopefully the 701s don't destroy the ozone layer

Although correct I was actually getting at the re-engineered AC being prone to fail altogether creating an in-train Greenhouse effect! i.e. worse than a 455 which never had AC.

 

[Wolfie]

I think it is only in the Civil service that you get pay rises by just sitting tight regardless of performance or promotion.

The Civil Service hasn't had pay progression for at least 15 years. Try the NHS.....

 

[444045]

701032.

Thank you @800001 for your help & swift reply.

 

[MCR247]

I've noticed that the 701s have a unique motor deceleration sound that none of the other Aventras have, something you often hear on light rail systems.
Listen to the two videos at the timestamp, it's the two tone beep noise.

Do 701s use regenerative braking? That could explain it

 

[OneTrackMinded]

Do 701s use regenerative braking? That could explain it

Yes they do.

 

[Samzino]

Do 701s use regenerative braking? That could explain it

The Alstom Aventra fleet as far as I know all use Regen

 

[MCR247]

Yes they do.

The Alstom Aventra fleet as far as I know all use Regen

Essentially, what I was thinking was that this ‘new’ sound on DC was due to regenerative braking on DC, something the 710s may not get chance to do on their DC LO routes which are shared with LUL (whether or not this actually makes a difference - I have no idea )