Ex Virgin Trains Voyagers, where could they go next?

[JonathanH]

Why? Because 4/5 voyagers are currently rammed and XC are desperate for extra capacity.

That doesn't mean 220s need to couple to 222s - they can quite easily operate as two self contained fleets, coupling as necessary to their own type.

 

[greatvoyager]

That doesn't mean 220s need to couple to 222s - they can quite easily operate as two self contained fleets, coupling as necessary to their own type.

Either way, capacity is needed.

 

[devonexpress]

That doesn't mean 220s need to couple to 222s - they can quite easily operate as two self contained fleets, coupling as necessary to their own type.

Well all the 221s from Virgin are going to XC, and so are the 222s once the 804s are introduced, therefore lets say that a train requires 9 coaches, and you have a 220 and a 222(5 car), what are you going to do, couple them together so you have the advertised capacity, or run it short formered with either a sole 222 or 220.

 

[Aictos]

Well all the 221s from Virgin are going to XC, and so are the 222s once the 804s are introduced, therefore lets say that a train requires 9 coaches, and you have a 220 and a 222(5 car), what are you going to do, couple them together so you have the advertised capacity, or run it short formered with either a sole 222 or 220.

Point 1 how do you know for sure what the plan is for the Class 22X fleets?

Point 2 You neglect to think of the 3rd option which is simply that IF the Class 222s do get cascaded onto XC services then they can be diagrammed onto specific workings that don’t require running in service with Class 220s/221s.

In much the same way that the ex GC HSTs work specific workings so I fail to see why there would be any problems with the 222s.

 

[greatvoyager]

Well all the 221s from Virgin are going to XC, and so are the 222s once the 804s are introduced, therefore lets say that a train requires 9 coaches, and you have a 220 and a 222(5 car), what are you going to do, couple them together so you have the advertised capacity, or run it short formered with either a sole 222 or 220.

I'm not sure the 221s have actually been confirmed yet, but I'd have to say they are more likely to go to XC. The 222s not so sure. Nothing seems to be certain until an announcement is made.

 

[Aictos]

I'm not sure the 221s have actually been confirmed yet, but I'd have to say they are more likely to go to XC. The 222s not so sure. Nothing seems to be certain until an announcement is made.

My point exactly, until a official announcement is made then it’s sheer speculation.

 

[greatvoyager]

My point exactly, until a official announcement is made then it’s sheer speculation.

Agreed, many people, me included, have assumed it will happen, but no one really knows.

 

[Energy]

221s seem very likely, although the 222s could happen, they are a few years away.

 

[greatvoyager]

221s seem very likely, although the 222s could happen, they are a few years away.

Totally agree.

 

[greatvoyager]

I wonder what they would look like in Avanti livery.

 

[coradiafan2000]

I wonder what they would look like in Avanti livery.

I think the 390s look good in it, but I'm not a fan of the renders of the 800s in it. So I'm not actually sure how they'll suit the Voyagers.

 

[greatvoyager]

I think the 390s look good in it, but I'm not a fan of the renders of the 800s in it. So I'm not actually sure how they'll suit the Voyagers.

We probably won't find out.

 

[greatvoyager]

I think the 390s look good in it, but I'm not a fan of the renders of the 800s in it. So I'm not actually sure how they'll suit the Voyagers.

Although personally I don't think it'll suit voyagers.

 

[coradiafan2000]

Although personally I don't think it'll suit voyagers.

Same honestly. I think brighter colours suit Voyagers better. I liked the Virgin flowing silk livery infinitely more than the XC livery. The same goes for Meridians in my opinion, I'm going to miss the old EMT livery.

 

[greatvoyager]

Same honestly. I think brighter colours suit Voyagers better. I liked the Virgin flowing silk livery infinitely more than the XC livery. The same goes for Meridians in my opinion, I'm going to miss the old EMT livery.

Same here, although I like the XC livery.

 

[coradiafan2000]

Same here, although I like the XC livery.

I massively dislike all dark coloured liveries honestly, but XC is one of the better ones.

 

[greatvoyager]

I massively dislike all dark coloured liveries honestly, but XC is one of the better ones.

I think XC is the most attractive and looks good on voyagers. Then again, the original virgin silver was good too.

 

[ainsworth74]

My point exactly, until a official announcement is made then it’s sheer speculation.

Good job we're in the speculative ideas section then I guess

 

[greatvoyager]

Hopefully the voyagers will also be utilised better.

 

[greatvoyager]

I massively dislike all dark coloured liveries honestly, but XC is one of the better ones.

The one thing that bothers me is that the doors still have the virgin stripes on the interior.

 

[Aictos]

Good job we're in the speculative ideas section then I guess

I know right? Just pointing out that nothing has been confirmed about the fleet especially as post #243 has rightly or wrongly assumed.

 

[greatvoyager]

Are there any other operators who would want 221s?

 

[Energy]

Are there any other operators who would want 221s?

People have suggested Chiltern, which could work but Chiltern have enough demand to get new trains.

 

[greatvoyager]

People have suggested Chiltern, which could work but Chiltern have enough demand to get new trains.

I expect new trains will probably be ordered for Chiltern. I would like to see them at XC, to allow more double formations.

 

[greatvoyager]

Has the refit of the shop vehicle with window aligned seats had any problems with overcrowding?

 

[greatvoyager]

With Avanti now operating them, I hope the interiors don't become as tired as that of CrossCountry units.

 

[ainsworth74]

Just a note to say that discussion of the Virgin Trains Open Access proposal to serve Liverpool using Super Voyagers can be found in the dedicated thread here. I appreciate that there is clearly overlap between the two but as it's subject to a relatively serious proposal it makes sense to discuss it in it's own thread rather than the more speculative nature of this thread.

 

[greatvoyager]

If they are transferred to another operator and not scrapped, are there any other routes that could utilise tilt?

 

[option]

Well all the 221s from Virgin are going to XC, and so are the 222s once the 804s are introduced, therefore lets say that a train requires 9 coaches, and you have a 220 and a 222(5 car), what are you going to do, couple them together so you have the advertised capacity, or run it short formered with either a sole 222 or 220.

Virgin/West Coast have 20x 5car 221 sets
XC also have 20x 5car 221 sets + 4x 4car

So, if you doubled them up, there are enough sets already as 5car to do so for all the current XC sets.
There is also then 4 end car pairs & 8 carriages, which is enough to make another doubled up 5car 221.

 

[greatvoyager]

Point 1 how do you know for sure what the plan is for the Class 22X fleets?

Point 2 You neglect to think of the 3rd option which is simply that IF the Class 222s do get cascaded onto XC services then they can be diagrammed onto specific workings that don’t require running in service with Class 220s/221s.

In much the same way that the ex GC HSTs work specific workings so I fail to see why there would be any problems with the 222s.

And 222s have a different internal layout, so if joined to 220s/221s, it won't be that the seating is consistent which could cause confusion.