XC Voyager Refurbishment

[I'm here now]

They have fared much better than the IETs and even when crowded in the West Country, they’re ok enough. All that’s needed is a hard brush and reupholstering.

 

[Goldfish62]

All that’s needed is a hard brush and reupholstering.

They're getting considerably more than that.

 

[danchester]

I don't have much of a problem with the seats themselves, but for a long cross-country journey I would really like seat-back tables that can accommodate a laptop. The current ones are dreadful.

 

[Towers]

Slight polite corrections. Bpmbardier were taken over by Alstom.

The servicing depots are Long Rock (PZ) Laira (LA) Eastleigh (EH) Barton Hill (BK) Central Rivers (CZ) Crofton (XH) Holbeck (HO) Tyne yard (TY) and Craigentinny (EC)

And to add, albeit pendantically, Eastleigh/Reading TMD is surely Train Maintenance Depot rather than Train Management Depot?

 

[I'm here now]

They're getting considerably more than that.

I know, such a shame for good ish trains.

 

[SuperS16v]

I know, such a shame for good ish trains.

Why is a full interior and exterior refurbishment ashame?

 

[Goldfish62]

I know, such a shame for good ish trains.

They're rancid things! Apart from being worn out I've never liked the Virgin interior colour scheme and I find the standard class seats uncomfortable for any more than an hour.

If the replacement Fisa seats are anything like the LEAN2 seats on the SWR 458s they'll be a distinct upgrade.

 

[fgwrich]

I know, such a shame for good ish trains.

I certainly wouldn't call it a shame. The current interior with its dented, collapsed and tired seats needs to go. You only have to take one look to see how nearly 25 years of heavy daily use has taken its toll with the number of dents and scratches in them now.

They're rancid things! Apart from being worn out I've never liked the Virgin interior colour scheme and I find the standard class seats uncomfortable for any more than an hour.

If the replacement Fisa seats are anything like the LEAN2 seats on the SWR 458s they'll be a distinct upgrade.

Likewise - One thing that makes travelling on the Avanti units more pleasurable is the light, whiter ceilings - gone is the "cigarette effect" central panel. I'm also welcoming the addition - FINALLY - of CCTV to the Cross Country units. They have been a nightmare without them.

 

[occone]

the "cigarette effect" central panel

Always looks like the ceiling of a meth lab to me (not that I have experience with such things!)

Shame the refurb likely won't go further - Meridian 222s are wonderful trains and part of the Voyager family. Anything to get them closer to Meridians would be great.

 

[Doctor Fegg]

And to add, albeit pendantically, Eastleigh/Reading TMD is surely Train Maintenance Depot rather than Train Management Depot?

*pedantically

(Muphry’s Law strikes again!)

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

They're rancid things! Apart from being worn out I've never liked the Virgin interior colour scheme and I find the standard class seats uncomfortable for any more than an hour.

If the replacement Fisa seats are anything like the LEAN2 seats on the SWR 458s they'll be a distinct upgrade.

I was never that impressed by Fisa Lean on Greater Anglia FLIRTS, and I think the Evero First Class seats are a disgraceful downgrade for customers used to the fabulous Pendolino First Class, but I have to say I really like the 458 new seats, and I think that’s primarily due to the reclined position of them, which isn’t in effect on other examples of the seat in the UK. They make for a very comfortable seated position in my opinion.

 

[Discuss223]

I do hope that the warm interior lighting will be retained and that they won't be tempted to put the horrid "LED" ultra bright lights in. It can feel like being sat in an operating theatre when travelling on modern vehicles sometimes. I've always found the 22X fleet to be very ambient.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I do hope that the warm interior lighting will be retained and that they won't be tempted to put the horrid "LED" ultra bright lights in. It can feel like being sat in an operating theatre when travelling on modern vehicles sometimes. I've always found the 22X fleet to be very ambient.

Yes, unfortunately it seems the ongoing trend to make lighting as clinical as possible.

 

[irish_rail]

Always looks like the ceiling of a meth lab to me (not that I have experience with such things!)

Shame the refurb likely won't go further - Meridian 222s are wonderful trains and part of the Voyager family. Anything to get them closer to Meridians would be great.

Well that's very much a matter of opinion. In my experience the Meridian was one of the worst interiors ever fitted to a train. The seating is beyond awful, as where the dark toilets. Admittedly last time I used one was about 5 years ago, so they may have been re done, but certainly much much worse than a voyager in my personal opinion.

 

[Mainliner]

I’m hoping to do the Aberdeen-Penzance trip in April before (I gather) that service ends in May. Any chance of refurbished sets being running by then?

 

[voyagerdude220]

I’m hoping to do the Aberdeen-Penzance trip in April before (I gather) that service ends in May. Any chance of refurbished sets being running by then?

(Apologies, off topic) Has it been stated the Aberdeen to Penzance service will cease to run from the Summer timetable?

 

[occone]

I do hope that the warm interior lighting will be retained and that they won't be tempted to put the horrid "LED" ultra bright lights in. It can feel like being sat in an operating theatre when travelling on modern vehicles sometimes. I've always found the 22X fleet to be very ambient.

I just hope whatever they put in is consistent, it's a petty bugbear of mine when every fluorescent tube is a slightly different light temperature

 

[Bletchleyite]

I just hope whatever they put in is consistent, it's a petty bugbear of mine when every fluorescent tube is a slightly different light temperature

Same, it shows a lack of attention to detail.

 

[swt_passenger]

(Apologies, off topic) Has it been stated the Aberdeen to Penzance service will cease to run from the Summer timetable?

It’s still in the Dec 2025 timetable, the one that’s linked in the ECML 2025 thread. Would be odd to remove it for summer 2025?

 

[voyagerdude220]

It’s still in the Dec 2025 timetable, the one that’s linked in the ECML 2025 thread. Would be odd to remove it for summer 2025?

Ok thank you.

 

[43066]

Same, it shows a lack of attention to detail.

Or a case of what’s handy in the workshop, and needing to get the stock back out PDQ!

 

[Trainman40083]

Same, it shows a lack of attention to detail.

I imagine when first built, the Voyagers had conventional light tubes, now just LEDs

 

[Mainliner]

(Apologies, off topic) Has it been stated the Aberdeen to Penzance service will cease to run from the Summer timetable?

I read something to that effect a few weeks ago, but I can’t remember where!

 

[vuzzeho]

I just hope whatever they put in is consistent, it's a petty bugbear of mine when every fluorescent tube is a slightly different light temperature

Isn't it notoriously difficult to get two white lights with the exact same colour temperature?

 

[Goldfish62]

I do hope that the warm interior lighting will be retained and that they won't be tempted to put the horrid "LED" ultra bright lights in. It can feel like being sat in an operating theatre when travelling on modern vehicles sometimes. I've always found the 22X fleet to be very ambient.

And S Stock and the Class 345s amply demonstrate that modern lighting doesn't have to be clinical blue-white.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Isn't it notoriously difficult to get two white lights with the exact same colour temperature?

In short, no. Very easy. It's specified in Kelvin and you just need to get the same number every time.

 

[vuzzeho]

In short, no. Very easy. It's specified in Kelvin and you just need to get the same number every time.

Slight inconsistencies/mistakes in manufacturing can lead to noticeable differences in colour temperature in the finished unit. Not really as easy as 'set it to the right number every time'.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Slight inconsistencies/mistakes in manufacturing can lead to noticeable differences in colour temperature in the finished unit. Not really as easy as 'set it to the right number every time'.

This must be what leads to some XC Voyagers appearing to have what @cactustwirly calls “a tobacco stained ceiling”.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Slight inconsistencies/mistakes in manufacturing can lead to noticeable differences in colour temperature in the finished unit. Not really as easy as 'set it to the right number every time'.

Not anywhere near as noticeable as the routine mixing of cool, daylight and warm white, which is what is being referred to.

 

[cactustwirly]

This must be what leads to some XC Voyagers appearing to have what @cactustwirly calls “a tobacco stained ceiling”.

No it's not the lighting but the yellow ceiling makes it look nicotine stained