Trainman40083
Established Member
Some are likely to be stored at Derby Litchurch Lane Works
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Avanti Class 221s to Cross Country
- Thread starter absolutelymilk
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Just a gentle reminder that this thread is for updates regarding the transfer of Avanti 221s to XC.
Trip-related posts, proposals/suggestions to alter first class provision/policies, etc all belong elsewhere, please.
Some posts have been split off into a new thread:
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Trip-related posts, proposals/suggestions to alter first class provision/policies, etc all belong elsewhere, please.
Some posts have been split off into a new thread:
XC woes: what should the policy regarding first class on overcrowded services be?
Moderator note: Split from https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/avanti-class-221s-to-cross-country.276083/page-9#post-7245439 More Crosscountry woes today. 17:39 Oxford-Piccadilly. 4 coaches. People unable to get on. First Class virtually empty. Train staff telling people they can’t get on...
www.railforums.co.uk
absolutelymilk
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Is there an increase in train lengths from the May timetable change using the cascaded trains?
Class 170101
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In theory though if XC driver shortages thread is anything to go by it won't be in passenger use.
Russel
Established Member
Plenty of ex Avanti 221s branded up for XC parked up at Central Rivers yesterday, when I passed in the vestibule of a 4 car!
dk1
Veteran Member
Contract starts with the timetable change i think.
Russel
Established Member
I believe so.
Still, seeing a fleet of trains parked up when you've been standing for an hour wedged in a vestibule is an awful feeling.
TT-ONR-NRN
Veteran Member
Think of it as long-awaited light at the end of the tunnelI believe so.
Still, seeing a fleet of trains parked up when you've been standing for an hour wedged in a vestibule is an awful feeling.
absolutelymilk
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Hopefully an increase in train lengths won't require any more drivers? Though crew shortages might be an issue if more are needed to double up units
dk1
Veteran Member
Yes I know but unfortunately it’s all contractual with the DfT agreeing things.I believe so.
Still, seeing a fleet of trains parked up when you've been standing for an hour wedged in a vestibule is an awful feeling.
Kite159
Veteran Member
Don't worry I'm sure XC have got it in hand to run more services with pairs of voyagers...
... Only for one part to be locked out of use due to not having changed the crew rosters to ensure both have relevant staff available
... Only for one part to be locked out of use due to not having changed the crew rosters to ensure both have relevant staff available
Trainman40083
Established Member
And I think we know it will happenDon't worry I'm sure XC have got it in hand to run more services with pairs of voyagers...
... Only for one part to be locked out of use due to not having changed the crew rosters to ensure both have relevant staff available
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
Does it happen much now? I've seen it lots on GWR but don't recall ever having experienced it on XC (aside from late evenings where loadings are very low and so it's planned to save staffing costs).
swt_passenger
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But is that a contract to use them, or the contract to alter them to XC interiors?
But is that as a single 5 car or joined to another unit
On its own, but there a number of 8-car pairs to Bournemouth today.
Sadly yes, certainly on the Manchester <> Bournemouth corridor. See it quite often at Reading with sets heading off to the south coast with the rear unit locked out.
Killingworth
Established Member
Yes! Been turned out of rear 5 coach unit at Derby on service supposedly going as 9 to Edinburgh. All then crammed into already well filled front 4 so standing like sardines from there. It got worse because the sardines were then told the train wasn't going beyond York!
Think that may have been on the same trip where we took our booked seats going south in the last of a well filled 5 coach unit at Chesterfield. Turned out at Derby to all cram into a 4 car unit waiting ahead in the same platform. Inevitably it was standing room only for very many (the age card was played for me by a fellow sufferer).
Stories like this are heard so often we expect it on Cross Country.
Scotrail88
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What services will become 8 or 9 from the May change?
dk1
Veteran Member
Just to use them. Is there any internal change?
swt_passenger
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There’s a lot of discussion of interior changes in the other refurb thread. The ex WCML units are expected to get the full XC refurb after all the existing XC units are completed.
XC Voyager Refurbishment
In Modern Railways January 2024. Beacon Rail have gone out to tender for XC Voyager refurbishment with 3 companies interested in the work (Alstom probably one of them). Also mentions Beacon Rail considering batteries for the voyagers but ruled out on cost. Not much other detail, but some good...
www.railforums.co.uk
dk1
Veteran Member
Cheers, that’s what I thought. Doesn’t matter what they look like just get them in traffic I say.There’s a lot of discussion of interior changes in the other refurb thread. The ex WCML units are expected to get the full XC refurb after all the existing XC units are completed.
XC Voyager Refurbishment
In Modern Railways January 2024. Beacon Rail have gone out to tender for XC Voyager refurbishment with 3 companies interested in the work (Alstom probably one of them). Also mentions Beacon Rail considering batteries for the voyagers but ruled out on cost. Not much other detail, but some good...
brad465
Established Member
Is there an update on how many of the 12x 221s XC are supposed to be getting from Avanti that have now arrived at XC?
5 are now in service.
Probably not many more as the Newcastle - Reading will have more services to make it largely every 2 hours from a few times a day.
brad465
Established Member
Thank you for confirming.
Quite a few will change 5 vice 4 and 8 vice 5.
duffield
Established Member
So given the staff shortages, with rear units being locked out, those service going from 4 to 5 coaches will get a modest improvement, while those going from 5 to 4+4 may end up with even worse overcrowding!
sprinterguy
Veteran Member
From recent discussions of the upcoming timetable, I believe it works out as only one extra service being introduced each way per day on that corridor from mid-May, requiring one extra unit.
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Wyrleybart
Established Member
Don't forget the TASS /Tilt system needs to be locked out and isolated, with rigid bars replacing the gubbins whilst they are prepared for XC use