devon_metro
Established Member
Aside from an inadequate trolley service, i notice that there are now only 2 tables per coach in refurbs. 8 on a Super Vomiting Machine then!!
-
Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
Cross Country Voyager refurb
- Thread starter devon_metro
- Start date
- Status
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
222001
Member
I didn't think they had changed the layout? Just added some seats where lugguage stacks used to be?
Coach F only has two tables anyway. Which coach did you see this in?
devon_metro
Established Member
I walked through the train and each coach had two tables 
221121 for reference
221121 for reference
222001
Member
I walked through the train and each coach had two tables
221121 for reference
Ah right. Well thats going to make travelling by CrossCountry a great experience
. It makes me angry that they are doing this. Its sad how service has been degraded since the days of Virgin Cross Country.I also cannot see why they have not replaced the seat covers too.
I hope East Midlands Trains don't reduce the amount of tables when they refurbish the Meridians, there are currently 8 tables in each full length coach - the amount that is in a single Voyager!
222001
Member
Wow this prooves CrossCountry don't have a clue. Now they have made a mess of their trains!
I don't think the shop was worth removing for what was gained at all. For a start people might not know it is there and instead they will be walking around trying to find a shop that doesn't exist! Also who wants to leave their case out of their sight, I know I wouldn't and most people do carry valuable things!
Well done CrossCountry you have really transformed the CrossCountry route into a pile of crap.
thefab444
Established Member
I agree with most of the points raised, but remember, I know bashers like to sit around a table - but quite a lot of passengers enjoy the privacy of airline seating. That said, two tables per coach is a bit poor, even the supposedly "family unfriendly" 444s have four/six per coach.
So far, the route has been decimated, the trains are being decimated... what next? Are the staff going to loose their outer limbs?
So far, the route has been decimated, the trains are being decimated... what next? Are the staff going to loose their outer limbs?
The_Rail_WAy
Member
- Joined
- 20 Jul 2008
- Messages
- 458
Totally agree, I hate table seats and seldom use them unless i'm with friends. Much prefer the 'airline' seating arrangements as I have my own privacy.
222001
Member
I too only sit around a table when I am not alone, but when I need a table there will probably be none spare...
richa2002
Established Member
- Joined
- 8 Jun 2005
- Messages
- 2,275
First Class is quickly becoming the only comfortable way of travelling.
MCR247
Established Member
- Joined
- 7 Nov 2008
- Messages
- 9,598
I like tables. But would only use them on empty trains. So if i was on a Kings Cross-Inverness service i would sit in an airline seat, because you are bound to have people oppostite you. On a Nottingham-Worksop, you arent likely to have anyone opposite.
Seems Cross Country are trying to push this too. I managed to pick up two first advance singles from Doncaster-Reading for only £19.15 each, travelling on the 0752 for a Friday in April - I was amazed! According to the lady at EMT telesales, there were still a fair number of these tickets left too, and the cheapest standard advance was at least £20. I thought XC had basically got rid of advance fares before 1000?
thefab444
Established Member
That's why I avoid table seats.
Are they any photos of the 'refurbed' voyagers available? Any idea how many seats have been added? Is it 14 in the 220s and 16 in the 221s?
Just read that Virgin have finished refurbishing all thier 221s and managed to add 10 more seats, luggage space *and* keep the shop!
http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/story.php?id=5620
Why couldn't AXC have done this?!
Just read that Virgin have finished refurbishing all thier 221s and managed to add 10 more seats, luggage space *and* keep the shop!
http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/story.php?id=5620
Why couldn't AXC have done this?!
Last edited:
http://connersgallery.railfoto.co.uk/index.php?album=taunton-cardiff-lhcs&image=DSCF1413.JPG
Theres a couple of photos of the luggage area.
devon_metro
Established Member
"mumrar" has some better photos of the shop removal.
ffcphone
Member
Had the "pleasure" of 8.5 hours in XC 220s today. 4.5 hours Man Pic to Winchester and 4 hours Win to Man Pic. Can't say it was fun at all. Engine noise and vibration got to me after an hour or so. Both airline (return journey) and table (outbound) seats were uncomfortable. The return 220 had power points by the airline seats whereas the 220 outbound had none by the tables. Very disappointing.
The cycle and luggage space seemed intriguing. Although as above, I'd never leave my luggage close to the entrance doors and way out of sight of me in the passenger area. No cycles or luggage when I walked past!
Staff seemed fairly pleasant mind you. Given the length of my journey I had two sets of staff for each trip. On departure from Man Pic this morning we were diverted away from Macc via Crewe and Alsager as a result of a failed Northern service at Congleton. At each stop, the "train manager" would be at pains to explain the 30-45 minute late running and going into some depth too. Every credit rather than the usual couple of words.
No trolley service this morning - think there was an onboard shop. But the one tonight did have a trolley service. Bloke went up and down 3-4 times.
F
The cycle and luggage space seemed intriguing. Although as above, I'd never leave my luggage close to the entrance doors and way out of sight of me in the passenger area. No cycles or luggage when I walked past!
Staff seemed fairly pleasant mind you. Given the length of my journey I had two sets of staff for each trip. On departure from Man Pic this morning we were diverted away from Macc via Crewe and Alsager as a result of a failed Northern service at Congleton. At each stop, the "train manager" would be at pains to explain the 30-45 minute late running and going into some depth too. Every credit rather than the usual couple of words.
No trolley service this morning - think there was an onboard shop. But the one tonight did have a trolley service. Bloke went up and down 3-4 times.
F
voyagerdude220
Established Member
- Joined
- 13 Oct 2005
- Messages
- 3,277
I've noticed a very strange thing with XC- No AP singles are available (understandably) during peak hours, i.e. before 10:00 Monday-Thursday, yet do seem to be freely available (subject to limits at times) on Fridays, both before and after 10:00 ..
222001
Member
Now that is harsh! I did 4 hour trip once (Edinburgh to Chesterfield) Went on Northern 158 and GNER MK4 (as it was then) on the way up.
Can't say either trip was more pleasurable over the other. After about one hour on the 221 a rattle being caused by the underfloor engine was annoying me but I did manage to stop this by wedging my knee on the rattling panel.
I notice that 220/221s have a greater tendency to rattle than any other train I have ever been on. I notice the 222s don't seem to suffer from this problem though.
The MK4 was fine but I couldn't get comfy in the seat.
ffcphone
Member
in future i will take a Pendo to London, tube it to Waterloo and then a south west desiro. Probably quicker too on reflection.
thefab444
Established Member
I went on a "refurb" Voyager from Basingstoke to Southampton via Andover today. I'm not sure how replacing the Shop with a Bike Rack/Luggage thing helps, because people used to put their bikes etc. in the spare space behind the cab in the DMS. Which is now where the trolley seems to be stabled! 
Bah! I like to be sociable. If people engaged each other in conversation on trains more the world would be a happier place.
Yup - althought credit to XC, less passenegrs are now standing I suppose. But yes, 2 tables per coach is not good, not to mention they haven't updated their seat plans yet a la internet, so I was most annoyed to find myself without a table on Friday!
You've obviously never been on Glasgow East End Suburban routes, then
Actually, I avoid tables. On one quiet Edinburgh-Glasgow service, I took a table. Three businessmen came on at Haymarket and sat around me and proceeded to hold a proper meeting! I said I'd move and let them get on, but they insisted I wasn't in their way. I spent the rest of the journey feeling particularly awkward, and ended up getting off at Linlithgow and moving to the next carriage.
Not that I'm anti-social; I sit next to people on trains where no option's available, and have a good moan about those who don't (Helensburgh passengers are the worst in my experience). But I just felt a bit awkward sitting in the middle of a business meeting.
It certaintly can be. I left my last job in August 2008 and I used to be on the same train almost every day with a group of other people - we always used to talk in the morning and give each other cards for Christmas and one lady who got married. We even shared cake between ourselves on my final day and I'm still in touch by e-mail and I sometimes see them when I take that train.
I don't know how much the prices have adjusted with the trolleys, but I know a man opposite me paid £1.50 for a sachet of instant coffee and cup of hot water the other day.
Still, there may chance we'll no longer be subjected to irritating announcements about the offerings available from the Shop.
AlexS
Established Member
I agree - when I was in 6th form I used to catch the same train home on a regular basis and a few of us and the regular guard got to chatting etc.
The guard even brought in some sweets and stuff on his birthday and I still have a natter whenever I see him about now - plenty of times I've been walking down a platform to have 'Alright buddy!!!' bellowed down my earhole!
If you have a train with a regular crew and regular passengers then it's generally odds on that people will talk to each other eventually - the same goes for the ticket inspector who has worked our local trains for at least 20 years, I always stop to pass the time of day with him.
The guard even brought in some sweets and stuff on his birthday and I still have a natter whenever I see him about now - plenty of times I've been walking down a platform to have 'Alright buddy!!!' bellowed down my earhole!
If you have a train with a regular crew and regular passengers then it's generally odds on that people will talk to each other eventually - the same goes for the ticket inspector who has worked our local trains for at least 20 years, I always stop to pass the time of day with him.
First ScotRail
Member
- Joined
- 27 Jan 2006
- Messages
- 565
£1.50 is the price XC are now charging for Service At-Seat coffee.
- Status