XC Voyager Refurbishment

[Trainman40083]

I am told, a fitter is meeting this train at Newcastle. Report of traction motor problem, but driver found nothing, hence why it stood for 15 minutes just south of Darlington.

 

[Liam L]

Does it still have the shop onboard? Or have they removed it in the time it wasn't running

The shop is still in place, I presume they will wait till they go through refurbishment to remove it. https://x.com/Inv_Pete/status/1797266287040606417

 

[Halish Railway]

this is showing as 221116 ex Avanti voyager.

Realtime Trains | 1640 Newcastle to Plymouth | 02/06/2024

Real-time train running information for 1640 departure from Newcastle to Plymouth on 02/06/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

This is now being worked by a pair of 220s, starting from Newcastle due to a trespass. 221116 is instead working the service an hour later and is running on time.

Realtime Trains | 1V70 1608 Edinburgh to Bristol Temple Meads | 02/06/2024

Real-time train running information for 1V70 1608 departure from Edinburgh to Bristol Temple Meads on 02/06/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[hux385]

Is this the only ex-Avanti unit in service currently then? Anyone know any info on when any more might follow?

 

[Trainman40083]

Is this the only ex-Avanti unit in service currently then? Anyone know any info on when any more might follow?

Entirely dependent upon when new IEPs 805/807 class enter service, I would have thought, although there has been a suggestion that unit numbers around 221116 are off leased by Avanti.

 

[class 9]

I am told, a fitter is meeting this train at Newcastle. Report of traction motor problem, but driver found nothing, hence why it stood for 15 minutes just south of Darlington.

Well it reached Edinburgh & is now on 1V70 heading for Bristol, so can't have been anything major.

The shop is still in place, I presume they will wait till they go through refurbishment to remove it. https://x.com/Inv_Pete/status/1797266287040606417

We've been told that tha ex Avanti sets will be the last to be refurbished and they'll be altered to the configuration as the rest of the XC fleet.

 

[Trainman40083]

Entirely dependent upon when new IEPs 805/807 class enter service, I would have thought, although there has been a suggestion that unit numbers around 221116 are off leased by Avanti.

Correction. Several class 805 units have entered service today with Avanti West Coast.

 

[fgwrich]

Hybrid livery mix of VT, Avanti and XC!

Indeed, Avanti over Virgin base, with XC logos on top. It'lll be noticeable from the front by having a cleaner yellow cab ends that's for certain. Nameplates also temporarily retained too.

(Not my video)

 

[tomoufc]

Photo posted on Facebook shows it in debranded avanti with XC logos

anyone have an attachment? What have they done with the shop? Would be a shame not to use it.

 

[stottyuk]

221114, 221115 and 221116 are on XCs books currently

 

[jayah]

Just saying, I know I'm Exeter based, but I was on a full and standing Plymouth Paddington service operated by 800304 a few days ago.

A 4 coach voyager from Scotland is a joke

And that is before you consider a 9 car IET on GWR has 580 Standard seats, whereas a XC 9 car Voyager has 440!

It is a great to see the extra 5 car trains in XC service almost immediately and they didn't see fit to spend a 6 months looking at them first. As of last week, they seemed to be running about 7 4-car diagrams (160 Standard seats) just on the Plymouth - Scotland / Leeds axis so what they are getting certainly isn't enough to 'fix' that franchise.

 

[Northerngirl]

Indeed, Avanti over Virgin base, with XC logos on top. It'lll be noticeable from the front by having a cleaner yellow cab ends that's for certain. Nameplates also temporarily retained too.

(Not my video)

That looks very nice, the red roof & logos works well, I'd rather that livery than the pink nightmare we are getting

 

[Anonymous10]

That looks very nice, the red roof & logos works well, I'd rather that livery than the pink nightmare we are getting

I personally think both don't look that great, the debranded avanti looks very hotchpotch.

 

[AirRail]

I thought it was mentioned the interior refurb work was starting by October this year?

I'm presuming it's once they have enough of the ex-Avanti fleet in full service.

Cross Country have now mentioned that the Voyager refurbishments will commence next year (2025). Unfortunate news for the timeline, but atleast if you're lucky enough to get on an ex-Avanti set, it will be decent.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I personally think both don't look that great, the debranded avanti looks very hotchpotch.

I'd have peeled the blue vinyls off; the red ends would probably have looked better, although I don't know what state the paint will be in now.

 

[tomoufc]

Cross Country have now mentioned that the Voyager refurbishments will commence next year (2025). Unfortunate news for the timeline, but atleast if you're lucky enough to get on an ex-Avanti set, it will be decent.

The priority has surely got to be boosting capacity. The refurbs can wait.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Given what cross-country do in terms of serving the West country and Edinburgh, to key milestone tourism destinations as well as the South coast and airport connections, I certainly think that throwing every set that just about works into traffic over the high summer, which we're now racing towards at the speed of a speeding. Voyager south of Newcastle is the most important
Would have thought they might take a couple out for refurb in the autumn though, or at least perhaps get rid of the shop from the Avanti sets which are going to be at a distinct disadvantage for luggage and bike capacity

 

[Energy]

I'd have peeled the blue vinyls off; the red ends would probably have looked better, although I don't know what state the paint will be in now.

I think its safer to leave the blue vinyl on than discover the paintwork beneath. That can wait until the proper refurb work.

That looks very nice, the red roof & logos works well, I'd rather that livery than the pink nightmare we are getting

It looks fine, I think the red roof works better than a black roof. Its only temporary anyway and it looks sufficiently different to Avanti to not confuse passengers.

 

[fgwrich]

So despite XCs original suggestion that the ex Avanti units will not be heading down towards the South Coast, 221116 is providing much needed relief today on the Manchester Bournemouth services. Also very welcome to see the shop open, announcements made and hear that it’s actually being utilised too - Well done to XC / XC’s staff for that!

(Note - No that is not XC Maroon on the cab ends, the sun went in at the time of taking that but it is certainly Avanti teal)

 

[tomoufc]

So despite XCs original suggestion that the ex Avanti units will not be heading down towards the South Coast, 221116 is providing much needed relief today on the Manchester Bournemouth services. Also very welcome to see the shop open, announcements made and hear that it’s actually being utilised too - Well done to XC / XC’s staff for that!

(Note - No that is not XC Maroon on the cab ends, the sun went in at the time of taking that but it is certainly Avanti teal)

The shop being open and used shows some common sense and flexibility.

 

[RealTrains07]

The fact that XC have removed the avanti menu and put their own up did give the impression that maybe they would use the shop even if it was on and off otherwise. Why add a menu?

 

[CptCharlee]

Crosscountry also liking posts about the shop on social media. You can tell if they had the choice they would bring them back on all the fleet.

 

[ValentaFan1974]

221116 is out of service today with a “traction related issue”… well that lasted long

 

[fgwrich]

221116 is out of service today with a “traction related issue”… well that lasted long

I can understand, the rear vehicle (first class) didn’t sound too bothered about running yesterday and spent all of its time idling when I travelled on it - it sounds similar to the video I linked to above.

 

[Trainman40083]

221116 is out of service today with a “traction related issue”… well that lasted long

Sounds like the same issue it had on that Birmingham to Edinburgh service, a few days ago.

 

[Halish Railway]

221116 is out of service today with a “traction related issue”… well that lasted long

It was due to work the 07:03 from Birmingham to Edinburgh and back to Plymouth coupled to a 220. I would imagine the lone 220 on this service would be quite cosy.

 

[150249]

It was due to work the 07:03 from Birmingham to Edinburgh and back to Plymouth coupled to a 220. I would imagine the lone 220 on this service would be quite cosy.

Was 221121 in the end

 

[Ayman Ilham]

Indeed, Avanti over Virgin base, with XC logos on top. It'lll be noticeable from the front by having a cleaner yellow cab ends that's for certain. Nameplates also temporarily retained too.

(Not my video)

The XC logos over the Avanti livery actually look rather nice IMO

 

[fgwrich]

221114 is out and about today. It should currently be in Bristol.

Realtime Trains | 1M45 1300 Bristol Temple Meads to Manchester Piccadilly | 05/06/2024

Real-time train running information for 1M45 1300 departure from Bristol Temple Meads to Manchester Piccadilly on 05/06/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

And 116 is heading to Bournemouth.

Realtime Trains | 1O10 0825 Manchester Piccadilly to Bournemouth | 05/06/2024

Real-time train running information for 1O10 0825 departure from Manchester Piccadilly to Bournemouth on 05/06/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[43055]

221116 is off to Aberdeen today

Realtime Trains | 1S45 0927 Plymouth to Aberdeen | 07/06/2024

Real-time train running information for 1S45 0927 departure from Plymouth to Aberdeen on 07/06/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

221114 is also out

Realtime Trains | 1H14 0701 Birmingham New Street to Manchester Piccadilly | 07/06/2024

Real-time train running information for 1H14 0701 departure from Birmingham New Street to Manchester Piccadilly on 07/06/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk