XC Voyager Refurbishment

[LittleRedTrain]

The seating plan on XC's site shows the all-table layout coach on ex-Avanti units as Coach D

https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/media-vnext/mwvnqt1y/additional-voyager-trains-may-2024-copy.pdf

Coach B has always been unreserved on XC (so it didn't matter if a 220 or 221 showed up).
I believe the change is that Coach F (which was previously the unreserved coach on all trains) is now reservable, with the unreserved section being a set of seats in coach D instead.
That would make sense if Coach D can either be a table or non-table coach, depending on whether it's an ex-Avanti unit.

The different seating arrangements has made booking an upcoming journey a bit of a pain, as we need priority seats, but these can vary depending on the unit type. Had to find a pair that would be priority seats in both configurations, as no guarantee of what will turn up!

 

[class442]

Noted at 1:40 in this video that XC Voyagers are already at Derby, but they are in storage as the refurbishment has not started yet.

Surely it would be better to ease overcrowding and help availability to keep them in service until the refurbishment is actually ready to start?

 

[Killingworth]

Noted at 1:40 in this video that XC Voyagers are already at Derby, but they are in storage as the refurbishment has not started yet.

Surely it would be better to ease overcrowding and help availability to keep them in service until the refurbishment is actually ready to start?

"The contract doesn't mobilise for some time yet" Define 'some time'.

One unit was visible but how many more? Is that there for examination and detailed assessment of what exactly needs doing, how, where and with what resources, including manpower? Training the work force may not take long but suitable recruitment isn't a switch that can be immediately flicked on.

 

[sprinterguy]

Noted at 1:40 in this video that XC Voyagers are already at Derby, but they are in storage as the refurbishment has not started yet.

Surely it would be better to ease overcrowding and help availability to keep them in service until the refurbishment is actually ready to start?

That's an off lease ex-Avanti set. It's never been in service with XC.

 

[Trainman40083]

"The contract doesn't mobilise for some time yet" Define 'some time'.

One unit was visible but how many more? Is that there for examination and detailed assessment of what exactly needs doing, how, where and with what resources, including manpower? Training the work force may not take long but suitable recruitment isn't a switch that can be immediately flicked on.

You assess what needs do. You search the market for suitable suppliers then assess the lead times for said materials.

 

[45076]

You assess what needs do. You search the market for suitable suppliers then assess the lead times for said materials.

Pretty sure Nick says they are there for warm store.

 

[43055]

"The contract doesn't mobilise for some time yet" Define 'some time'.

One unit was visible but how many more? Is that there for examination and detailed assessment of what exactly needs doing, how, where and with what resources, including manpower? Training the work force may not take long but suitable recruitment isn't a switch that can be immediately flicked on.

At one point there was 4 visible from London Road. 221107, 111 and 113 I think are there as they occasionally move round the site.

 

[Discuss223]

It's been one month since this thread was active. Does anyone have any updates on the plans and have the plans changed now that the sale of Arriva to Isquared has been completed?

 

[Mollman]

It's been one month since this thread was active. Does anyone have any updates on the plans and have the plans changed now that the sale of Arriva to Isquared has been completed?

I doubt that the change in ownership has an impact - it isn't really their money going in. ROSCO makes up front payment then XC will pay through higher lease costs but ultimately that will be covered by the DfT in payment to Arriva for running XC.

 

[fgwrich]

At one point there was 4 visible from London Road. 221107, 111 and 113 I think are there as they occasionally move round the site.

Come to think of it, is there any further news on when anymore of the ex Avanti units are due to enter service with XC? I thought the initial plan was after September - 2 months on and none of the extras appear to have entered traffic?

 

[Wyrleybart]

Come to think of it, is there any further news on when anymore of the ex Avanti units are due to enter service with XC? I thought the initial plan was after September - 2 months on and none of the extras appear to have entered traffic?

No idea but I wonder if the remainder of ex Avanti 221s are to be overhauled prior to XC service.

 

[John R]

No idea but I wonder if the remainder of ex Avanti 221s are to be overhauled prior to XC service.

The original plan was that they would be last as they are in better condition. So unless that has changed, I doubt it.

 

[class 9]

No idea but I wonder if the remainder of ex Avanti 221s are to be overhauled prior to XC service.

The Avanti ones will be the last to be overhauled, as they've had refurbishments relatively recently, when they do go in, they'll have the shop removed so they're the same as the rest of the fleet.

 

[LittleRedTrain]

I may have been seeing things, but I'm sure the XC Voyager I boarded on Saturday (RTT suggests 221133, definitely not an ex-Avanti one) had been fitted with the Avanti-style white LED screens on the exterior by the doors, instead of the old-style orange ones.

If this is being done to units ahead of the full refurbishment, it would be very welcome.
Many of the orange XC screens are knackered and either dim, displaying rubbish, or just not working at all!

 

[Towers]

The Avanti ones will be the last to be overhauled, as they've had refurbishments relatively recently, when they do go in, they'll have the shop removed so they're the same as the rest of the fleet.

Yes; it’s a shame to lose the brief luxury of a proper buffet counter, but then of course it’s a poor use of floor space when XC would usually have crammed 683 passengers into it…

Joking aside, an ex-Avanti set turning up is both a curiosity and a minor luxury, they’ve been a very welcome addition!

 

[Kite159]

Yes; it’s a shame to lose the brief luxury of a proper buffet counter, but then of course it’s a poor use of floor space when XC would usually have crammed 683 passengers into it…

Joking aside, an ex-Avanti set turning up is both a curiosity and a minor luxury, they’ve been a very welcome addition!

Until you find your seat reservation in coach D doesn't exist on a former Avanti set due to the all table layout and you end up standing as you couldn't head to coach B quick enough to grab an unreserved seat.

Why XC couldn't keep the sets in the original formation so 1st class was next to the buffet coach with the all table layout so that could be coach B, not to worry about seat reservations as there won't be any.

 

[Trainman40083]

Until you find your seat reservation in coach D doesn't exist on a former Avanti set due to the all table layout and you end up standing as you couldn't head to coach B quick enough to grab an unreserved seat.

Why XC couldn't keep the sets in the original formation so 1st class was next to the buffet coach with the all table layout so that could be coach B, not to worry about seat reservations as there won't be any.

Surely you get round the situation by only reserving seat numbers up to xx which is common to both XC and ex Avanti sets.

 

[jayah]

Yes; it’s a shame to lose the brief luxury of a proper buffet counter, but then of course it’s a poor use of floor space when XC would usually have crammed 683 passengers into it…

The 22x are a waste of floor space all round. Hopefully during this refurb, they will discover how to get 72 seats and 2 toilets in a 23m vehicle, which BR managed back in the 1990s, before FGW raised them to 84.

They would get more capacity from doing that, than from a few extra trains from Avanti.

 

[Russel]

When is the first set due to go in for refurb?

 

[150249]

When is the first set due to go in for refurb?

How long is a piece of string?

 

[Discuss223]

If this is being done to units ahead of the full refurbishment, it would be very welcome.
Many of the orange XC screens are knackered and either dim, displaying rubbish, or just not working at all!

Do they still show the outside temperature? The white/silver font looks far more modern. I think this must be a record for longest running decor on an Intercity train. Twenty three years this design has been in place (I know they had the fabrics replaced with like for like patterns circa 2013).

 

[Goldfish62]

When is the first set due to go in for refurb?

Starting early next year I'm sure I read.

 

[stottyuk]

221133 has some of the displays replaced to mirror the Avanti style, 220015 was noted yesterday as having all displays replaced

 

[sprinterguy]

Why XC couldn't keep the sets in the original formation so 1st class was next to the buffet coach with the all table layout so that could be coach B, not to worry about seat reservations as there won't be any.

The Crosscountry sets are in their original as-delivered formation, it's the Avanti sets that had formations altered so that the buffet is next to first class. Now that the sets that have transferred to XC have been changed back, it isn't an issue for seat reservations because...

Surely you get round the situation by only reserving seat numbers up to xx which is common to both XC and ex Avanti sets.

...This is how seat reservations in Coach D are being treated, as noted in a post at the top of this page - e.g. there are now always a few unreserved higher numbered seats in Coach D of 'native' XC sets.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Nov 2024 ==

221133 has some of the displays replaced to mirror the Avanti style, 220015 was noted yesterday as having all displays replaced

Ah, that jogs my memory, thanks, I was vaguely aware of seeing both of those sets yesterday and dimly registered that something was different about the displays.

 

[swt_passenger]

When is the first set due to go in for refurb?

If they follow up from Alstom’s announcements back in the summer, (as posted in this thread at the time), nothing will start until Jan 2025. It’ll probably be later, on usual industry form.

 

[occone]

Do they still show the outside temperature?

I'm convinced they actually show the toilet tank temperature. Freezing cold waiting for doors to open and the Voyager cheerfully shows it being 21 degrees.

I'm also slightly fascinated with why they show this information, you'll only see it when you're about to stop being outside.

 

[Russel]

If they follow up from Alstom’s announcements back in the summer, (as posted in this thread at the time), nothing will start until Jan 2025. It’ll probably be later, on usual industry form.

Apologies for not reading through all 28 pages...

I'm aware there was a press release, but a lot can change in a couple of months.

 

[winks]

Was on a XC refurbished voyager yesterday from Basingstoke. The colour scheme is fine but the carpet feels so thin! There’s no way that’s going to last and the arm rests - the paint was starting to scratch off.

Oh dear.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Was on a XC refurbished voyager yesterday from Basingstoke. The colour scheme is fine but the carpet feels so thin! There’s no way that’s going to last and the arm rests - the paint was starting to scratch off.

Oh dear.

There are no XC refurbished voyagers yet.

You will be referring to a voyager refreshed in 2021 for Avanti West Coast that has since transferred to CrossCountry. As well as Avanti’s interim blue and orange upholstery and panels, it also has a coach of almost entirely table seating (with pull out table extensions), “pleather” first class seats and a shop all from Virgin Trains West Coast days. The original CrossCountry ones with the grubby Virgin interiors will receive the XC refurbishment first, followed by these Avanti-refurbished ones.

There will be a pink, grey and blue colour scheme with completely differen, thinner, FISA Lean seats.

 

[winks]

Yes to clarify it was ex-Avanti. In my opinion the dark grey doors look better. But not sure on the carpet