XC Voyager Refurbishment

[Energy]

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 news nonetheless. The tender isn't public AFAIK, doesn't need to be as its run by a private company.

 

[Milo T.K]

doubt battery conversions are on the table with other trains that were converted and unreliable etc even with high costs included

 

[800Travel]

Glad to hear this - XC voyagers are so outdated and dirty compared to TPE and LNER 80xs. Anyone know of any timeframe for the refurbed units to start going into service? I imagine next year at the earliest?

 

[Energy]

Glad to hear this - XC voyagers are so outdated and dirty compared to TPE and LNER 80xs. Anyone know of any timeframe for the refurbed units to start going into service? I imagine next year at the earliest?

Contract expected to be awarded early 2024, so at a guess Autumn 2024 for the first unit. It was about 8 months for the Pendolino from first unit going in to first unit leaving (they got it much quicker afterwards), voyagers are half the length so a lot less.

doubt battery conversions are on the table with other trains that were converted and unreliable etc

Cost supposedly.

 

[Milo T.K]

Anyone know of any timeframe for the refurbed units to start going into service? I imagine next year at the earliest?

at the start probably 6 or more months for the pilot unit refurbs then every 2 weeks a unit i imagine

 

[Travelmonkey]

How long did the avanti voyagers take, they went to Barking if I recall right, they are certainly much better post their refurb too.

 

[DaveyJones]

How long did the avanti voyagers take, they went to Barking if I recall right, they are certainly much better post their refurb too.

It was Ilford and 1 or 2 weeks I think

 

[Blindtraveler]

Cannot imagine it will take merely as long as the 390 even for the initial unit as I understand the specification is more of a refresh then a heavy refurb

 

[tomoufc]

I was thinking this might wait until the ex-Avanti units join the fleet, otherwise there would be temporary reductions in an already ridiculously overstretched fleet. Does anyone know how the timing would fit with the cascade?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Cannot imagine it will take merely as long as the 390 even for the initial unit as I understand the specification is more of a refresh then a heavy refurb

Structural work will be done too of course, in that the shops will be almost definitely removed and a new WC fitted in place.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Structural work will be done too of course, in that the shops will be almost definitely removed and a new WC fitted in place.

The XC ones didn't add a bog in the shop space. It was turned into a luggage and cycle area.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

The XC ones didn't add a bog in the shop space. It was turned into a luggage and cycle area.

How does what they fit in its place change what I’m saying though? The point is they still have to remove the shop and that won’t be the quickest of things.

 

[Lewisham2221]

How does what they fit in its place change what I’m saying though? The point is they still have to remove the shop and that won’t be the quickest of things.

There's no shop to rip out of the existing XC Voyagers though...

 

[DanNCL]

How does what they fit in its place change what I’m saying though? The point is they still have to remove the shop and that won’t be the quickest of things.

The shop was removed 16 years ago.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

There's no shop to rip out of the existing XC Voyagers though...

The shop was removed 16 years ago.

Oh come on now, do you really think I don’t know that There is of the seven Avanti Voyagers that will also get the refurbishment, unless you propose they’ll be permanently kept in the Avanti colour scheme, off brand leather in first, and with the shop in place - making the whole refurbishment which in part is to get the Voyagers interior consistent and on-brand (rather than a dirty version of Virgin Trains’) rather pointless.

 

[Bletchleyite]

How does what they fit in its place change what I’m saying though? The point is they still have to remove the shop and that won’t be the quickest of things.

No, but fitting a shelf is a lot quicker than fitting a toilet and associated tank and emptying kit!

 

[Lewisham2221]

Oh come on now, do you really think I don’t know that There is of the seven Avanti Voyagers that will also get the refurbishment, unless you propose they’ll be permanently kept in the Avanti colour scheme, off brand leather in first, and with the shop in place - making the whole refurbishment which in part is to get the Voyagers interior consistent and on-brand (rather than a dirty version of Virgin Trains’) rather pointless.

Your post implied that major structural work would be required for the whole fleet, whereas the post you were replying to was clearly referring to the existing fleet.

 

[class397tpe]

Hopefully they replace the seats with the ones they fitted in the pendolino refurbishment, they’ve been transformative in terms of interior space. But “refresh” sounds like that’s unlikely

 

[Anonymous10]

Hopefully they replace the seats with the ones they fitted in the pendolino refurbishment, they’ve been transformative in terms of interior space. But “refresh” sounds like that’s unlikely

Personally I wouldn't be opposed to that class 197s seats either they're actually not bad.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Personally I wouldn't be opposed to that class 197s seats either they're actually not bad.

The infamous Fainsa Sophia, eh?

 

[Lewisham2221]

Hopefully they replace the seats with the ones they fitted in the pendolino refurbishment, they’ve been transformative in terms of interior space. But “refresh” sounds like that’s unlikely

Personally I wouldn't be opposed to that class 197s seats either they're actually not bad.

I'd actually quite happily keep the existing seats, reupholstered of course.

 

[class397tpe]

I'd actually quite happily keep the existing seats, reupholstered of course.

Granted, the current seats are comfy, but so space inefficient with how thick they are! I’d love a bit more legroom, and you can forget about using a laptop with the current seats…

I wonder if this refurb will include the speculated rebrand of XC that was discussed a few months ago… nothing seems to have come of that.

Change to XC Branding

One of my friends who are friends with a driver just told me that XC will be having a full refresh as well as reliveried trains, apparently turquoise. Does anyone know more info about this and if its true?

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Granted, the current seats are comfy, but so space inefficient with how thick they are! I’d love a bit more legroom, and you can forget about using a laptop with the current seats…

I wonder if this refurb will include the speculated rebrand of XC that was discussed a few months ago… nothing seems to have come of that.

Change to XC Branding

One of my friends who are friends with a driver just told me that XC will be having a full refresh as well as reliveried trains, apparently turquoise. Does anyone know more info about this and if its true?

www.railforums.co.uk

Back on June 29th (my 20th ), @BHXDMT said:

Staff had a Teams presentation on the new branding, livery and interiors last week.

(It’s a closed thread so not possible to do the usual proper quote format)

And then no one ever elaborated further sadly

 

[Travelmonkey]

A refresh would be a good start but extra/new trains would be better,

 

[AJDesiro]

A refresh would be a good start but extra/new trains would be better,

They're getting 7 221s from Avanti once their 80x come into service.

 

[Travelmonkey]

They're getting 7 221s from Avanti once their 80x come into service.

Seems odd that Grand Central got some before XC although open acsess is a whole different situation, I'm sure Arriva know what they're doing ,

 

[GoneSouth]

How does what they fit in its place change what I’m saying though? The point is they still have to remove the shop and that won’t be the quickest of things.

Screwdriver, saw, hammer, no more shop. It won’t take long!

The luggage space was much needed when they removed the shop on the XC ones, but it often ends up full of passengers who have nowhere else to sit instead of luggage. And, we’re all told constantly to keep an eye on our luggage at all times which is impossible if you leave it in the former shop luggage rack

 

[mpthomson]

How does what they fit in its place change what I’m saying though? The point is they still have to remove the shop and that won’t be the quickest of things.

Even if it was still there, which it isn't, a couple of hours at most.

 

[DarloRich]

I will submit a tender: push them in the sea and replace with nice trains.

They need a full strip back, redecorating, new carpets, new lights, new seats, better alignment and throwing in the sea

being serious it DOES need doing. They are in a very tatty state. SOME of the issues with the voyager could be fixed by installing a decent quality interior.

The point is they still have to remove the shop and that won’t be the quickest of things.

it wont be a difficult job. It might take a few hours.

 

[satisnek]

There's a place just south of Wilnecote which I'm sure would do a grand job with them