Thunderer
Member
Does anyone know yet what 12 Avanti sets out of 221101-221118 are destined for XC?
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XC Voyager Refurbishment
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Goldfish62
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Grey is used by Chiltern and was used in the Mk3b and M4 1st Class when new. It's hardly a new thing and has got nothing to do with who designs or builds trains.
Well, they will all be the same given that all the XC Voyagers are being refurbished...
dk1
Veteran Member
As of last month a bidder for the work had been identified but no contracts signed. Hopefully the first unit will be started later in the year and all complete sometime in 2027.
danbarjon
Member
What could the chances of Alstom doing the Voyagers in Widnes? As the Pendolinos finish very soon, they will have the space maybe..
They may not have started the contract for refurbishment but quite a few of the lights had been replaced in the unit I was on a couple of days ago. Vestibule lights replaced and the under luggage rack small strips along the whole coach now worked and were a uniform warm white colour. Didn’t test the individual Reading lights. If they do the centre lights to it’s amazing how much difference that makes, apart from the fact that it will highlight how threadbare the carpet is of course 
This can’t come soon enough for me, looking forward to riding in something with windows you can see through, carpet that still has thread and lighting that’s warm and welcoming.
This can’t come soon enough for me, looking forward to riding in something with windows you can see through, carpet that still has thread and lighting that’s warm and welcoming.
Northerngirl
Member
It certainly looks alot better.That probably is the refurb!
It is odd that they didn't put the full new livery on, even if they aren't doing the interior yet
Bornin1980s
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Are any of the ex-Avanti units in service with CrossCountry yet? If so, how are they painted?
dk1
Veteran Member
None. They haven’t been released by Avanti yet have they?
TT-ONR-NRN
Established Member
A couple have definitely been stood down. I know 115 is one. Although I don’t believe they’ve started the new lease.
dk1
Veteran Member
AFAIK apart from anything Avanti have chosen to stand down it’s only the two that went off lease last year and found a temporary new life with GC that are earning a living with anyone else.
114 - 116 haven't been in service for a while afaik
theblackwatch
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That's correct - 115 finished first, then 116 on March 20 and 114 on April 4.
dk1
Veteran Member
Jamesrob637
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Does that mean a couple more booked double workings?
Well, hopefully more of single set workings will be 5 car sets and the 4 car sets used to double up.
Jamesrob637
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irish_rail
On Moderation
Plenty of 4 car sets on in the south west today. Probably not great with the massive passenger numbers we are seeing this weekend. Meanwhile I witnessed two 8 car sets at Reading earlier, so we now where the capacity is today!
43096
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Where it is most needed?
Goldfish62
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A 5 car on the 1124 Manchester to Bournemouth left people behind at Stockport yesterday.
AirRail
Member
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.
irish_rail
On Moderation
The longer route. Standing for under an hour on the Reading route is preferable than expecting standees for 3 hours plus on the Plymouth route. And the fact it seems to be so many 4 car sets, not sure where the 5s have gone ?
Trainman40083
Member
And when you think XC used to run half hourly on most routes, you really wonder where the units are Okay, some are double sets.
irish_rail
On Moderation
Indeed, but I think there seems to be quite a few double sets these days on the Bournemouth route so this is perhaps what is swallowing up the sets.
LittleRedTrain
Member
1715 from Cheltenham (ex Plymouth) was a 9 car set today.
Unfortunatley the front 5 were locked out (presumably due to lack of staff) and everyone was crammed into the back 4.
Plus nobody had bothered to warn the waiting passengers, cue 8 minutes delay as everyone (including mobility impaired and those with luggage) had to traipse down the platform and find space to board!
Really seems daft that other TOCs will allow passengers in a unit with the driver the only crew (and in many cases, no crew at all), but XC won't!
Unfortunatley the front 5 were locked out (presumably due to lack of staff) and everyone was crammed into the back 4.
Plus nobody had bothered to warn the waiting passengers, cue 8 minutes delay as everyone (including mobility impaired and those with luggage) had to traipse down the platform and find space to board!
Really seems daft that other TOCs will allow passengers in a unit with the driver the only crew (and in many cases, no crew at all), but XC won't!
Anonymous10
Established Member
Worse case wouldn't you use the 5 car set as the one in use and lock the 4 out? So as to mean there additional capacity.
TT-ONR-NRN
Established Member
You have a Exeter-centric view on all routes. You also say Paddington Plymouth deserves the bulk of the 9 car IETs. I can’t help seeing it as bias.
Trainman40083
Member
From Derby, Real-time trains suggests that train was only 4 carriages. Almost wondered if it was an empty set move back to Central Rivers.