CrossCountry Voyagers: Due a refurbishment?

[387star]

Just wondering if these are due a refurbishment soon as they have barely been touched since arriva took over in 2007

 

[222001]

They could do with a re-paint on the outside too. They've completed bodywork repairs without repainting, so now there are patches all over the side of the trains...

 

[noddy1878]

They are in total need of refurbishment. Its a different world inside a Virgin on to the XC ones.

 

[59CosG95]

The sooner they fix that toilet problem (IF they can), the better.

 

[Ash Bridge]

Just wondering if these are due a refurbishment soon as they have barely been touched since arriva took over in 2007

I struggle to understand why only first class received crosscountry colour seat fabric as well

I'll bet Bombardier had ample quantities of the original Virgin fabric already on the shelf at the time, so cheaper to just stick with that?

 

[DarloRich]

I know what I would refurb them into...........

(yes they DO need a refurbishment both inside and out)

 

[FQ]

The only refurb for those things is turning them into food containers or car parts

 

[47802]

Just wondering if these are due a refurbishment soon as they have barely been touched since arriva took over in 2007

I struggle to understand why only first class received crosscountry colour seat fabric as well

Well unless something is done in the likely direct award, will probably have to wait until the next franchise in 2019

 

[ainsworth74]

The sooner they fix that toilet problem (IF they can), the better.

There is a fix but it's not permanent (I think it involves treating the plumbing in some way so wears out eventually) and, as far as I'm aware, CrossCountry do not regularly re-apply the fix so the toilet smell continues to be problem. Meanwhile Virgin do regularly apply it to their Voyagers hence it's much less of a problem for them.

 

[Bletchleyite]

There is a fix but it's not permanent (I think it involves treating the plumbing in some way so wears out eventually) and, as far as I'm aware, CrossCountry do not regularly re-apply the fix so the toilet smell continues to be problem. Meanwhile Virgin do regularly apply it to their Voyagers hence it's much less of a problem for them.

Though the Pendolino I was on yesterday stunk of wee. The horrible piercing bing bong has been replaced with a nicer sounding one, though. Bring back the InterCity "strum".

 

[387star]

It is small things like the edge of the seats being incredibly battered and the doors covered in dents as well as the impression Arriva haven't invested in them

mind you the 175s ran around unrefurbished for years

in their mind they are a probably a new train so they see little point interesting the 170s had more work done though

 

[Jonfun]

It is small things like the edge of the seats being incredibly battered and the doors covered in dents as well as the impression Arriva haven't invested in them

Those things will just happen to any new seats too, though, while there's a trolley service on them. The problem is that there seems to be an attitude of as long as most of it's engines and doors are working, it's okay. There seems to be little planned, preventative maintenance inside the train.

 

[Diplodicus]

I would rather they spent money on MORE before NICER! I'n fed up with standing from Southampton Parkway to Oxford on Saturdays.

 

[TheNewNo2]

Admittedly it's been a few years since I travelled in one, but I never saw much wrong with Voyagers. I always preferred them to CrossCountry's turbostars anyway, which are the rattliest, least comfortable trains on the tracks.

 

[ainsworth74]

Admittedly it's been a few years since I travelled in one, but I never saw much wrong with Voyagers. I always preferred them to CrossCountry's turbostars anyway, which are the rattliest, least comfortable trains on the tracks.

They're fine. When they're not full of people which due to the length of them is not often.

I semi-regularly end up on Voyagers towards the end of the day when there might only be me and a dozen or so other people in a carriage and in those circumstances they are no better or worse than most other long distance stock. However once most seats are taken they rapidly begin to feel very very cramped and if people are standing in the aisles it gets even worse.

 

[superalbs]

CrossCountry Voyagers: Due a replacement?

The answer to that question is 'yes'.

 

[Bletchleyite]

CrossCountry Voyagers: Due a replacement?

The answer to that question is 'yes'.

I really don't think they're that terrible; I certainly wouldn't get rid of them. What I would do, though, is refurb to a lower density layout with better luggage space, and run them in pairs at all times (a 4 and a 5, probably), and acquire additional rolling stock to take up the slack.

 

[superalbs]

I really don't think they're that terrible; I certainly wouldn't get rid of them. What I would do, though, is refurb to a lower density layout with better luggage space, and run them in pairs at all times (a 4 and a 5, probably), and acquire additional rolling stock to take up the slack.

They already have disgraceful capacity, we can't decrease that any further.
It's 250 in an XC 5 car set. As for running them in pairs, what stock would you use? HSTs? They'll be quite a few of them spare soon!

 

[Bletchleyite]

They already have disgraceful capacity, we can't decrease that any further.
It's 250 in an XC 5 car set. As for running them in pairs, what stock would you use? HSTs? They'll be quite a few of them spare soon!

7-8 car IEP might be a good choice.

 

[341o2]

I saw one unit a couple of years ago being a "cross count"

good job the "o" was not missing as well....

 

[Bletchleyite]

I'm reminded of:

http://politicalscrapbook.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/alex-salmond-train-lying-scotsman.jpg

(though the Salmond photo is a Photoshop job, the text is real)

 

[RichmondCommu]

I saw one unit a couple of years ago being a "cross count"

good job the "o" was not missing as well....

I concur. Cr ss Count would look even sillier.

 

[route:oxford]

7-8 car IEP might be a good choice.

Indeed. Then Voyagers could be released to brand new routes.

MK to Bristol via Oxford, Foxhall Curve and a new Wantage station for example.

 

[HarleyDavidson]

The only refurb for those things is turning them into food containers or car parts

Where's that darn like button when you want one...

 

[swt_passenger]

Indeed. Then Voyagers could be released to brand new routes.

MK to Bristol via Oxford, Foxhall Curve and a new Wantage station for example.

That of course would be a fully electrified route anyway by the time Voyagers became available.

 

[HarleyDavidson]

Use them on the Reading - Gatwick line, it's not going electric until gawd knows when so they do quite nicely and with all of the power underneath they'll be perfect!

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Use them on the Reading - Gatwick line, it's not going electric until gawd knows when so they do quite nicely and with all of the power underneath they'll be perfect!

Reading-Gatwick is probably better suited with stock that has 1/3 and 2/3 doors as it gives more room for luggage

 

[Andyh82]

Send them to Transpennine Express! They'd work well on there.

 

[ainsworth74]

Send them to Transpennine Express! They'd work well on there.

In no way shape or form would they work well on TPE. Wrong layout and not enough capacity indeed they'd make just about everything worse.

 

[antharro]

First class is usually alright on them. Certainly for the short stints I do to Reading from time to time I find it tolerable, unless all the plastic fittings are rattling as they often are. Maybe if they were refurbed so standard wasn't such a godawful place to be I might like them more. Maybe if they were refurbed into HSTs I'd like them even more. Hmm, my opinion seems to be overruling my objectiveness there.

Seriously tho, a good refit would help them out a lot and I think is well overdue.