XC Voyager Refurbishment

[GhostManDN91]

There are only 3 sets left to be fitted with new LED panels I believe…

Ah ok cheers for the update. It's been a while now since my last ride on a CrossCountry 220/221. Will definitely make them look better alongside the refurbishment etc too.

 

[occone]

It will be interesting to see how XC maintain the new interiors once they're complete.
I've noticed a big reduction in the number of blown windows of late which is good as it suggests they're replacing them compared to a year or so ago when almost every set had a mouldy window with an entire ecosystem inside it.

 

[Railperf]

It will be interesting to see how XC maintain the new interiors once they're complete.
I've noticed a big reduction in the number of blown windows of late which is good as it suggests they're replacing them compared to a year or so ago when almost every set had a mouldy window with an entire ecosystem inside it.

Yes, but you get better mobile reception beside the 'blown' windows.

 

[GoneSouth]

Yes, but you get better mobile reception beside the 'blown' windows.

Not sure that’s true. Your mobile signal doesn’t funnel itself into the tiny hole thats lets the air and moisture in. The coating on the glass that acts like a faraday cage is still there blocking the signal

 

[Railperf]

Not sure that’s true. Your mobile signal doesn’t funnel itself into the tiny hole thats lets the air and moisture in. The coating on the glass that acts like a faraday cage is still there blocking the signal

Believe it or not I get great GPS signal beside a blown Voyager or Meridian window and that is after several journeys.
My theory seems to be that these window panels were replaced with a different quality glass layer that has blown quicker and misted than the originals. Because on most Class 22x GPS signal is very very weak.

 

[ThatBloke]

Believe it or not I get great GPS signal beside a blown Voyager or Meridian window and that is after several journeys.
My theory seems to be that these window panels were replaced with a different quality glass layer that has blown quicker and misted than the originals. Because on most Class 22x GPS signal is very very weak.

The vast majority of the body side glass on a 22x is original, despite it being 20+ years old.

 

[Railperf]

The vast majority of the body side glass on a 22x is original, despite it being 20+ years old.

Yes. Annoyingly it is. The 'blown' panes don't have the metallic mirror look from the outside. So I doubt it is the loss of gas inside that has caused this phenomenon.
As the blown panes are few and far between it seems that these must have been a different type of replacement glass.
Has anyone got an informed answer.

 

[Pete_uk]

I saw a post on X saying that one carriage had to be taken out of a unit temporarily as it was suffering from very bad corrosion.

Does anyone know if this is just whispers or true?

 

[ValentaFan1974]

True. 221137 is the affected unit. Coach B currently taken out.

 

[Amos390]

Just a thing, noticed 220027 has been out for a long time, last time it was seen was on 5D90 Barton Under Needwood to Litchurch Lane with GBRf on the 3rd November. Is this unit also going through refurbishment or is there something different going on with it?

 

[ValentaFan1974]

Yeah, it’s the second unit currently being refurbished.

 

[voyagerdude220]

Yeah, it’s the second unit currently being refurbished.

Any ideas about 220011 please? I've not seen it allocated on Realtime Trains for a while. Thanks.

 

[Russel]

I've used a few of the ex-Avanti units now and what is very clear is how extensive the refresh was that they had considering Avanti knew they were handing them back within a couple of years, panelling, handrails and seatbacks painted throughout, seats reupholstered, new carpets, it's quite impressive actually.

 

[ValentaFan1974]

Any ideas about 220011 please? I've not seen it allocated on Realtime Trains for a while. Thanks.

It’s been out of traffic for a bit. But I have no idea why. Sorry.

 

[sabanda]

There was a RailAdventure move from Central Rivers to Litchurch Lane early on in the year which must have been another Voyager?

 

[voyagerdude220]

It’s been out of traffic for a bit. But I have no idea why. Sorry.

No problem, thank you.

 

[ValentaFan1974]

Nothing internally has been said about a third Voyager being refurbished.

 

[Russel]

There was a RailAdventure move from Central Rivers to Litchurch Lane early on in the year which must have been another Voyager?

It shows how fragmented and inefficient the railway has generally become that a 3rd party company are being contracted to move XC Units from Central Rivers to Derby along a route that XC drivers sign, a distance of 20 ish miles...

Wouldn't have happened in BR days!

 

[150249]

Do we know if 220033 is still due out sometime next month?

 

[D365]

It shows how fragmented and inefficient the railway has generally become that a 3rd party company are being contracted to move XC Units from Central Rivers to Derby along a route that XC drivers sign, a distance of 20 ish miles...

Wouldn't have happened in BR days!

Would CrossCountry drivers have ever signed the shunt move into Litchurch Lane?

 

[sabanda]

Do we know if 220033 is still due out sometime next month?

Internal XC emails mention a launch event on February 10th but I’ve no idea when it will actually be back in traffic.

 

[Russel]

Would CrossCountry drivers have ever signed the shunt move into Litchurch Lane?

No idea.

Would Alstom have staff on site that can be used as a pilot to accompany the driver?

 

[Wyrleybart]

Would CrossCountry drivers have ever signed the shunt move into Litchurch Lane?

No. But more importantly, the way the industry is for drivers at the moment I have heard XC have a real struggle to get the huge number of recruits trained, who are replacing those retiring / leaving.
It is far easier to contract ad hoc moves to specialists in that field - Railadventure, ROG, H&H etc.

 

[tfw756rider]

I've used a few of the ex-Avanti units now and what is very clear is how extensive the refresh was that they had considering Avanti knew they were handing them back within a couple of years, panelling, handrails and seatbacks painted throughout, seats reupholstered, new carpets, it's quite impressive actually.

I recently rode on one for the first time, and they somehow even managed to get rid of the infamous "toilet smell" from the vestibules. They were also fitted with new louder/clearer "door closing" alarms.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Jan 2026 ==

It is far easier to contract ad hoc moves to specialists in that field - Railadventure, ROG, H&H etc.

I know that ROG stands for Rail Operations Group, but what does H&H stand for?

 

[Bumpkin]

I know that ROG stands for Rail Operations Group, but what does H&H stand for?

Hanson and Hall

 

[Russel]

I recently rode on one for the first time, and they somehow even managed to get rid of the infamous "toilet smell" from the vestibules.

To be fair, the toilet smell is very overstated, I very rarely noticed it even on the native XC fleet.

 

[ValentaFan1974]

It’s certainly not as bad as it used to be…

 

[Russel]

It’s certainly not as bad as it used to be…

Indeed, I do believe work was do to rectify it somewhat.

Admittedly, when new, it was pretty bad, but I think now it's just used as a stick to beat the Voyagers with.

 

[duffield]

Indeed, I do believe work was do to rectify it somewhat.

Admittedly, when new, it was pretty bad, but I think now it's just used as a stick to beat the Voyagers with.

I haven't noticed it in recent years.

 

[Wyrleybart]

I know that ROG stands for Rail Operations Group, but what does H&H stand for?

Hanson & Hall. I understand they do the odd spot hire job now and then. Was it H&H who used their class 50 to move GWR Mk3s between Reading and Eastleigh works ? Yes photos show them

https://www.hansonhallrail.co.uk/our-services