XC Voyager Refurbishment

[Harvey10]

Just seen a picture of 220007 now refurbished

 

[P156KWJ]

Realtime Trains | 7D26 1210 Derby Litchurch Lane to Barton Under Needwood Rsmd | 16/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 7D26 1210 departure from Derby Litchurch Lane to Barton Under Needwood Rsmd on 16/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

033 departs on Monday, albeit at a restricted top speed.

 

[E B]

Just seen a picture of 220007 now refurbished

Do you mean 027? Or is there now a third refurbished set?

 

[ThatBloke]

Realtime Trains | 7D26 1210 Derby Litchurch Lane to Barton Under Needwood Rsmd | 16/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 7D26 1210 departure from Derby Litchurch Lane to Barton Under Needwood Rsmd on 16/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

033 departs on Monday, albeit at a restricted top speed.

Depending on how much maintenance, the catchback from things not fully completed at refurb and any remedial works CZ depot need to do from their checks.
Hopefully we'll see 220033 in traffic by the end of next week.
No doubt '033 will be on a couple of out and back diagrams first, to allow CZ to fix anything arising over night.
Everyone on the project will have their fingers crossed that the inevitable unforeseen issues that arise are minimal.

 

[sprinterguy]

Do you mean 027? Or is there now a third refurbished set?

I'd assume 027, given that was the second set to go in for the refurb and has been shown in photos to be nearing completion at least externally.

I wouldn't have thought they'd start work on a third 220 until 033 is out of Litchurch Lane, though could be mistaken.

 

[brad465]

Would the extra 8 sets be enough to achieve the holy grail of double sets on all voyager diagrams? I assume not, but it would at least get us closer.

(In fact, does anyone happen to know how many diagrams there are in total?)

They also need to sort out the bonkers situation we have currently where XC trains routinely travel long distances with half the train locked out of use for staffing reasons. But that is getting extremely off-topic for this thread.

Probably not, however if it prevents 4-car formations existing that will be a bonus in itself (i.e. 4-car units are always doubled up, except maybe splitting for an extension off the core, with 5-car being the minimum default single unit diagram).

 

[lrbvoyager]

The first class seats look very similar to the first class seats found on the avanti evero sets.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

The first class seats look very similar to the first class seats found on the avanti evero sets.

They're the same type.
I don't like them.

 

[GoneSouth]

It would have been even better if the whole train had been grey. The driving cars look like the b4$t4rd offspring of a French OUIGO set and the original VXC/VWC aberrations. Pinks and bright reds (and anywhere in between on the colour spectrum) look garish, childish and awful on trains. Add in the Crayola doors, Xs and assorted decals and you’ve got a real dog’s dinner.

Actually, the grey with turquoise stripe all the way along might look quite nice, especially once you’ve added some colour with branding. Think GNER style. Even the red would have looked nice. Having 2 vehicles red and 2 vehicles grey looks like they joined up a mismatch of stock. It looks wrong.

 

[Royston Vasey]

The two solid block colours together really need the orange and blue multi coloured X vinyls they originally rendered in the previews, to tie them together. Think it would look alright with those, assuming they've not been abandoned completely.

 

[sabanda]

I'd assume 027, given that was the second set to go in for the refurb and has been shown in photos to be nearing completion at least externally.

I wouldn't have thought they'd start work on a third 220 until 033 is out of Litchurch Lane, though could be mistaken.

The plan (eventually) is for 3 to be undergoing work at any one time.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

The plan (eventually) is for 3 to be undergoing work at any one time.

The rate for completion, doing the maths, appears to be one completed every 2 weeks on average. Obviously that’s not factoring in anything else like Alstom’s factory shutdowns etc, just a pure average.

 

[fgwrich]

In answer to an earlier question it seems there is a second 220 (220027) under refurbishment and is now externally complete.

Interestingly i note that Virgin style 1s are included in this refurb along with a yellow stripe which looks a little too high in my opinion. Though it might just be the angle.

Just seen a picture of 220007 now refurbished

220027

 

[occone]

Going back to the topic of Voyager automatic announcements, I've heard them before a few times when a specific train manager is working. I asked them about it and was told they're not supposed to use them but they can be useful when the train manager is busy.

I would *guess* it's due to Virgin owning the rights to the announcements or maybe not all new stops (e.g. Worcester Parkway) have been loaded in making them unreliable.

Here's what they sound like though, not my YouTube channel though:

 

[Russel]

RailAdvent You Tube video gives a decent walk past and walk through.

Going off on a bit of a tangent here, but the video states that the unit couldn't be powered up, hence the LED strip lights, but the train can be seen moving into position for the unveiling, what do Alstom use to shunt it around the site?

Anyone got any idea?

 

[lokiavivson]

Going back to the topic of Voyager automatic announcements, I've heard them before a few times when a specific train manager is working. I asked them about it and was told they're not supposed to use them but they can be useful when the train manager is busy.

I would *guess* it's due to Virgin owning the rights to the announcements or maybe not all new stops (e.g. Worcester Parkway) have been loaded in making them unreliable.

Here's what they sound like though, not my YouTube channel though:

I've always wondered why they're switched off 99% of the time.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Realtime Trains | 7D26 1210 Derby Litchurch Lane to Barton Under Needwood Rsmd | 16/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 7D26 1210 departure from Derby Litchurch Lane to Barton Under Needwood Rsmd on 16/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

033 departs on Monday, albeit at a restricted top speed.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K62147/2026-02-16/detailed

Another to head to Litchurch Lane tomorrow as well?

 

[fgwrich]

Going off on a bit of a tangent here, but the video states that the unit couldn't be powered up, hence the LED strip lights, but the train can be seen moving into position for the unveiling, what do Alstom use to shunt it around the site?

Anyone got any idea?

As per a photo from Rail Advent. It was shunted with the Litchurch Lane Zephir.

On the subject of the PA system, do we know if there has actually been any changes to it at long last or if it’s updated?

 

[Russel]

As per a photo from Rail Advent. It was shunted with the Litchurch Lane Zephir.

Thanks, there must be some power behind that to move a 4 car Voyager around, is it electric or diesel?

 

[sprinterguy]

Thanks, there must be some power behind that to move a 4 car Voyager around, is it electric or diesel?

Diesel - 173hp Cummins engine, drawbar pull of 100kN.

Full details here:

https://www.railrouteeurope.com/sites/default/files/2023-10/LOK-10-170.pdf?product=LOK%2010.170D

 

[Ashley872]

Just been dragged through Derby.

 

[The_Train]

Just been dragged through Derby.

Are these having to be dragged because of that final leg from Derby to Litchurch Lane and XC drivers not having that on their route card?

 

[al2000]

Just been dragged through Derby.

Saw it on its way back - looks pretty smart although the transition to the grey coaches is quite jarring.

 

[Ash Bridge]

Could this be the first time an XC Voyager has been dragged by a pair of HST power cars I wonder? would have been even more fitting had they been former XC one’s!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Saw it on its way back - looks pretty smart although the transition to the grey coaches is quite jarring.

I have to say I don't mind that, it's actually the yellow front that irritates me.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K62147/2026-02-16/detailed

Another to head to Litchurch Lane tomorrow as well?

220023 was allocated to this.

 

[800001]

Thanks, there must be some power behind that to move a 4 car Voyager around, is it electric or diesel?

They can pull/push 10 car Azumas (2x5 cars) and I'm sure I've seen them doing the same to 3x4 car Scotrail 385s at Hitachi's factory.

 

[DaveyJones]

Are these having to be dragged because of that final leg from Derby to Litchurch Lane and XC drivers not having that on their route card?

How long has the unit been there? Could it possibly need maintenance etc preventing it from moving under it's own power?

 

[Russel]

I have to say I don't mind that, it's actually the yellow front that irritates me.

Leaving the yellow in the original style where it extends up the sides of the windscreen would have looked a lot better.

 

[lrbvoyager]

It suited 221101 very well.