XC Voyager Refurbishment

[TT-ONR-NRN]

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

I'd have preferred them to upgrade the headlights and make it all black.

It suited 221101 very well.

Same for this - or better - red matching the silk vinyl.

 

[Steddenm]

Just been dragged through Derby.

From a distance that could look like a 700 with the angled yellow end

 

[sbrignall72]

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!

They are. They are former 43067 and 43068.

 

[ThatBloke]

I'd have preferred them to upgrade the headlights and make it all black.

The intent was at this refurb to install new LED headlights, to enhance the lighting and reduce the maintenance burden for the current design, which are vulnerable to damage.
That plan has clearly met a delay, hopefully it will be rolled out in due course.

 

[sabanda]

Am I right in thinking that we now have 023, 027 and 028 in for refurb?

 

[Royston Vasey]

Just been dragged through Derby.

There appears to be no visible tail light on it...

 

[Ryry]

When are we expected to see the newly refurbished unit in service

 

[The Chimaera]

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?

I would imagine Alston wouldn’t want the unit running its engines in the shed and gassing the VIP’s. It might lessen its green credentials.

 

[aaronspence]

I would imagine Alston wouldn’t want the unit running its engines in the shed and gassing the VIP’s. It might lessen its green credentials.

I take it trains don't have external sockets to power them up on stands like Airplanes then?

 

[Bletchleyite]

I take it trains don't have external sockets to power them up on stands like Airplanes then?

Not as standard, no. Largely because running diesel engines to provide that power, while annoying and smelly, isn't the major safety hazard that running jet engines is (though at many airports they do run the auxiliary power unit, a small jet engine in the tail purely for providing auxiliary power). At many airports the feed is provided by a ground power unit anyway, and that is, er, a diesel generator.

It would be technically possible but a faff, and obviously with the move to bi-mode units they can just put the pantograph up if there is OHLE present.

 

[43096]

Not as standard, no. Largely because running diesel engines to provide that power, while annoying and smelly, isn't the major safety hazard that running jet engines is (though at many airports they do run the auxiliary power unit, a small jet engine in the tail purely for providing auxiliary power). At many airports the feed is provided by a ground power unit anyway, and that is, er, a diesel generator.

But Voyagers (amongst others) would appear to. There’s an electrical jumper socket low down on the front end, which is presumably for attaching a shore supply.

 

[SuperS16v]

Correct, voyagers have shore supply sockets near the coupler head

 

[Bletchleyite]

Correct, voyagers have shore supply sockets near the coupler head

Interesting. Is it ever used, e.g. on depot? Why I wonder couldn't it be used to show off a powered up unit for the press?

 

[cakefiend]

Interesting. Is it ever used, e.g. on depot? Why I wonder couldn't it be used to show off a powered up unit for the press?

Probably no shore supply sockets inside the shed. It’s a trip hazard as well and it would need someone to fit it during the launch event in order for it to work.

 

[fgwrich]

Probably no shore supply sockets inside the shed. It’s a trip hazard as well and it would need someone to fit it during the launch event in order for it to work.

Some places have 3phase shore supply sockets located along the walls, but potentially Derby doesn’t have them in Litchurch Lane.

Anyway, regarding yesterdays move with the Power Cars and partially the reason why the Zephir was used for the launch was because it's been sat for so long and for assurance purposes Rail Adventure were requested to haul it rather than operate it under its own power. The return unit was also operated by Rail Adventure and ran under its own power.

 

[ThatBloke]

Probably no shore supply sockets inside the shed. It’s a trip hazard as well and it would need someone to fit it during the launch event in order for

Some places have 3phase shore supply sockets located along the walls, but potentially Derby doesn’t have them in Litchurch Lane.

Anyway, regarding yesterdays move with the Power Cars and partially the reason why the Zephir was used for the launch was because it's been sat for so long and for assurance purposes Rail Adventure were requested to haul it rather than operate it under its own power. The return unit was also operated by Rail Adventure and ran under its own power.

Also sure that a shed full of diesel fumes was not quite the ambience the organisers were looking for for the launch event

 

[Russel]

I would imagine Alston wouldn’t want the unit running its engines in the shed and gassing the VIP’s. It might lessen its green credentials.

Also sure that a shed full of diesel fumes was not quite the ambience the organisers were looking for for the launch event

Plenty of opportunity to experience that delight when it's back in service and idling at New Street!

 

[GoneSouth]

I would imagine Alston wouldn’t want the unit running its engines in the shed and gassing the VIP’s. It might lessen its green credentials.

Wouldn’t want the VIPs to feel like they’re down in the bowells of New Street gulping kgs of diesel fumes

 

[NEDdrv]

I take it trains don't have external sockets to power them up on stands like Airplanes then?

Voyagers do have them but don’t think they have ever worked

 

[Bornin1980s]

Sad. No more Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate greeting you as the door grinds open, end of an era!

What a street! Just how many units had that particular caption, I'm sure I've seen it on more than one?

 

[Russel]

What a street! Just how many units had that particular caption, I'm sure I've seen it on more than one?

Probably several, I think there was 3 sets of vinyl used across the fleet, York, Plymouth and Birmingham.

 

[sprinterguy]

What a street! Just how many units had that particular caption, I'm sure I've seen it on more than one?

All 58 of the native XC units, as each unit has one of each location vinyl in the toilet of a particular vehicle. I've never paid sufficient attention to know whether there is a fourth location for coach B on five car sets, or whether one of the three gets repeated.

 

[Russel]

All 58 of the native XC units, as I think each unit has one of each location vinyl in the toilet of a particular vehicle. I've never paid sufficient attention to know whether there is a fourth location for coach B on five car sets, or whether one of the three gets repeated.

I've only seen York, Plymouth an Birmingham so assume they just get repeated.

 

[py_megapixel]

I know York was Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate, and Birmingham had some history about the jewellery quarter. What is/was the Plymouth one?

 

[fgwrich]

I know York was Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate, and Birmingham had some history about the jewellery quarter. What is/was the Plymouth one?

Royal Albert Bridge photo, but talking about Plymouth (Devon) being the original Plymouth.

 

[skyhigh]

Not as standard, no.

Every unit I've signed has jumper sockets, so I think it's fair to say trains do have them fitted as standard.

 

[sprinterguy]

I've only seen York, Plymouth an Birmingham so assume they just get repeated.

Had a look this morning out of curiosity and can confirm this to be true.

 

[nebusandtrain]

looks like 033 is out today, albeit not in public service

Realtime Trains | 5Z33 1800 Barton Under Needwood Rsmd to Barton Under Needwood Rsmd | 19/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Z33 1800 departure from Barton Under Needwood Rsmd to Barton Under Needwood Rsmd on 19/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[cakefiend]

I’ve heard the livery referred to as “Chapel Roan” before - I presume they are designers?

 

[class442]

I’ve heard the livery referred to as “Chapel Roan” before - I presume they are designers?

I can only presume whoever said that was referring to pop singer Chappell Roan, who and I quote Wikipedia has a "camp and drag-queen influenced style". Make of that what you will