XC Voyager Refurbishment

[GoneSouth]

It'd be quite a big job as (like Pendolinos) it contains ducting, cabling etc, as does the annoying "bulge" above it. Yet another design flaw of these "excellent" units

Still comfier than sitting on a park bench with a couple of planks missing and searchlights shining in your face for 4 hours. I’ll take the voyager over the GWR IET thanks as I travel with small quantities of luggage.

 

[99009]

Latest update based off the posts in this thread as of today, Sunday 29th March 2026:

220021 - At Derby Litchurch Lane
220023 - At Derby Litchurch Lane
220025 - At Derby Litchurch Lane
220027 - Refurbished - Departed Derby Litchurch Lane Saturday 28th February 2026
220028 - Refurbished - Departed Derby Litchurch Lane Wednesday 18th March 2026
220033 - Refurbished - Departed Derby Litchurch Lane Monday 16th February 2026

 

[87031]

Latest update based off the posts in this thread as of today, Sunday 29th March 2026:

220021 - At Derby Litchurch Lane
220023 - At Derby Litchurch Lane
220025 - At Derby Litchurch Lane
220027 - Refurbished - Departed Derby Litchurch Lane Saturday 28th February 2026
220028 - Refurbished - Departed Derby Litchurch Lane Wednesday 18th March 2026
220033 - Refurbished - Departed Derby Litchurch Lane Monday 16th February 2026

Was the plan to have two units in at a time or is at the either one of 023 or 025 have now been finished?

 

[fgwrich]

Was the plan to have two units in at a time or is at the either one of 023 or 025 have now been finished?

2 units at a time. The third unit is supposed to replace the first unit with that leaving for Central Rivers. Presumably that didn’t happen over the weekend.

 

[ValentaFan1974]

220001 is one of the next ones due in.

 

[voyagerdude220]

I wonder how long it'll be until we get a Cross Country service formed of a Double set with 2 Refurbished Voyagers.

 

[Jimini]

I wonder how long it'll be until we get a Cross Country service formed of a Double set with 2 Refurbished Voyagers.

Fixed that for you

 

[route101]

Currently the Ex Avanti sets have the shops still in place, how are these set up? Is it a place where a trolley is parked or do they fill the fridges?

 

[ValentaFan1974]

It’s a fully stocked shop.

 

[route101]

It’s a fully stocked shop.

Good, less chance of a warm soft drink or beer.

 

[43102EMR]

Currently the Ex Avanti sets have the shops still in place, how are these set up? Is it a place where a trolley is parked or do they fill the fridges?

It’s a shame the shop was not included in the refurbishment specifications, heard it’s been pretty popular with both crews and passengers

 

[fgwrich]

It’s a fully stocked shop.

For the most part - it’s not as fully stocked as it was on Virgin (eg the non counter side isn’t used but in this day and ages it’s a risk probably not worth taking) but it’s still otherwise a stocked shop.

It’s a shame the shop was not included in the refurbishment specifications, heard it’s been pretty popular with both crews and passengers

I was speaking to the attendant earlier on 221110 and they pretty much said similar, although from a personal point of view he did say it can be a little boring being stuck in one place but is otherwise better than trying to lug the trolley through. Just a shame the Native units lost their shops years ago.

 

[GoneSouth]

It’s a shame the shop was not included in the refurbishment specifications, heard it’s been pretty popular with both crews and passengers

Since when did either of those groups of people matter to XC

 

[E B]

Fixed that for you

 

[fgwrich]

Fixed that for you

You need to see the South Coast - Manchester services then which have now semi regularly been formed of either 8 or 9 coaches. My double voyager to Southampton yesterday was one of those.

 

[Jimini]

You need to see the South Coast - Manchester services then which have now semi regularly been formed of either 8 or 9 coaches. My double voyager to Southampton yesterday was one of those.

I did say it tongue in cheek , but I was travelling from Coventry to Reading on Sunday, and when I checked in the morning, there was only one out of 13 services running as a double set (I ended up opting for the 1426 which was a suitably rammed five car service). Just looked agin now and it seems they managed to cobble together two more sets later in the day to double up the 1726 and 2126, but that's still only 3/13.

Nothing that a cheeky £10 weekend first upgrade didn't fix mind

 

[class 9]

17 out of 33 arrival/departures at Leeds today are double sets today, so just over 50%.

 

[Jimini]

17 out of 33 arrival/departures at Leeds today are double sets today, so just over 50%.

Just looked at today's formations from Coventry to Reading, and out of 17 services, only one (the 0926) is / was a double set in this neck of the woods.

Anyhoo, we digress from the refurb conversation...

 

[fgwrich]

Slightly digressing again, but looking at RTT interestingly all 3 of the refurb sets end up in Newcastle tonight. So if you’re in the North East and want to see the refurb, you’ve got a choice of 027/028 & 033.

 

[cambsy]

How many refurbed Voyagers are there? and do they have set diagrams or can turn up anywhere anytime? I am on Bank Holiday Monday(6th April) doing the 07.00 Bristol TM-Stoke, and 20.12 Birmingham-Taunton, and have these 2 services Had refurbished units on them?

 

[BillStampy]

Slightly digressing again, but looking at RTT interestingly all 3 of the refurb sets end up in Newcastle tonight. So if you’re in the North East and want to see the refurb, you’ve got a choice of 027/028 & 033.

Currently onboard 220033 now, first time on one of the refurbished sets. To be honest, it's quite nice on here, no better nor worse than the old units though. Very nice to see the units in a new style though.

 

[87031]

I did say it tongue in cheek , but I was travelling from Coventry to Reading on Sunday, and when I checked in the morning, there was only one out of 13 services running as a double set (I ended up opting for the 1426 which was a suitably rammed five car service). Just looked agin now and it seems they managed to cobble together two more sets later in the day to double up the 1726 and 2126, but that's still only 3/13.

Nothing that a cheeky £10 weekend first upgrade didn't fix mind

Is the weekend first just a pay on the day £10 or is it just subject to availability etc? Is there no point in using seatfrog at weekends?

 

[Jimini]

Is the weekend first just a pay on the day £10 or is it just subject to availability etc? Is there no point in using seatfrog at weekends?

I'm no expert, but it's a generally a tenner from Coventry to Reading and vice versa on weekends (some TMs have charged me £12 in the past). Longer journeys would cost more, I'd imagine. I tend to pay the extra (within reason) and stick with Seatfrog at weekends as you get a seat reservation. Last weekend it was sold out on there, hence the onboard upgrade. I got one of the last couple of available seats thankfully! You could see the sea of heads crammed into the vestibule through the carrriage end doors.

 

[AndrewJM70]

Does anyone know how many of the diagrams as a percentage will be doubled up once they have all the "new" stock in service?

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Does anyone know how many of the diagrams as a percentage will be doubled up once they have all the "new" stock in service?

I guess maybe a better way of looking at it is, which services that are currently single sets will become double sets after the conclusion of all of the refurbishments? Though I suspect this is very much unknown at this stage as it may well be May 2028 timetable before this comes into play. It may possibly depend on if the final 8 221’s are acquired also, which would extend the refurbishments as a consequence.

 

[19Gnasher69]

Perhaps XC is awaiting the results from the newly fitted passenger counting systems……..
Though you’d expect that, after all this time, XC would know which are its busiest services.

 

[py_megapixel]

Perhaps XC is awaiting the results from the newly fitted passenger counting systems……..
Though you’d expect that, after all this time, XC would know which are its busiest services.

Indeed - passenger counts have taken place for years by means of staff walking through the train counting. Although I have no idea what they record if the train is too busy for such a count to take place!

 

[Class 317]

Indeed - passenger counts have taken place for years by means of staff walking through the train counting. Although I have no idea what they record if the train is too busy for such a count to take place!

This come up in a conversation with a TM on Friday. If it's 2 busy they have a card with estimated loadings which they all believe are far lower than reality.

 

[Jamesrob637]

Does anyone know how many of the diagrams as a percentage will be doubled up once they have all the "new" stock in service?

Still not as many as should be!

 

[John R]

It’s not just doubling up that increases capacity. Every time a 5 car set is used in a service that used to be 4 car then there is a significant uplift in standard class capacity.