XC Voyager Refurbishment

[Bringback309s]

In Cornwall now, is it the first refurb to Penzance?

 

[99009]

Latest update based off the posts in this thread as of today, Tuesday 7th April 2026:

220001 - At Derby Litchurch Lane (Latest Arrival)
220021 - At Derby Litchurch Lane
220023 - Refurbished - Departed Derby Litchurch Lane Thursday 2nd April 2026
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

 

[ash39]

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

220027 and 220033 on 1S41 0727 Plymouth-Edinburgh today. Seen on Newcastle railcam.

 

[voyagerdude220]

220027 and 220033 on 1S41 0727 Plymouth-Edinburgh today. Seen on Newcastle railcam.

Thanks for the screenshot.

 

[E B]

220027 and 220033 on 1S41 0727 Plymouth-Edinburgh today. Seen on Newcastle railcam.

I saw it at New Street earlier aswell

 

[testertrev]

Singularly unimpressed with the seats in 1st. The old ones were far better IMHO

 

[87031]

Singularly unimpressed with the seats in 1st. The old ones were far better IMHO

Only been in the new standard class but they are Much better than the old ones, Overall ambience is much better with the lighting as well. The first class seats on the old ones where pretty comfy though.

 

[John R]

Singularly unimpressed with the seats in 1st. The old ones were far better IMHO

Why does that remind me of the transition from HST to IET on GWR in 1st?

 

[sabanda]

Why does that remind me of the transition from HST to IET on GWR in 1st?

The new XC first class seats are far better than those on the IET. They are not an upgrade, but neither did I find them to be at all uncomfortable for a recent 3-hour ride. This is of course highly subjective.

 

[Thunderer]

220025 will be the next refurbed unit out for XC. It worked the 5D26 between Litchurch Lane and Voyagerland (Central Rivers) yesterday.

 

[99009]

220025 will be the next refurbed unit out for XC. It worked the 5D26 between Litchurch Lane and Voyagerland (Central Rivers) yesterday.

Thank you for your post. Interestingly this time, unit numbers were included in the schedules on RTT!

5D93 Barton Under Needwood - Derby Litchurch Lane (220006 according to this link):

Realtime Trains | 5D93 0737 Barton Under Needwood Rsmd to Derby Litchurch Lane | 11/04/2026

Real-time train running information for 5D93 0737 departure from Barton Under Needwood Rsmd to Derby Litchurch Lane on 11/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

5D26 Derby Litchurch Lane - Barton Under Needwood:

Realtime Trains | 5D26 0902 Derby Litchurch Lane to Barton Under Needwood Rsmd | 11/04/2026

Real-time train running information for 5D26 0902 departure from Derby Litchurch Lane to Barton Under Needwood Rsmd on 11/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Latest update based off the posts in this thread as of today, Sunday 12th April 2026:

220001 - At Derby Litchurch Lane
220006 - At Derby Litchurch Lane (Latest Arrival)
220021 - At Derby Litchurch Lane
220023 - Refurbished - Departed Derby Litchurch Lane Thursday 2nd April 2026
220025 - Refurbished - Departed Derby Litchurch Lane Saturday 11th April 2026
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

 

[CR165022]

It's unfortunate but one of 220028 or 033 have failed badly near Barnt Green, been stuck there for over an hour

 

[ValentaFan1974]

Brake release issue on 1E75. Service restarted at BHM as 1Z75.

 

[99009]

220025, according to RTT, is working 1H17 Birmingham NS - Man Picc right now, only 2 days after leaving Derby Litchurch Lane!

In case anyone is after the others, 220023 is with 221139 on 1O08 Man Picc - Bournemouth, 220027 is with 220011 on 1S35 Bristol TM - Edinburgh and 220028+220033 aren't in action.

 

[ValentaFan1974]

220028 and 220033 back in action today.

 

[Dood75]

025 and 027 paired up today according to RTT on1S43 0725 ex Plymouth

 

[GoneSouth]

Had my first ride on a refurb this week from Birmingham to Bristol. Underwhelmed would sum it up. I really really wanted to like it as I’m a fan of Voyagers generally. Don’t get me wrong, most of it is an improvement. All the lights working, clean interiors and no mould in the windows should be a given but this hasn’t been the case with voyagers for years so that’s a big win.

Then I sat down. Oh dear! The seat cushion had seemingly melted away, leaving me to sit with a lumpy metal base thrusting into my posterior for over an hour. I hope this was a one off, didn’t get chance to try any other seats, but at this stage it seems their seats are as resilient to bums as GWR’s. Not good.

Really hope this isn’t going to be the standard for the next 10 years!

 

[87031]

Had my first ride on a refurb this week from Birmingham to Bristol. Underwhelmed would sum it up. I really really wanted to like it as I’m a fan of Voyagers generally. Don’t get me wrong, most of it is an improvement. All the lights working, clean interiors and no mould in the windows should be a given but this hasn’t been the case with voyagers for years so that’s a big win.

Then I sat down. Oh dear! The seat cushion had seemingly melted away, leaving me to sit with a lumpy metal base thrusting into my posterior for over an hour. I hope this was a one off, didn’t get chance to try any other seats, but at this stage it seems their seats are as resilient to bums as GWR’s. Not good.

Really hope this isn’t going to be the standard for the next 10 years!

I presume you where in standard class? I found the seat in standard just fine no issue with the seat cushion, surely after several weeks in service the cushions are wearing out already??

 

[Bletchleyite]

I presume you where in standard class? I found the seat in standard just fine no issue with the seat cushion, surely after several weeks in service the cushions are wearing out already??

It would be unusual for that to happen on a FISA LEAN seat. I suspect it's just a faulty one.

 

[GoneSouth]

It would be unusual for that to happen on a FISA LEAN seat. I suspect it's just a faulty one.

Hope you’re right, I spend plenty of my life sat on voyagers and don’t fancy that uncomfortable ride every time. The ambiance of standard class was of course that of a well loaded tube train at rush hour rather than comfortable intercity long distance train but I’m not blaming the train for that.

The dark gray seating looked the part from what I could see of it through the crowds. Oh, and the seat back fold down table seemed sturdy and large which is a bonus. Overall, I’m reserving judgement until I’ve sat on a usable seat, but it looks very nice and similar standard to the ex Avanti ones.

 

[Bletchleyite]

To clarify further they are quite hard seats, but it would be unusual to feel the framework through one, and I've sat in a few of them.

 

[MboroFC]

Hi,

To date, how many voyagers have been refurbished, and how many are left to see refurb?

Thanks

 

[Apedlar12]

Hi,

To date, how many voyagers have been refurbished, and how many are left to see refurb?

Thanks

Refurbished:

220023
220025
220027
220028
220033

 

[ValentaFan1974]

220008 next one in apparently…

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

I’m just looking at the numbers here. Would a fair assessment be that all the 220’s should be finished by the end of the year?

 

[ValentaFan1974]

Realistically, yes. If the momentum stays the same.

 

[CR165022]

Might as well make a list:

Spoiler: 220 List

220001 - Refurbished - In Service - With MSO 60727 (220027)
220002 - Refurbished - In Service
220003 - Refurbished - In Service
220004 - Unrefurbished - In Service
220005 - Unrefurbished - Out of Service (Pride Livery)
220006 - Refurbished - In Service
220007 - Refurbished - In Service
220008 - Refurbished - In Service
220009 - Undergoing Refurbishment at Derby (Hixon)
220010 - Unrefurbished - In Service
220011 - Unrefurbished - In Service
220012 - Unrefurbished - In Service
220013 - Refurbished - In Service
220014 - Unrefurbished - In Service
220015 - Unrefurbished - In Service
220016 - Refurbished - In Service (Voyager20)
220017 - Undergoing Refurbishment at Derby
220018 - Unrefurbished - In Service
220019 - Refurbished - Out of Service
220020 - Unrefurbished - In Service
220021 - Refurbished - In Service
220022 - Unrefurbished - In Service
220023 - Refurbished - In Service
220024 - Unrefurbished - In Service
220025 - Refurbished - In Service
220026 - Unrefurbished - In Service
220027 - Refurbished - Out of Service - With MSO 60701 (220001)
220028 - Refurbished - In Service
220029 - Refurbished - In Service
220030 - Unrefurbished - In Service
220031 - Undergoing Refurbishment at Derby
220032 - Unrefurbished - In Service
220033 - Refurbished - In Service
220034 - Unrefurbished - In Service

 

[cambsy]

is there anyway to know Refurbished Voyager sets diagrams, more than a day or 2 before plan to travel?.

 

[ValentaFan1974]

No. We tend to find out any time from 10pm the night before…

 

[Dood75]

is there anyway to know Refurbished Voyager sets diagrams, more than a day or 2 before plan to travel?.

The only sets you can generally be sure of the next day are the set/s that end up at Holbeck each time, more often than not form the following days 1V44...so if you see a refurb one ending up at Holbeck, keep an eye on 1V44