A mad idea for naming the Cross Country Class 221s

[59CosG95]

Hi all!
Follow on from my thread about locos and MUs named after UK universities (http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=109015), I had a bit of a brainwave: Why not give the once-named, now-denamed CrossCountry Class 221 fleet a name after each of the Russell Group Universities?

Doing the maths, there are 23 XC 221s, and 24 RG unis (of which Queen's Belfast isn't being counted, as it isn't on the British mainland network), so giving each 221 a name after a University.
My list is as follows:

• 221119-University of Birmingham
• 221120-University of Bristol
• 221121-University of Cambridge
• 221122-Cardiff University
• 221123-Durham University
• 221124-University of Edinburgh
• 221125-University of Exeter
• 221126-University of Glasgow
• 221127-Imperial College London
• 221128-King's College London
• 221129-University of Leeds
• 221130-University of Liverpool
• 221131-London School of Economics and Political Science
• 221132-University of Manchester
• 221133-Newcastle University
• 221134-University of Nottingham
• 221135-University of Oxford
• 221136-Queen Mary University of London
• 221137- University of Sheffield
• 221138-University of Southampton
• 221139-University College London
• 221140-University of Warwick
• 221141-University of York

So, what do you think? I thought that loads of students take XC every year to travel to and from university every year, and I thought that it would be nice to have each university represented by a Voyager. Besides-I think it's about high time the class got names again.

As for the 220s? Give them all the names they had back. (Except 220026, formerly "Stagecoach Voyager", which should probably be renamed after another river e.g. "Tamar Voyager").

 

[GWRjake]

That's actually not such a bad idea! Great thinking there, I'd love to see that on the 221s which pass through my local.

 

[thenorthern]

Would be a nice idea to name after Universities although as CrossCountry no longer serve London it would be good if they were named after Universities in the cities and towns they served.

 

[WillPS]

More likely to annoy than endear.

 

[Trainfan344]

Needs to be named after different uni's served by XC so Staffordshire University would get a mention.

 

[WestCountry]

They even serve almost everywhere on that list (with the sole exception of Liverpool, I think?). I like it!

EDIT: XC at least. Not the 221s, unless subbed for 170s.

 

[59CosG95]

Would be a nice idea to name after Universities although as CrossCountry no longer serve London it would be good if they were named after Universities in the cities and towns they served.

Needs to be named after different uni's served by XC so Staffordshire University would get a mention.

OK-maybe a little bit of revision of the list needs doing to include more regional and less London-centric unis:
e.g.

• 221127-University of Derby
• 221128-University of Lancaster
• 221130-University of Plymouth
• 221131-University of Reading
• 221136-Staffordshire University
• 221139-University of Wolverhampton

How's that now?

 

[BantamMenace]

OK-maybe a little bit of revision of the list needs doing to include more regional and less London-centric unis:
e.g.

• 221127-University of Derby
• 221128-University of Lancaster
• 221130-University of Plymouth
• 221131-University of Reading
• 221136-Staffordshire University
• 221139-University of Wolverhampton

How's that now?

We go by Lancaster University now not University of Lancaster.

Dont ask me why but we do, it's on all our internal circulations

 

[CallySleeper]

You missed out my old uni. Not entirely surprised.

 

[W-on-Sea]

Cross through the London ones, add Aberdeen, St Andrews (Leuchars is near enough), and Queens College St Andrews, sorry I mean the University of Dundee

 

[Starmill]

Interesting idea!

 

[bb21]

What has Lancaster got to do with XC?

No Leicester or De Montfort but Cambridge (who are also exclusively served by 170s)? What about Notts Trent? Manchester Met? Leeds Met? Northumbria?

What is actually the criteria for inclusion, aside from being in the Russell Group? Are we discounting former polytecs, in which case Derby, Wolves, Staffs and Plymouth should all be discounted?

 

[Starmill]

What has Lancaster got to do with XC?

No Leicester or De Montfort but Cambridge (who are also exclusively served by 170s)? What about Notts Trent? Manchester Met? Leeds Met? Northumbria?

What is actually the criteria for inclusion, aside from being in the Russell Group? Are we discounting former polytecs, in which case Derby, Wolves, Staffs and Plymouth should all be discounted?

I wouldn't even give the Beckett lot a voyager

 

[59CosG95]

What is actually the criteria for inclusion, aside from being in the Russell Group? Are we discounting former polytecs, in which case Derby, Wolves, Staffs and Plymouth should all be discounted?

Didn't say they had to be discounted; I was just trying to find universities along XC's line of route. And now, time for the 3rd revision of the list: replacing 221128-Lancaster University with 221128-University of St Andrews. Kicked myself for missing that one out, as it's where my little brother wants to go!

 

[FQ]

Even if they did get named it would just be a sticker, not a proper cast name-plate like this!

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8014/7341397524_27cd38540e_z.jpg

It is Not my photo.

 

[59CosG95]

Even if they did get named it would just be a sticker, not a proper cast name-plate like this!

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8014/7341397524_27cd38540e_z.jpg

It is Not my photo.

Better than nothing, I suppose. Might suggest the idea to XC soon!

 

[sprinterguy]

Even if they did get named it would just be a sticker, not a proper cast name-plate like this!

Why not? The original Voyager and Super Voyager nameplates are certainly considerably more “lightweight” than the traditional BR rail alphabet ones, but they are still proper ‘plates.

I think this is a superb idea. Crosscountry services appear to be well used by Uni students travelling around the country (I used them intensively during my Uni days), and even sticking with the original list of Russell Group universities suggested (but perhaps substituting for the London ones) the majority of them are on or near the Crosscountry network!

 

[59CosG95]

Why not? The original Voyager and Super Voyager nameplates are certainly considerably more “lightweight” than the traditional BR rail alphabet ones, but they are still proper ‘plates.

I think this is a superb idea. Crosscountry services appear to be well used by Uni students travelling around the country (I used them intensively during my Uni days), and even sticking with the original list of Russell Group universities suggested (but perhaps substituting for the London ones) the majority of them are on or near the Crosscountry network!

That was the initial reasoning e.g. Some students may travel from Liverpool to Southampton, using XC for part of their journey. I do agree, in hindsight, that adding London Unis in when XC don't even go near the capital anymore (nearest the Voyagers go is Guildford now) is a bit strange (not to say stupid)!

 

[BantamMenace]

XC are amongst the only TOC to offer NUS discount as well so they obviously target students.

 

[59CosG95]

XC are amongst the only TOC to offer NUS discount as well so they obviously target students.

If not THE only TOC.

 

[fairysdad]

If not THE only TOC.

SWT kind of do, but only via Megabus tickets.

And where's Bournemouth University on the list?

 

[59CosG95]

SWT kind of do, but only via Megabus tickets.

And where's Bournemouth University on the list?

*replaces 221121-University of Cambridge with 221121-Bournemouth University*

 

[bb21]

I don't think you will have enough units even if you just include all the universities on routes served by Voyagers.

What about Notts Trent? Leeds Met? Manchester Met? Northumbria?

You're gonna need some sort of qualifying criteria. I think your original list may be the best.

 

[59CosG95]

I don't think you will have enough units even if you just include all the universities on routes served by Voyagers.

What about Notts Trent? Leeds Met? Manchester Met? Northumbria?

You're gonna need some sort of qualifying criteria. I think your original list may be the best.

Well...I guess the Class 220s could take the names of the other unis on the route...

 

[Saint66]

Leeds Met? You mean Leeds Beckett nowadays?

 

[JaJaWa]

If not THE only TOC.

Grand Central do, they also let you book XC with the NUS discount with no fees.

 

[Crossover]

Needs to be named after different uni's served by XC so Staffordshire University would get a mention.

+1 for this

 

[Oswyntail]

I wouldn't even give the Beckett lot a voyager

Lots of internecine strife possible! Perhaps, where there are more than one University in a settlement you could go with something like "Universities of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam".
PS Good move getting rid of Fenland Polytechnic

 

[MCR247]

There might be arguments about who goes first on the name plate though :P

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I refuse to share a nameplate with the University of Edgbaston (sorry OP )