Thunderer
Member
Does anyone know please why XC Voyager 221137 is currently running as a 4 car instead of a normal 5 car consist?
100% correct 221136,140,141 and 144 are all the XC 4 car “Super Voyagers”. 221137 was always a 5 car 221….I travelled on 221137 last summer and it was certainly a 5 car set then136, 140 & 144 are those ones, along with 141 but that one was never a 5 car
XC allocated 221136 and 221140 both lost a standard class coach to bolster what was then Virgin West Coast operated 221142 & 221143 to give Virgin a uniformed fleet of 5 car Voyagers (221101-221118 which were all 5 car Virgin West Coast allocated Voyagers at the time plus they also had two 4 coach ones 221142 & 221143 in their fleet allocation). 221142 & 221143 currently still operate with 5 coaches and are currently found working Grand Central trains on the London KX to Bradford duties.What happened to 221136? Only 141-144 were built as 4-car 221s.
(Other 221s such as 137 as you correctly mention were built as 5-cars but changed since they were first put into passenger service.)
Thank you.XC allocated 221136 and 221140 both lost a standard class coach to bolster what was then Virgin West Coast operated 221142 & 221143 to give Virgin a uniformed fleet of 5 car Voyagers (221101-221118 which were all 5 car Virgin West Coast allocated Voyagers at the time plus they also had two 4 coach ones 221142 & 221143 in their fleet allocation). 221142 & 221143 currently still operate with 5 coaches and are currently found working Grand Central trains on the London KX to Bradford duties.
To Elaborate slightly on this, for years Virgin took the 2 centre cars from 221144 to make 221142/143 upto five cars. When Cross Country decided to bring 221144 back into service, they gave 60968 to Virgin to put into 221142 (releasing 221144's shop vehicle back to its parent set. Then 221140 gave up a vehicle to make 221144 back to 4 vehicles.XC allocated 221136 and 221140 both lost a standard class coach to bolster what was then Virgin West Coast operated 221142 & 221143 to give Virgin a uniformed fleet of 5 car Voyagers (221101-221118 which were all 5 car Virgin West Coast allocated Voyagers at the time plus they also had two 4 coach ones 221142 & 221143 in their fleet allocation). 221142 & 221143 currently still operate with 5 coaches and are currently found working Grand Central trains on the London KX to Bradford duties.
The affected vehicle is withdrawn for long term corrosion related repairs.So,does anyone know the answer to the original question?
Thanks very much for that.The affected vehicle is withdrawn for long term corrosion related repairs.
Excellent..thank you ✅ That answers the threads original questionThe affected vehicle is withdrawn for long term corrosion related repairs.
The affected vehicle is withdrawn for long term corrosion related repairs.
I can't tell you that, but I can tell you that 6 Dec 2025 was the first time the unit was seen in-service since mid-September.Do we know when the affected vehicle was removed from the consist?
Concerning, if one vehicle is suffering corrosion, it's almost certain other will be too.
XC Aren't in a position to loose anything for long term repairs.
As you observe XC want every car/seat they can avaliable. They will have agreed for the affected vehicle to be withdrawn, instead of having the whole 5 car unit stood down. It's lucky it wasn't a driving car affected or they would not have had the option.