XC Voyager Refurbishment experiences, opinions & trip reports

[FrontSideBus]

I saw 033 at Manchester Piccadilly the other day. Looked quite good IMO.
I could have got a ride on it but decided to get an earlier service out and jump off at Stockport to get some pictures of it passing.
The only thing I don't like is the hard cutoff between the red and grey coaches, would have looked better if there was some fading or blending between the two IMO. Like how Avanti transition from the blue front to white.

 

[87031]

I saw 033 at Manchester Piccadilly the other day. Looked quite good IMO.
I could have got a ride on it but decided to get an earlier service out and jump off at Stockport to get some pictures of it passing.
The only thing I don't like is the hard cutoff between the red and grey coaches, would have looked better if there was some fading or blending between the two IMO. Like how Avanti transition from the blue front to white.

I was making a journey to Bristol today and by chance 220027 rolled in on 1V48, found the interior so much better in standard, lights better, nice thick carpet, seats are comfortable perhaps the backs a little firmer than original but overall was impressed. It should have been a nine car as per diagram but only a 4. Thankfully it wasn’t that rammed beyond Birmingham. I think a lot of cross country voyager diagrams have been messed up following the fire on Sunday of the 150 unit.

 

[ValentaFan1974]

I was making a journey to Bristol today and by chance 220027 rolled in on 1V48, found the interior so much better in standard, lights better, nice thick carpet, seats are comfortable perhaps the backs a little firmer than original but overall was impressed. It should have been a nine car as per diagram but only a 4. Thankfully it wasn’t that rammed beyond Birmingham. I think a lot of cross country voyager diagrams have been messed up following the fire on Sunday of the 150 unit.

There was a bit of a set mix up during the middle part of the day as there was a fatality at Durham so trains were being displaced.

 

[driverd]

So, quick first impressions from me (being sat on one of the ugly ones right now):
1. Much smarter interior in Standard, very much an upgrade in terms of aesthetics
2. New seat back tables are superb
3. Despite much fear mongering from one member in particular, leg room is a HUGE upgrade on the old seats
4. Seat base felt like it was loosing its padding already - may have been a poor seat choice on my behalf, but will be interesting to see how things go with time.
5. Seats roughly comparable in terms of comfort.

The bad bit:
That livery is hideous in person, so much worse than in pictures. They need to sort the transition between the pink and grey so it looks like the same livery, not just a total mess.

 

[GoneSouth]

So, quick first impressions from me (being sat on one of the ugly ones right now):
1. Much smarter interior in Standard, very much an upgrade in terms of aesthetics
2. New seat back tables are superb
3. Despite much fear mongering from one member in particular, leg room is a HUGE upgrade on the old seats
4. Seat base felt like it was loosing its padding already - may have been a poor seat choice on my behalf, but will be interesting to see how things go with time.
5. Seats roughly comparable in terms of comfort.

The bad bit:
That livery is hideous in person, so much worse than in pictures. They need to sort the transition between the pink and grey so it looks like the same livery, not just a total mess.

It looks bad enough in the photos, can it get any worse

Just paint the whole thing gray and brighten it up with the turquoise doors and a large colourful logo along the side.

 

[43102EMR]

So, quick first impressions from me (being sat on one of the ugly ones right now):
1. Much smarter interior in Standard, very much an upgrade in terms of aesthetics
2. New seat back tables are superb
3. Despite much fear mongering from one member in particular, leg room is a HUGE upgrade on the old seats
4. Seat base felt like it was loosing its padding already - may have been a poor seat choice on my behalf, but will be interesting to see how things go with time.
5. Seats roughly comparable in terms of comfort.

The bad bit:
That livery is hideous in person, so much worse than in pictures. They need to sort the transition between the pink and grey so it looks like the same livery, not just a total mess.

Having rode 027 a few weeks ago this is a pretty good summary, especially with the lack of transition between the driving and intermediate vehicle liveries. Definitely gives off the vibe that it’s rather unfinished IMO!

 

[cambsy]

Had my first XC refurbished Yoyager 220027(Mon 6th April), from Birmingham to Taunton on 15.03 Edinburgh-Plymouth, as was busy train, didnt get chance to properly look around, but from first impressions it seemed a modest refurbishment, nothing wow exactly, the seats are nice colour and its lighter inside, but the lights seemed the same etc, the major difference is the re paint on the outside which quite striking. so overall a t first glance amodest improvement, so will look do longer journey so can judge them better and have better look around.

 

[Bikeman78]

So, quick first impressions from me (being sat on one of the ugly ones right now):
1. Much smarter interior in Standard, very much an upgrade in terms of aesthetics
2. New seat back tables are superb
3. Despite much fear mongering from one member in particular, leg room is a HUGE upgrade on the old seats
4. Seat base felt like it was loosing its padding already - may have been a poor seat choice on my behalf, but will be interesting to see how things go with time.
5. Seats roughly comparable in terms of comfort.

The bad bit:
That livery is hideous in person, so much worse than in pictures. They need to sort the transition between the pink and grey so it looks like the same livery, not just a total mess.

Have they solved the sewage smell problem?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Having rode 027 a few weeks ago this is a pretty good summary, especially with the lack of transition between the driving and intermediate vehicle liveries. Definitely gives off the vibe that it’s rather unfinished IMO!

It is an odd omission given that a transition was on the original mockups. I wonder if it was too close to the door to be compliant?

 

[Bornin1980s]

Was on 220023 yesterday. The new seats are good, but the legroom is pretty variable. Certainly looks different inside, not like a kiddy ride anymore. That said, it still can't compare to a 185. One odd fitting, in the First Class end toilet (adjacent to my Standard Class carriage), the 'door locked' sign, inside the cubicle, instead read 'toilet out of use.' Turned out the toilet did work, but the tap didn't!

Congrats to the driver, in unrefurbished pilot 220017. After several delays, he managed to get into Leeds two minutes ahead of the new ETA, which coincided with the departure of my TPE connection. Instead, I was on time to see my connecting train arrive, though it was also slightly late.