XC Voyager Refurbishment

[Riverside Redz]

Have just heard that 220033 has been out of service since the end of May, and it's therefore been suggested that this is the first unit to go in for refurbishment. I've got no way of verifiying this (although it's not showing any allocations on RTT at least!) but perhaps somebody on here has a definitive answer? I had been under the impression that they weren't due to begin work until this autumn.

I thought this too but I remember someone on TikTok a few weeks ago stating the first one was in for refurbishment now , assumed it was a load of rubbish but….

 

[Russel]

Not due to start work until the autumn? Did anybody specify what year that will be? This is XC so probably won’t happen at all

This is my concern, I can see it being pushed back again and again...

 

[Jacob Porrett]

220033 is in different stages at Derby undergoing it's refurbishment. I saw it today at the Greatest Gathering.

 

[Masbroughlad]

220033 is in different stages at Derby undergoing it's refurbishment. I saw it today at the Greatest Gathering.

Any pics or insights on how it looks?

 

[XCTurbostar]

Any pics or insights on how it looks?

Beauty and the Beast?

Explore agarden83's 987 photos on Flickr!

flic.kr

 

[Kite159]

Any pics or insights on how it looks?

 

[Doomotron]

Funny to see that the Virgin livery was hiding underneath all that time. I knew they didn't repaint them, but I would have expected the red vinyls to have been removed.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Funny to see that the Virgin livery was hiding underneath all that time. I knew they didn't repaint them, but I would have expected the red vinyls to have been removed.

The roofline has always still been red - they're usually just so filthy that it looks the same as the purple end vinyls.

 

[ValentaFan1974]

Nah - one unit is still knocking about with the “Virgin” label on the side - covered over obviously but you can see the outline of the lettering on it

 

[E B]

Crazy that the Virgin Livery is still on 220033.

 

[DBS92042]

Crazy that the Virgin Livery is still on 220033.

I believe its still on every XC 220/221 (even the ex-Avanti ones). To my knowledge, only 221101 has ever been fully repainted.

Slightly off topic, but even the repainted 390s are starting to get their Virgin red roofs show through again...

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Aug 2025 ==

Funny to see that the Virgin livery was hiding underneath all that time. I knew they didn't repaint them, but I would have expected the red vinyls to have been removed.

The red was painted AFAIK, not vinyl hence it was never removed after their days with Virgin ended

 

[fgwrich]

I believe its still on every XC 220/221 (even the ex-Avanti ones). To my knowledge, only 221101 has ever been fully repainted.

Slightly off topic, but even the repainted 390s are starting to get their Virgin red roofs show through again...

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Aug 2025 ==


The red was painted AFAIK, not vinyl hence it was never removed after their days with Virgin ended

Correct, only 221101 has lost its traditional Virgin Red / Silver base. The rest were simply vinyled over by XC and Avanti, though at least Avanti didn’t entirely try to hide the Virgin origins by doing things like leaving the roof to become a dirty shade of brown!

When Virgin lost the franchise, a curved white band rising up across the cab was removed along with the Virgin nose badge. I can’t remember whether XC had the little >><< : >><< : >><< : removed from the body side as well, or if they just fell off or became so weather worn we haven’t noticed them.

 

[Chiltern006]

What was the purpose of the colons and arrows?

 

[danielnez1]

Plus if the base paintwork is two pack it is quite a chore to remove due to it's toxicity, which is one of the reasons why vinyls are used for "repaints". I imagine most of the Networkers and Class 323s still carry their original liveries underneath to this day.

 

[Bletchleyite]

What was the purpose of the colons and arrows?

Just stylistic. The original Virgin branding used arrowheads in a few places.

 

[Russel]

Glad to see this finally starting!

Was beginning to wonder if it had quietly been cancelled...

Plus if the base paintwork is two pack it is quite a chore to remove due to it's toxicity, which is one of the reasons why vinyls are used for "repaints". I imagine most of the Networkers and Class 323s still carry their original liveries underneath to this day.

Add the 360s to that list too.

 

[43066]

Add the 360s to that list too.

What list?

The 360s have recently been repainted due to anti corrosion requirements. Very much not a job involving vinyls…

 

[fgwrich]

What was the purpose of the colons and arrows?

Just stylistic. The original Virgin branding used arrowheads in a few places.

This. Just a small stylistic set of arrows and dots in a darker grey placed along the body side.

You can just make them out if you look closely in this video of a Virgin 221 at Wolverhampton.

 

[SuperS16v]

Some more pictures taken from ‘Cross Country train enthusiasts’ Facebook page courtesy’s of Mike Peralta

 

[E B]

Some more pictures taken from ‘Cross Country train enthusiasts’ Facebook page courtesy’s of Mike Peralta

I wonder how long it will take to get done

 

[Carnforth_24]

Plus if the base paintwork is two pack it is quite a chore to remove due to it's toxicity, which is one of the reasons why vinyls are used for "repaints". I imagine most of the Networkers and Class 323s still carry their original liveries underneath to this day.

323s are all repainted into Northern livery.

 

[Towers]

Just stylistic. The original Virgin branding used arrowheads in a few places.

Plenty of XC Voyagers still have a very obvious diamond shape on the cab nose ends where the Virgin crests were removed, too. Presumably the cabs were never repainted! It’s noticeable that the ex-Avanti sets have a much paler shade of yellow on the cabs, which I assume is the result of them having received new paint.

 

[Russel]

What list?

The 360s have recently been repainted due to anti corrosion requirements. Very much not a job involving vinyls…

They spent 20 years in First Group blue until the EMR repaint though.

I didn't mention vinyls...

 

[43066]

They spent 20 years in First Group blue until the EMR repaint though.

I didn't mention vinyls...

The poster you quoted and agreed with did.

 

[Liam L]

323s are all repainted into Northern livery.

9 aren't. The units in storage still carry London Midland underneath the West Midlands vinyls. Even 323221 as that was mostly a vinyl job!

 

[Carnforth_24]

9 aren't. The units in storage still carry London Midland underneath the West Midlands vinyls. Even 323221 as that was mostly a vinyl job!

I meant that the Northern 323s in Northern livery are all painted.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

My photo of 220033 at Derby yesterday (1/8/25)

 

[Russel]

My photo of 220033 at Derby yesterday (1/8/25)

Seen a few photos of this on social media, it's impressive to think how well the cab end vinyl has worn, given it's around 17 years old and knowing Arriva, probably done on the cheap.

 

[tomoufc]

Glad to see this finally starting

I was hoping they would wait until autumn. Presumably the summer holidays are the busiest period.

 

[Trainman40083]

I was hoping they would wait until autumn. Presumably the summer holidays are the busiest period.

I'd imagine the first to be done might take a while,with later ones going through quicker.