dk1
Veteran Member
Refurb underway though.
-
Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
XC Voyager Refurbishment
- Thread starter Energy
- Start date
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
They really need cleaning, mould removing from the windows, the lighting needs sorting out (note they have replaced a fair few vestibule lights recently but the luggage space is dingy), the carpets and upholstery needs replacing and a good bright paint job is required. Oh, WIFI is a bit pants too!
Oh, and they could be shaving 20-30% off their fares please.
Apart from that they are impressive machines with a quality smooth ride.
They really need cleaning, mould removing from the windows, the lighting needs sorting out (note they have replaced a fair few vestibule lights recently but the luggage space is dingy), the carpets and upholstery needs replacing and a good bright paint job is required. Oh, WIFI is a bit pants too!
Oh, and they could be shaving 20-30% off their fares please.
Apart from that they are impressive machines with a quality smooth ride.
Not sure a fare reduction comes under the remit of the refurb scheme, but it would be nice if it was!
On that note, it's a shame they can't cut the carriages in half and slot in an extra couple of meters like they do with ships!
Yes, just thought as I’d started then I may as well finish my wish list
dk1
Veteran Member
Im sure somebody said further issues were found causing delay with the first Voyager undergoing refurbishment hence why we are still waiting.
Wyrleybart
Established Member
The bodyshells are 23m length which was introduced to BR in the 1970s with the Mk3s and the class 155, 156 and 158. The issue with the 220 and 221 was designed into them by the Virgin group - great big toilets and vestibules with dull, dingy saloons, and that 700hp Cummins vibration under floor.Not sure a fare reduction comes under the remit of the refurb scheme, but it would be nice if it was!
On that note, it's a shame they can't cut the carriages in half and slot in an extra couple of meters like they do with ships!
They are 25 years on a 27 or 28 year old design and despite having an Agate AC traction system they are still diesel only.
FrontSideBus
On Moderation
- Joined
- 11 Feb 2025
- Messages
- 451
I quite like listening to the big throbbing Cummins tbh
My suggestion about cutting them in half, wasn't a serious one.
Wyrleybart
Established Member
Haha Could have fooled me. Actually you did !!!!
The_Train
Established Member
- Joined
- 2 Jun 2018
- Messages
- 5,247
Cutting them in half is not acceptable to me. It needs to be a proper shredding into tiny pieces
I like it from the outside, it always tells me which platform my Voyager is on even if I can’t see it because I’m in subway or on a high sided bridge.
And then replace them with inferior comfort, terrible ride quality and the ambiance of an interrogation room.Cutting them in half is not acceptable to me. It needs to be a proper shredding into tiny pieces
Cutting them in half is not acceptable to me. It needs to be a proper shredding into tiny pieces
Yeah, great, then they could be replaced by DFT poverty spec IET's...
FrontSideBus
On Moderation
- Joined
- 11 Feb 2025
- Messages
- 451
If we supposedly have a privatised railway... how come the DFT has so much control over even the interior trimmings???
Fingers and pies… it’s never really been as privatised as people seem to think.
Of course both the IET and Thameslink 700s show what we can expect from a train designed and costed by Civil Servants. How far has GTR come with its retrofit program for the Desiro City’s…
MCR247
Established Member
- Joined
- 7 Nov 2008
- Messages
- 10,291
Short answer: we don’t have a privatised railway.
Yes, it’s almost like they’re copying the bare minimum specs of Ryanair but forgetting to reduce the Emirates level fares to reflect this
He who pays the piper....
But we do have one that’s very easy to blame the after effects upon privatisation whilst watching the DfT scurry away.
Martin_1981
Member
- Joined
- 15 Jul 2011
- Messages
- 274
The best 2 qualities of the Voyagers has to be the fact that they are solid as a rock reliability wise as you say and, the acceleration for a diesel train is second to none. Apart from that, not much else.
Wyrleybart
Established Member
I like that analogy
The truth is the railway industry is micromanaged more than ever befor by suits in the DfT. Nothing has been learnt about the shambles of British Railways modernisation, and a very clear example is the CAF DMUs. They authorised the acquisition of a fleet of DMUs which are basically the same, but have different designations, requiring different crew competencies, and they cannot couple to each other. At least back in the day you could couple any blue square DMU set to any other.
Lets not mention the appalling situation in GWR at the moment with around a hundred IET generator units isolated which resulted in the 2003 Paddington - Plymouth running out of fuel a mile from destination, and passengers stepping off the train at quarter past three the next morning. The IEP was cosily developed by a senior DfT civil servant with Hitachi. Cracking aluminium brackets, dodgy MTU fuel pumps shabby vinyls and seat fabrics are just some of the woes I believe.
The_Train
Established Member
- Joined
- 2 Jun 2018
- Messages
- 5,247
Sums up the state of the UK railways nicely - keep one vile train because their replacements will be even worse
Sums up the state of the UK railways nicely - keep one vile train because their replacements will be even worse
I don't find Voyagers vile.
No trolley on the x Avanti sets.
The_Train
Established Member
- Joined
- 2 Jun 2018
- Messages
- 5,247
Some people like marmite as well. Don't worry about it, you'll be fine
I do find it funny when people refer to the Voyager saloons as dingy whilst other threads have complaints about the 'dentist's chair' lighting on e.g. IETs and the new/refurbed Northern units. I prefer the dinge.
I am able to time my commute so I only get doubled-up Voyagers on quieter days of the week for less than 50 minutes and from that perspective they're alright. Admittedly that is a small fraction of the overall experience on them.
I am able to time my commute so I only get doubled-up Voyagers on quieter days of the week for less than 50 minutes and from that perspective they're alright. Admittedly that is a small fraction of the overall experience on them.
The_Train
Established Member
- Joined
- 2 Jun 2018
- Messages
- 5,247
They have saloons? I thought they were just made up of vestibule areas
voyagerdude220
Established Member
- Joined
- 13 Oct 2005
- Messages
- 4,263
Agreed, there's also a big difference between the interiors of the XC 220/221s and the ex Avanti 221s.
My Wife often said she couldn't believe how tatty and worn out the XC Voyager was in comparison to the Avanti one when we changed trains from an Avanti 221 to a XC 220/221.