XC Voyager Refurbishment

[ThatBloke]

I wouldn't necessarily assume that's the final colour for the doors - it could just be a reasonable base colour that's going to get vinyled.

From 'concept' pics seen, that is the final door colour.
Wouldn't be my choice but I'm no expert in branding or aesthetics.

 

[devonexpress]

I wouldn't necessarily assume that's the final colour for the doors - it could just be a reasonable base colour that's going to get vinyled.

https://www.alstom.com/sites/alstom...ery Visualisation (Credit - CrossCountry).jpg

The renderings make it pretty clear the doors are going to be that awful blue/green colour.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

https://www.alstom.com/sites/alstom.com/files/2024/08/19/CrossCountry Voyager New Livery Visualisation (Credit - CrossCountry).jpg

The renderings make it pretty clear the doors are going to be that awful blue/green colour.

Out of interest, where do you get green from? I'd consider the shade used by Avanti to be a mix of blue/green, but I see nothing but very bright blue there.

 

[takno]

Out of interest, where do you get green from? I'd consider the shade used by Avanti to be a mix of blue/green, but I see nothing but very bright blue there.

Looks a bit teal to me. Very much a colour that different people see slightly differently.

From the renders, it starts with a really nice cab, but then the whole design descends into a dogs breakfast of random colours and shapes. The doors are a long way from the only problem.

I'm not too bothered though, as long as the interiors are alright.

 

[Russel]

Can't stand the colour of the doors, why couldn't they make it match the new Turbostar livery which is actually quite nice. XC never seem to like having a consistent brand do they.

What? For the last 15 years, XC have operated fleets of Voyagers, Turbostars and HSTs all in the same livery with the same branding, how do you come to the conclusion that they've never liked having a consistent brand?

 

[devonexpress]

What? For the last 15 years, XC have operated fleets of Voyagers, Turbostars and HSTs all in the same livery with the same branding, how do you come to the conclusion that they've never liked having a consistent brand?

With respect everyone is entitled to their own opinion and no opinion is right or wrong within reason. Now going back to your question, the Voyager fleet has had Virgin XC interiors their entire working life, even when they received a minor interior refurbishment XC still kept Virgins interior colours on the seats and carpets. Bare in mind XC has held the franchise since 2007. Then we go to their advertisements and social media, often it's chaotic especially their social media a few years ago, they behave more like a budget airline than a major intercity rail corridor connecting the South of England with the North.

To bring everything back into the context of the thread, if you look at the renderings for the new Voyager interior, it's all black seats, cyan and pink grab poles. Compared to the Turbostars which have kept the red grab poles and a similar style moquette in standard. Take a look at operators such as Great Western Railway, nearly every train as the same interior/exterior has the same appearance, the branding is well presented and the advertisements have become a staple of the brand. I do hope when XC eventually joins GBR the the North-South corridor will be treated with a bit more importance than it has done under the last 20 years with Arriva.

 

[ThatBloke]

I do hope when XC eventually joins GBR the the North-South corridor will be treated with a bit more importance than it has done under the last 20 years with Arriva.

Guess we won't get to really know, until quarter4 2027 ahead of the end of AXCs current contract. When the decision will be finalised about whether the franchise goes to GBR or AXC get another 4 years.
Until then, Beacon the Voyager asset owner, along with AXC, have invested in the refurbishment. Let's all hope its done well at Alstom in Derby and the travelling public like it too. - Whatever the colour scheme.

But whatever the colours, logos, seat comfort, lighting or general ambiance.
It is unlikely to deal with the recurring severe overcrowding seen across AXC's routes.

 

[GoneSouth]

By the time XC have finished this rebrand, everybody else will be well underway with GBR branding (both are a bit of a dog’s breakfast and over complicated).

Why can’t they just keep it simple and professional instead of faffing about with geometric shapes that end up looking wrong on half the vehicles.

Also, the cyan door should not have a big slab of cyan nearby as the purpose of different coloured doors is to differentiate them from the rest of the carriage for accessibility purposes.

It’s a bit of a mess really. Just hope the inside is worth the wait.

 

[Wyrleybart]

With respect everyone is entitled to their own opinion and no opinion is right or wrong within reason. Now going back to your question, the Voyager fleet has had Virgin XC interiors their entire working life, even when they received a minor interior refurbishment XC still kept Virgins interior colours on the seats and carpets. Bare in mind XC has held the franchise since 2007.

To be entirely accurate XC have held the franchise since 199 something under Virgin until Octobr 2007 then Arriva onwards - but always XC Trains / XC Cross Country
The company has had the rebranding colours applied to the offices in Birminghamas well as literature adverts etc for a few months. The duck egg bluey teal colour is quite prominent as an accent and on their advertisements and social media
.

 

[tfw756rider]

To be entirely accurate XC have held the franchise since 199 something under Virgin until Octobr 2007 then Arriva onwards - but always XC Trains / XC Cross Country
The company has had the rebranding colours applied to the offices in Birminghamas well as literature adverts etc for a few months. The duck egg bluey teal colour is quite prominent as an accent and on their advertisements and social media
.

Wasn't Virgin CrossCountry's company name CrossCountry Trains Ltd, whereas Arriva CrossCountry / CrossCountry Trains' company name is XC Trains Ltd? And they do show as two separate companies on Companies House. So aren't they "actually" different companies other than the change of parent company?

 

[Lknowles78]

I can’t see the point rolling out the new XC livery when they will become GBR in a matter of months. We are likely to get 2 or 3 units in XC and the rest in GBR livery.

 

[sabanda]

I can’t see the point rolling out the new XC livery when they will become GBR in a matter of months. We are likely to get 2 or 3 units in XC and the rest in GBR livery.

October 2027, whilst fairly near, is hardly ‘a matter of months’.

 

[Lanley]

I can’t see the point rolling out the new XC livery when they will become GBR in a matter of months. We are likely to get 2 or 3 units in XC and the rest in GBR livery.

I imagine the units require a repaint after the significant time since the last one, and the contracts for this paint job will have been signed many months ago

 

[CR165022]

I imagine the units require a repaint after the significant time since the last one, and the contracts for this paint job will have been signed many months ago

Funnily enough, apart from 221101, none of them have ever had a repaint before now, it's all just base virgin red & silver with various other TOC vinyls over it.

 

[GoneSouth]

I imagine the units require a repaint after the significant time since the last one, and the contracts for this paint job will have been signed many months ago

Not sure they’ve ever had a repaint. Arriva put a few stickers over the Virgin branding in the cheapest way they could imagine, and that’s about it as far as they’re concerned, job done for 20 years. Says everything you need to know about Arriva.

October 2027, whilst fairly near, is hardly ‘a matter of months’.

By the time they’ve finished the first one it will be half way through 2026, by the time they’ve done enough for the branding to actually be on the majority of vehicles it will be utterly pointless as they won’t even exist as an entity. Just renegotiate the contract now to paint the outside in GBR blue. I’ve noticed the GBR branding creeping into our consciousness already, it was on the floor at Man Picc last week by the gate line

 

[XCTurbostar]

CrossCountry has until 17th October 2027 to complete the refurbishment, its unlikely all of this will be done in time so not all Voyagers will get the same treatment. Given their age, they will all need something to get them into what is most likely, their final decade.

 

[GoneSouth]

CrossCountry has until 17th October 2027 to complete the refurbishment, its unlikely all of this will be done in time so not all Voyagers will get the same treatment. Given their age, they will all need something to get them into what is most likely, their final decade.

Yes, that’s the stupid thing, half a job then potentially a complete change of plan. It’s just daft! Somebody think for a change and change the plan now before any are rolled out with the new livery.

 

[ThatBloke]

CrossCountry has until 17th October 2027 to complete the refurbishment, its unlikely all of this will be done in time so not all Voyagers will get the same treatment. Given their age, they will all need something to get them into what is most likely, their final decade.

The date currently being used for the Voyager fleet is withdrawn in 2034.

 

[takno]

Yes, that’s the stupid thing, half a job then potentially a complete change of plan. It’s just daft! Somebody think for a change and change the plan now before any are rolled out with the new livery.

Trains haven't been repainted just to change livery for years, have they? As far as I'm aware they just paint them in whatever the base colours of the current livery are when they do refurbishment, and just vinyl over the top of it.

There's a pretty strong chance that GBR will just say "thanks but no thanks" to the DfT livery and quietly replace it with something produced by adults, so it's not really clear what colour a "future-proofed" base coat should be. And even if they do roll out the proposed livery, it's so complicated that it's probably easier to a full set of wraps and completely cover the paint, rather than worry about a spot that happens to be the right colour already.

 

[Bletchleyite]

There's a pretty strong chance that GBR will just say "thanks but no thanks" to the DfT livery and quietly replace it with something produced by adults, so it's not really clear what colour a "future-proofed" base coat should be.

Whatever's cheapest, which is probably white. Liveries tend to be vinylled on these days, though I don't know to what extent the new XC livery is vinylled?

 

[devonexpress]

The date currently being used for the Voyager fleet is withdrawn in 2034.

Can't come soon enough! I have to agree with everyone else though now it seems crazy to carry on with the XC rebranding when everything will get rebranded from 2026-2036. Might as well just order XC to stop and put everything into a base blue livery.

 

[Wyrleybart]

Yes, that’s the stupid thing, half a job then potentially a complete change of plan. It’s just daft! Somebody think for a change and change the plan now before any are rolled out with the new livery.

With respect that is how the railway industry under the control of Whitehall has been for decades. Rationale doesn't exist. Just remember the Virgin franchise was 7 years and a two year extension for "good behavior" so the next XC franchise should have commenced in 2016, so theoretically al lthe trains would have worn the new livery by about 2018. Instead of that prevarication and Covid etc etc have seen the original Virgin red and silver livery, slightly amended continue to 2025 - 25 years after they entered service.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Dec 2025 ==

Can't come soon enough! I have to agree with everyone else though now it seems crazy to carry on with the XC rebranding when everything will get rebranded from 2026-2036. Might as well just order XC to stop and put everything into a base blue livery.

If this is the case then DfT need to contract Alstom to amend their livery application. as XC are really their customer in this.
From what I understand 220033 is the pilot overhaul, and I am not sure whether 220027 is on site at Litchurch Lane too.

 

[Russel]

Can't come soon enough! I have to agree with everyone else though now it seems crazy to carry on with the XC rebranding when everything will get rebranded from 2026-2036. Might as well just order XC to stop and put everything into a base blue livery.

Have you also posted in the Chiltern 168 thread to state how pointless you think this is, or is it just because it's XC?

 

[XCTurbostar]

Lets not forget that the Trademarks for CrossCountry are owned by the DfT so it could continue after GBR..

 

[devonexpress]

With respect that is how the railway industry under the control of Whitehall has been for decades. Rationale doesn't exist. Just remember the Virgin franchise was 7 years and a two year extension for "good behavior" so the next XC franchise should have commenced in 2016, so theoretically al lthe trains would have worn the new livery by about 2018. Instead of that prevarication and Covid etc etc have seen the original Virgin red and silver livery, slightly amended continue to 2025 - 25 years after they entered service.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Dec 2025 ==


If this is the case then DfT need to contract Alstom to amend their livery application. as XC are really their customer in this.
From what I understand 220033 is the pilot overhaul, and I am not sure whether 220027 is on site at Litchurch Lane too.

In the same way the DFT stopped Virgin repainting the Pendolinos and made them apply all over white?

Have you also posted in the Chiltern 168 thread to state how pointless you think this is, or is it just because it's XC?

I haven't posted in the Chiltern 168 thread Russell. This is also the second time you've sent me a very passive aggressive reply too.

 

[Russel]

I haven't posted in the Chiltern 168 thread Russell. This is also the second time you've sent me a very passive aggressive reply too.

Point being, you're critical of XC repainting, but Chiltern are doing the same thing, as are EMR yet it's flying under the radar?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Have you also posted in the Chiltern 168 thread to state how pointless you think this is, or is it just because it's XC?

Is there a reason you feel so defensive on XC’s behalf, out of curiosity? Some sort of conflict of interest?

 

[devonexpress]

Point being, you're critical of XC repainting, but Chiltern are doing the same thing, as are EMR yet it's flying under the radar?

I'm critical of the XC rebrand because it only started last year and so far only a handful of 170s and one voyager set has been done. EMR and Chiltern refurbishments have been underway for a long time. EMR only has interiors left to do on the 158/170/360s and going by the state of the GBR proposed livery the GBR brand hasn't got anywhere near interiors yet.

Therefore it's a complete waste of money to rebrand XC only for it to be repainted again in a few years as GBR (as everyone else is saying). GWR aren't being allowed to repaint or alter the interior of the 175s due to it become GBR next year and the rest of the railway should follow suit.

 

[Russel]

Is there a reason you feel so defensive on XC’s behalf, out of curiosity? Some sort of conflict of interest?

I'm not defending XC, just highlighting that other TOCs are doing what XC are being criticized for doing.

I'm critical of the XC rebrand because it only started last year and so far only a handful of 170s and one voyager set has been done. EMR and Chiltern refurbishments have been underway for a long time. EMR only has interiors left to do on the 158/170/360s and going by the state of the GBR proposed livery the GBR brand hasn't got anywhere near interiors yet.

Therefore it's a complete waste of money to rebrand XC only for it to be repainted again in a few years as GBR (as everyone else is saying). GWR aren't being allowed to repaint or alter the interior of the 175s due to it become GBR next year and the rest of the railway should follow suit.

You were critical of XC for inconsistent branding in a previous post, now you're advocating for more inconsistent branding?

GWR Will be re-liverying the 175s, either paint or vinyl, it still costs money, according to the GWR 175 thread.

 

[GoneSouth]

Have you also posted in the Chiltern 168 thread to state how pointless you think this is, or is it just because it's XC?

I’ll answer this one for myself. I hadn’t done that, but now I know it exists then I might just do that. XC just seems to be first in line for comments as there is so much that needs commenting on!

Lets not forget that the Trademarks for CrossCountry are owned by the DfT so it could continue after GBR..

I would have thought they’d want a clean slate and distance themselves from that toxic name. I don’t mind if they don’t, so long as we do actually see improvements.

There's a pretty strong chance that GBR will just say "thanks but no thanks" to the DfT livery and quietly replace it with something produced by adults, so it's not really clear what colour a "future-proofed" base coat should be.

But GBR is the DfT isn’t it?