XC Voyager Refurbishment

[Bornin1980s]

It was a headphone jack and buttons allowing you to choose a number of pre-recorded radio stations or live BBC radio stations but was removed from use when the Voyagers and Pandolinos received WiFi instead. They don't work today and the Voyagers still have them in situ between the seats on unrefurbished stock.

I know about that, I meant the larger panel by the disabled bay.

 

[Russel]

220033 will enter service tomorrow on 1E44 and 1M72. (14:28 BHM-NCL and 18:33 NCL-BHM)….

Thanks for the clarification.

I do wish there was a forum rule that meant head codes could only be posted if accompanied with the service detail.

 

[Steddenm]

I know about that, I meant the larger panel by the disabled bay.

With the red button on? Emergency call for aid.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Thanks for the clarification.

I do wish there was a forum rule that meant head codes could only be posted if accompanied with the service detail.

I don't because most people don't have time for that, therefore people that might have put the headcode (easily typed into RTT) in the thread might not bother putting anything in at all.

 

[Russel]

I don't because most people don't have time for that, therefore people that might have put the headcode (easily typed into RTT) in the thread might not bother putting anything in at all.

To me it's the same as using codes and jargon that not everyone understands.

 

[duffield]

Thanks for the clarification.

I do wish there was a forum rule that meant head codes could only be posted if accompanied with the service detail.

Yes, it's not really any effort to cut & paste e.g. "1F55 1602 St Pancras International to Sheffield" from Realtime trains, so I always do that.

 

[dk1]

220033 is making its way north to Newcastle on 1E44.

 

[voyagerdude220]

220033 is making its way north to Newcastle on 1E44.

I'd be interested to hear what Joe Public make of it, both in First and Standard Class.

 

[dk1]

I'd be interested to hear what Joe Public make of it, both in First and Standard Class.

I would have thought a good number of the passengers onboard are enthusiasts/rail staff so we should get an idea by the end of the diagram.

 

[voyagerdude220]

I would have thought a good number of the passengers onboard are enthusiasts/rail staff so we should get an idea by the end of the diagram.

I suspect the same.

 

[sabanda]

Just hoping it makes a visit to the south coast tomorrow - I'm away for a fair while from Thursday so will be very late to the party otherwise!

 

[43095john]

Unit has been displaced due to the Fatality at Ambergate Jn so it's now working 1Z63 2023 Sheffield - Newcastle and will finish tonight in Tyne Yard

 

[dk1]

Unit has been displaced due to the Fatality at Ambergate Jn so it's now working 1Z63 2023 Sheffield - Newcastle and will finish tonight in Tyne Yard

These things happen unfortunately.

 

[BillStampy]

Assuming it follows its diagram tomorrow it'll be coupled up to a Class 221 tomorrow up to Leeds from New Street.

 

[sabanda]

RTT has it on 1V82 (the 05:18 Newcastle to Reading)

 

[43095john]

Full Diagram for 25th Feb
5V82 0451 Tyne Yard - Newcastle
1V82 0518 Newcastle - Reading
1E36 1046 Reading - Newcastle
1V91 1634 Newcastle - Birmingham NS
1E67 2003 Birmingham NS - Leeds (Attached to 221128)
5E67 2225 Leeds - Crofton Depot

 

[Clansman]

Saw it at Newcastle yesterday. It was good to see the lighting is still warm and not dentist office inspired!

 

[FGWHST43009]

So is it a set being released every fortnight from now? Should hopefully increase the chance of getting either an ex-Avanti or a refurbished set in April

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

So is it a set being released every fortnight from now? Should hopefully increase the chance of getting either an ex-Avanti or a refurbished set in April

It certainly looks that way. 2 being done at once. Each train taking 4 weeks, with a new set released every 2 weeks.

I know the previous target was by the end of 2027, but wasn’t it said at the press launch it might end up being 2 years? I’m guessing this is due to Litchurch Lane’s annual summer shutdown?

 

[sprinterguy]

So is it a set being released every fortnight from now? Should hopefully increase the chance of getting either an ex-Avanti or a refurbished set in April

I would think that the ultimate intention is to see a set released every ten days/week and a half in order to get through seventy sets within a two year timeframe. First recipients of a refurb generally take a bit longer before the ball really gets rolling.

 

[FrontSideBus]

Too bad they didn't take this opportunity to fit new updated engines and generators?

 

[Bornin1980s]

Too bad they didn't take this opportunity to fit new updated engines and generators?

What's wrong with the old ones?

 

[skyhigh]

Too bad they didn't take this opportunity to fit new updated engines and generators?

Why would they? This is a cosmetic refurbishment.

 

[FrontSideBus]

How many services operating with engines out? I bet Cummins could offer a more powerful, reliable and fuel efficient model.

 

[357]

How many services operating with engines out? I bet Cummins could offer a more powerful, reliable and fuel efficient model.

The engines and traction packages are pretty reliable in my opinion... I sign and drive Voyagers.

Any engine in any fleet is going to fail sometimes. But I've never had one catastrophically fail on me.

Perhaps the problem is getting the units back to Central Rivers to have them swapped out.

 

[takno]

How many services operating with engines out? I bet Cummins could offer a more powerful, reliable and fuel efficient model.

I thought the point with Voyagers was that they'd been deliberately tweaked to reduce the number of engines in use when the power wasn't required. There's plenty of 800s running about the place with a broken engines, but that's a different issue.

 

[Bornin1980s]

The engines and traction packages are pretty reliable in my opinion... I sign and drive Voyagers.

Any engine in any fleet is going to fail sometimes. But I've never had one catastrophically fail on me.

Perhaps the problem is getting the units back to Central Rivers to have them swapped out.

What is a catastrophic failure?

 

[Ben Anslow]

What is a catastrophic failure?

Major failure e.g connecting rod bearing failure snapped timing belt of chain and engine seizing from lack of lubrication

 

[fgwrich]

How many services operating with engines out? I bet Cummins could offer a more powerful, reliable and fuel efficient model.

I don’t know how many Voyagers you travel on or regularly see but it seems fairly rare to see one running with an engine out. Unlike the IETs…

However I do slightly agree on the fuel efficiency point as the QSK19 has always been a thirsty engine.

 

[357]

What is a catastrophic failure?

This sort of failure:

Major failure e.g connecting rod bearing failure snapped timing belt of chain and engine seizing from lack of lubrication

In short: I've never had a Voyager fail on me to an extent it needed rescue, couldn't make it back to a depot, etc. I think I have shut an engine down once as it sounded rough - but it hadn't caught fire or self destructed or anything.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Feb 2026 ==

However I do slightly agree on the fuel efficiency point as the QSK19 has always been a thirsty engine.

The general rule of thumb when planning seems to be 0.5MPG / 2 gallons a mile for a 5-car.