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XC Voyager Refurbishment
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Does anyone know if the HVAC system on the Voyagers has been modified or had its settings changed of late? I used to find Voyagers quite stuffy, and they gave me mild motion sickness. However on my last two journeys over the last month, both have had loads of fresh air coming in from above, which has been very welcome.
GuyGibsonVC
Member
TT-ONR-NRN
Veteran Member
I disagree. Since the second one came out, maybe, but when I looked at the start of it’s new tenure, it seemed to always be either at Leeds or Exeter St David’s!
19Gnasher69
Member
That certainly shows how sober and classy is the old XC livery compared with, as GoneSouth says, the ‘flying lipstick’. Or, if I was feeling less charitable, the flying dog’s d..k.
I would say so, it’s only in the last few days 033 seems to have fallen onto the Bristol / Manchester / Bournemouth / Birmingham diagram.
Otherwise it’s seen service up to Edinburgh and Plymouth a great deal more. 027 however seems to have largely fallen into Bristol / Manchester / Bournemouth / Birmingham this week.
As for the livery, I prefer it. The old XC livery slapped over the top of Virgin was scruffy and tired and it’s nice to see the back of the “Can’t be *rsed” Virgin Red Roofs left to become black from exhaust, outline of the Virgin badge, and brown front ends.
We should do a count back,It is only the last few days I’ve been looking at, as mentioned above there’s been a fair bit of Manchester to Bournemouth action at the end of this week.
Hopefully you’re right and one does head from Bristol to York tomorrow, but I suspect it will be a while before I manage to synchronise my movements with one.
Does anybody know what the average annual mileage for one of these units is? They’re immense workhorses.
Thunderer
Member
Does anybody know the order of XC units/refurb schedule please? Do we know what 220 is due out next?
150249
Established Member
The ones in for refurbishment are 220023 and 220025 I believe. I think 023 is ahead of 025.
Thunderer
Member
Excellent..thank you for confirming
sabanda
Member
I've seen a photo on Facebook showing (I believe) a standard coach on 220027 which has another upside-down 'X' on one of the doors - in a different position to the one on 033. I also noted whilst onboard 027 yesterday that the stickers explaining the use of the hinged support rails in the lavatories have absolutely nothing to do with the type of rail actually present on these trains. Staff have also been complaining that the new carpet is too thick to easily push a trolley on.
Small issues, I know, and very 'first world', but it's a shame that these things have been missed on what is overall an excellent refurbishment.
Small issues, I know, and very 'first world', but it's a shame that these things have been missed on what is overall an excellent refurbishment.
Which isn’t a problem at all on most XC services.
sabanda
Member
I beg to differ. I'd wager that at least 75% of my several weekly trips with XC have catering - including both of the 2 journeys I've made (so far) on the refurbished 220s.
TT-ONR-NRN
Veteran Member
Yes, but they don’t tend to push it through, they park up in the Coach F galley and use the PA to tell people to come to them.
In which case why don’t they just make the coach F galley a permanent micro buffet point and sign it up as such?
sabanda
Member
Fair point. They still usually push the trolley through from First at the very start though!
TT-ONR-NRN
Veteran Member
How noble of them!
That'll soon sort it's self out after a bit of wear.
I suspect that 75% would be less if you counted the double voyagers where there are constant announcements about catering in the half of the train you are not sat in. I’ve had 2 doubles this weekend with zero coffee and was taunted with half price sandwiches I couldn’t reach in the other half of the train!
Actually, it does seem a bit amusing that they park it in coach F, which is furthest from first class. Is this a ploy to cut down on the cost of complimentary coffee and biscuits
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sabanda
Member
That would've been true last year, but for some reason I've been blessed with a seemingly endless stream of 4- and 5-car sets for the last couple of months. Not fun!
Ha lucky me I guess to have 2 doubles. It seems you can’t have everything. Have a seat in a double Voyager but you can’t get to the coffee being sold to the people who reserved seats in the front half, or be squashed on a4 car with no seat. You pay your 100 quid and take your chance I suppose.
357
Established Member
- Joined
- 12 Nov 2018
- Messages
- 2,282
It's because there is already a Train Manager office, sink, hot water machine and fridge in the first class end.Actually, it does seem a bit amusing that they park it in coach F, which is furthest from first class. Is this a ploy to cut down on the cost of complimentary coffee and biscuits
When the shop was removed, the previous luggage storage area at the other end was turned into staff / trolley accomodation for the Retail Service Manager
voyagerdude220
Established Member
- Joined
- 13 Oct 2005
- Messages
- 4,262
I wonder if from a Staff point of view it would be easier for the Retail Service Manager just to run the trolley as a mini Shop from their Catering Space on Voyagers in coach F, particularly if they need to heat up any food in the microwave. Personally I'd prefer knowing where to find the Trolley although I appreciate walking down a busy Voyager isn't practical, particularly for people with disabilities, the elderly etc. etc.
Killingworth
Established Member
It's simple! If I board a 9 car train in Newcastle bound for Bristol and get a seat in the rear portion I'll not get any catering, ever.
If I get out at Derby and move to the front half I might get a cuppa if I walk up and down the train.
That's assuming the rear part isn't locked out of service and the front 4 rammed full so nobody can move. Or there are only 4 all the way.
TT-ONR-NRN
Veteran Member
If it’s been staffed correctly, which sadly isn’t always common, then the retail service staff on the trolley wouldn’t serve first class anyway, it’d be the dedicated host using the stash of first class items (which differs from the chargeable stuff) kept in the Coach A galley.Actually, it does seem a bit amusing that they park it in coach F, which is furthest from first class. Is this a ploy to cut down on the cost of complimentary coffee and biscuits
ExRes
Established Member
1014 7D26 Derby Litchurch Lane to Barton Under Needwood 2 hours late away from Derby hauling 220028, the 20s are cab to cab with 20205 leading nose first, I would imagine the locos are the reason for the delay
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CR165022
Established Member
Another unit has gone into Derby for refurbishment but not sure which, ran 5Z93 this morning.
Mainline421
Member
That's how they did it in 2020 and it worked so much better in my opinion. Trolleys get more sales if I recall correctly, but it means you can be waiting for an hour or more for it to come through
voyagerdude220
Established Member
- Joined
- 13 Oct 2005
- Messages
- 4,262
I can understand some people could well decide to spontaneously purchase from the Trolley as it passes through, thus potentially earning XC more money, but I question how practical it is offering hot food items which require the Staff heading back into their catering base in coach F every time they get a hot food order.