The Department for Transport (DfT) has awarded a new contract to long-distance train operator CrossCountry, which is part of the Arriva Group, to continue operating passenger services throughout Great Britain.
Under the new contract which commences on Sunday, 15 October 2023, CrossCountry will continue operating its long-distance and inter-regional services throughout England, Scotland and Wales. These services provide business and leisure customers connections to cities and towns across Great Britain.
As well as providing customers with the confidence to maintain a stable and sustainable service, a range of benefits are included in the new contract to improve customers' travelling experience and benefit the communities the company's trains serve.
Having secured the new contract, CrossCountry will now be able to introduce a range of customer improvements, which will include a full refurbishment of the complete Voyager and Turbostar fleets for their first major refurbishment in 20 years. These will include installing CCTV, new carpets and LED lighting which will tackle some customers' long-standing complaints, and equipment to automatically count the number of passengers on board the trains.
Building on the changes made to the timetables in May this year, further enhancements will include a new direct service daily between Cardiff and Edinburgh to strengthen connections across Great Britain.
Welcoming the DfT announcement, CrossCountry's Managing Director, Tom Joyner, said, “This is great news for our customers and stakeholders and recognises the importance of our continuing to deliver long-distance business and leisure services across England, Scotland and Wales.
“Our trains connect towns and cities, people and communities across Great Britain, playing an essential role in people's lives. We look forward to working closely with stakeholders to further improve the customer experience in the years to come.”
Travelled first class from Newcastle to Cosham via Birmingham and Basingstoke on Thursday 21.9.23 to see what cross-country had to offer. Boarded the 10.35 with trepidation (which was completely unfounded at the time). Left on time with only one other person in the carriage. Unfortunately that was the only good thing. Cardboard cup of tea, a measly bacon roll and another tea. Then we were informed that the service would terminate at Birmingham, instead of Reading, which shouldn’t affect me as that was where I was changing. But the next service to Reading was the same as mine so it was going to be crowded. Yes it was packed solid as the previous train from Manchester had been cancelled as well. No chance of tea or bacon roll cos the staff just stayed hidden away, mumbling something over the tannoy now and again (no idea what). Somehow managed to arrive in Basingstoke just a couple of minutes late. Was really pleased to have got off and onto SWR .
I could have travelled ECML to Kings Cross, Thameslink and Southern for £90 less and a couple of hours quicker.
I had heard CC. were poor but really. Desperately need longer trains and I don’t mean 2×4/5 coaches. That just means two crews working the same train, so higher fares. As they say, been there, seen it,done it, thankfully they don’t do the T-shirt.
But what route will it take ? Hereford shrewsbury and crewe/wcml or via birmingham york and ecml or birmingham and wcml/ carstairs
Cardiff Central, Newport, Birmingham New Street, Sheffield, Yorkshire, York, northeast England and Edinburgh with target date December 2024 apparently in the contract. Sorry don’t know if that’s Bristol Parkway or Gloucester (probably the latter to provide better benefit) and Yorkshire can mean Wakefield Westgate or Doncaster – possibly not decided yet.
I agree with many of the comments, somone wrote of building new Intercity trains as an evolution , of the HST, way back when the IET program , was out to tender , Alstom ( I think it was then , I cannot recall the name , but they operate out of the railway works at derby litchurch lane works , that built the HST’s and others over the years , anyway they showed a design that passenger focus groups and operators alike, felt were the best option, it was indeed an evolution of the HST, and the Mark3 coaches, I stead they chose the Hitachi A trains .
However even the Class 800’s would be far superior, and the 5 car 80p’s by virtue of longer trailers and leading ‘ locos ‘ do increase , capacity ..why can’t cross country follow Avanti and build 5 and 7 and 9 car sets , Bimode of course .
The voyagers , have only one thing goj g for them, and that is the smart design if the interior , but they are just too short .
They are nothing more than , commuter grade stock , certainly unsuitable for the length of the routes they serve .
A bi.mode 800 series or the evolution of the HST set , would be far more logical .
They could keep the voyagers , for more regional , ‘ Intercity routes ‘, to unserved destinations , around the UK.
Eg Scunthorpe to London and Scotland , originally that line had London services, operated by the British rail equivalent of cross country services.
Others like Leeds to Nottingham , Derby, Leicester Newcastle , or Carlisle via the settle Carlisle route , would be a better use of the voyagers .
These routes are less crowded but just don’t have such services .
And it wouldn’t sadly be cost effective to scrap 20 year old trains .
Also they could be cascaded to Northern, to replace , the dreadful , class 159’s and 156’s, which are limited to 75mph , no Aircon , and are very unpopular.
The 150’s are as bad as a pacer .
They could easily operate short form , voyagers , on these potential routes, where platform lengths are an issue , but still be longer and superior to the 150’s/156’s.
Those are best used as other operators have done and been converted to carrying parcels freight for example .
Leaving the new , for example class 800’s for the long distance running , with buffet areas , disabled facilities, level boarding , and better acceleration, which would speed up journey times .
Cross country was listed in rail publications, as one of the many train operators , who plan to buy fleet’s of new trains , which are needed , and also to keep , UK train builders with much needed work.
We need a totally integrated network .
And common sense.
And until these new trains can be built and introduced, they could even , cascade the abandoned, Transpennine, Mark5 fleet, and take up the original option for caf to build additional, Mark5 trailers to provide 7 car trains , which had been an aim of TPE.
Also make use of the stored class 91/mark 4 sets , and use like TFW, class 67’s or 68’s , where no electric power was available.
And even a further refurbishment, and modifications to the class 43’s as well.
They have plenty of life left in them , and it’s crazy that only 5 years ago millions were spent on the Mark3 sets , to bring them upto modern standards.
It wouldn’t be difficult, to alter the HST’s themselves to reduce emissions, and increase power .
Another possibility, would be to allow GWR , to run Cross country services, in competition, they have enough castle sets that could easily be lengthened , by bringing out of storage, perfectly good rolling stock .
Such competition, might just drive up standards at cross country .
How many train a day out of Cardiff to Edinburgh?
What a disaster awarding a contract to this lot. Voyagers are not fit for purpose. We need to go back to loco hauled proper trains. They have not got enough trains to run the current service let alone awarding this lot to run a new one. A sad week standing down the wonderful HST’s. Flogging them off to Mexico-what’s that about? You could not make it up. Tory privatisation has ruined our once fantastic railway. Get rid of Voyagers not tart them up- you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. Voyagers- are the pits-get a grip HM Government!
HSTs were great when new in the seventies, and lasted well, but let’s not pretend that you can really run a railway with nearly half a century old rolling stock!
Hear, hear!!
I think we should send the Mexicans the Voyager and Meridian Fleet and Build a Brand New High Speed Train! Using the original designs but updating the design for up to date codes and crash worthiness! You wouldn’t need a new engine just remove the MTU engines from the existing Class 43s
Cross Country stopped running trains to Paignton & Newquay at the time of the pandemic. Now they want us to believe they are capable of direct services from Cardiff to Edinburgh. The Voyagers are probably the worst rolling stock on the network totally unfit for purpose. Crosscountry are not completely to blame remember it was Branson who purchased them. There must be a surplus of HST’s in store. What not a refurbish programme of them ?
Why dont Cross Country get some 805 units like Avanti West Coast. They could run in 5 or 10 car sers
Why dont Cross Country get some 805 units like Avanti West Coast to run on there longer services. Thry could run in 5 or 10 car versionss
Having travelled regularly on xc route since before privatisation. There used to be 2 X 8 car HSTs running per hour from Birmingham to Newcastle with extensions at either end to Scotland, and the south&southwest. Now the put 4 car untis on journeys, pack them to the rafters and do not care about passenger safety or comfort. Add to that the inordinate number of cancellations due to “shortage of drivers* this is arriva doing to XC exactly what it did to the northern franchise that they lost. If it gets any worse they will be rivals to TPE for the lane duck award. Final issue is pricing. Single journeys being about the same as a return and split fare discounts hidden from the consumer. (eg Leicester to Great Yarmouth with Railcard £60.55 off peak return vs Leicester to Peterborough £17.50 OPR and Peterborough to Great Yarmouth £17.80 OPR saving over £25)
Would agree with many of the other comments. Joined the 4-car 11.28 Exeter to Edinburgh on Monday 18-9-23 to travel to Bristol. Train arrived with a warning that it was full and standing only. Squeezed in but gave up and baled out at Taunton where there was probably 100 plus hoping to get on. The thought of those lovely HSTs sitting in sidings was very frustrating. Arriva have had many years to get this right and still not managed it! Felt very sorry for the Train Manager trying to placate passengers. It should have been Tom Joyner there explaining WHY.
When Virgin operated cross country we could travel direct from Lancashire and Cumbria direct to the South coast and Cornwall. How we miss those services..
When Virgin operated cross country we could travel direct from Lancashire and Cumbria direct to the South coast and Cornwall. How we miss those services.
Seeing lots of new train sets all over the railway all better than voyagers. Manchester – Birmingham DIESELS under electrified lines is a disgrace. There is no future for cross-country running old over used smelly small trains.
Need new trains not refurbished 20 year old ones that are not fit for purpose
Why not run trains via Leicester to South West/South Coast.
I used to work on them. Without HST’s there will be more overcrowding with 4 or 5 coach voyagers replacing them. More sets are required so sets can be coupled together to provide 8 to 10 coach trains for the busy long distance services.
As the MML is being upgraded why don’t XC obtain the 222 which were made from learning the mistakes on the voyagers
Awful operator, best trains going and having to be stuck with voyager units,saw some at Tamworth last Saturday, some sounded really sick, awful knocking noise from the engines. Thank goodness I don’t have to use them often.
I presume Cross Country will lengthen the trains by taking over those being replaced by Avanti Trains as their new trains are entered into service. Some of these trains are in or about to start commissioning tests.
Cross Country Trains are currently over crowded, dirty and customer service is appalling
You can say that again
Will there be a direct train to Leeds…..
Good to hear the Voyagers are being refurbished. However the priority surely is to make sure there is a formation long enough to cater for demand. Recent experience on the Penzance to Edinburgh service of only 4cars was rediculous. The guard/conductor declassified the first class between Bristol and Birmingham. The vestibule were full and not air coditioed so no chance for the refreshment trolley to get through or passengers to get to the refreshments. This is not the first time I have experienced there have not been enough coaches on the service. Are Cross Country acquiring more Voyagers? Why don’t Cross Country retain the HST’s a bit longer particularly whilst refurbishment of the Voyagers is taking place.
Arriva haven’t invested any money into cross country trains since they took over running the company they’ve got the oldest trains in the county not fit for purpose even if they are refurbished as for the M.D all he’s done is created directorship posts for he’s mates from other companies he previously worked for
Need longer trains and more toilet facilities on board these trains. They are not very nice to travel on.
How much?I’m 63 so should get a discount?
Cardiff to Glasgow?
Yes that’s a definitely 😁🏴
But your Voyager trains are rubbish,no leg room hardly, cramped to the hilt,smelly toilets and you need at least 8 coaches per journey instead of cramming people into 3 standard class coaches and 1 first class,I for one wouldn’t want to be crammed into one of them between Aberdeen and Penzance,pull ya fingers and build some new ones like the Azuma trains that run on the East Coast.
Not to mention the “enhancement” of removing their best trains the HST sets to save money thus returning long-distance capacity to the about same as the year or so from November 2007 when Arriva gained its Voyager fleet in the middle of a recession and successfully created the wonderful HST variants including newly converted coaching stock within a year that probably amazed the industry.
https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2023/03/the-end-is-coming-for-crosscountrys-hsts.html
Suggestions for rail minister:
Compulsory training by using own money on expensive walk-up Standard Class tickets (ticket office or machine!) at Birmingham New street 16:45 two days running in the new timetable, day one ride first through train to Bristol Parkway, day two first through train to Sheffield. No reservations or First Class permitted.
Suggested questions by RailAdvent to Mr Joyner:
1. Are you fixing the overflowing Voyager toilets at the same time?
2. Why were the refurbishments not done ten years ago? Interiors were tatty then.
3. Are any routes losing service completely without fanfare?
4. Whilst we must be grateful for small mercies which can indeed be regarded as “great news” in PR-speak, does he realise that the weekday timetable 50 years ago had five Cross-Country services out of Cardiff Central from 08.45 to 17:37, destinations Leeds City, Manchester Picc, Newcastle, Picc again twice. The fourth quoted connected for Edinburgh in 6 hours 13 minutes. A typical 2023 connection for the new timetable is 6 hours 25 minutes @ £217:20 Standard Off-Peak Single (source National Rail journey planner) with industrial action warning. Requesting “only direct trains” brings up no results.
It’s a shame XC have just retired their largest, most popular and most comfortable trains (the HSTs). The Voyagers are narrower inside, the corridors near the lavatories invariably smell strange, and since there’s a diesel engine under each carriage, the noise and vibration are unwelcome. Unless two trains are operating joined together, they are only 4 or 5 carriages, whereas the HSTs were 7.
Given the industry’s pledge to “put customers first”, the loss of the HSTs seems a retrograde step.
The only real cross country trains run from Newcastle to the south coast, with the occasional one coming north of the border. They’re a joke.