Yesterday, RailAdvent were invited to Alstom’s Derby Litchurch Lane Works to see the unveiling of the first upgraded CrossCountry Voyager train.
The event allowed invited guests to take a look around the train before it heads back into passenger service.
Here is our video from the day:
After specials from CrossCountry’s MD, Beacon Rail’s Rob Dee and Alstom UK’s Services Director, the Voyager was officially launched.
The first unit is 220033, which has clocked up nearly 6 million miles since being completed. There are already 2 other train sets at Derby undergoing the same refurbishment, with the aim of one train set per week being completed.
We could then have a tour through the train, which has seen a huge upgrade. The refurbishment has seen a refreshed interior with work in both standard and first class. All the seating and tables are all brand new and now feel up to the standards needed for journeys that are made on these trains.
Upgraded CCTV also features along with new power sockets that have 3-pin plugs as well as USB-A. It is also great to see USB-C making a feature, future-proofing charging for passengers.
The work plan sees the train at Litchurch Lane for three weeks in total. The first week sees the train stripped down, the second week sees the train painted, and the third week sees all the new seating installed.
What do you think of the upgrade? Let us know in the comments below.
Responses
I use the Cornwall to Scotland frequently. New seats, hopefully I will be lucky to try one, trains always over crowded, not enough luggage space. Many times thought if there was an “incident” passengers could not get off quickly. Money better spent on additional trains.
Hopefully sorted out the “toilet smell” in both 1st class and the associated vestible.
That odour was always the “Strong Smelling Point of these trains”.
Brilliant Red colour. Total let down and ruins the full train effect by not all in the red. Please before its introduction change the middle stock to RED.
Better still should of been painted in GBR colours, save costs later as the clock is now ticking down on the demise of this Private Operator.
Has the new GBR livery actually been finally agreed yet ? I thought the livery we have seen was to test opinion.