A mid-life refurbishment of a Bombardier-built Voyager has been unveiled at Litchurch Lane in Derby.

The Voyagers were built in Belgium at the end of the last century for service with Virgin Trains, which ordered them in tilting and non-tilting versions for its West Coast and CrossCountry franchises.

The first refurbished unit is a non-tilting Class 220. Its owner Beacon is investing £75.1 million in the project to refresh a total of 136 Class 220s and 176 Class 221 cars at Alstom’s Litchurch Lane works.

Alstom’s services director for the UK and Ireland Steve Harvey said: ‘This milestone reflects the strength of Alstom’s refurbishment capabilities in the UK and the expertise of our team in Derby. Upgrading a fleet as intensively used as the Voyagers demands precision, innovation and deep technical knowledge – and our people have delivered exactly that. Working closely with CrossCountry and Beacon, we’re ensuring this trusted fleet is equipped for many more years of reliable and comfortable service for passengers across Great Britain.

‘I’m proud of the quality and dedication our team has brought to the first Voyager to leave Litchurch Lane and I know that same commitment will define every train we deliver throughout this programme.’

Over the next two years all 70 CrossCountry units will be fitted with new seats offering increased legroom, under-seat storage and charging sockets. New carpets will be fitted, tables will be upgraded and new LED lighting installed. Toilets and vestibules will also be improved, and there will be improved CCTV, forward-facing cameras and automatic passenger counters.

CrossCountry managing director Shiona Rolfe added: ‘This train marks an important step in our commitment to improving the experience for everyone who travels with us. The Voyager fleet has served passengers well for more than two decades, and these upgrades will ensure it continues to meet modern expectations for comfort, sustainability and security.’

The CrossCountry National Rail contract held by Arriva is due to be renationalised in October next year, when the operator will become part of Great British Railways.

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