CrossCountry Voyagers to get a £60 million makeover

Alstom has secured a £60 million contract to overhaul CrossCountry’s Class 220 Voyager and Class 221 Super Voyager trains. The extensive refurbishment will see a complete transformation of the trains, both inside and out.

The work, which will be carried out at Alstom’s historic Derby Litchurch Lane facility, will involve a total of 312 carriages across both Class 220 and 221 fleets. This includes 252 carriages from CrossCountry’s existing fleet, as well as an additional 60 carriages from Avanti West Coast

Once complete, the carriages will have significantly improved new seats, tables, carpets, and lighting. The trains will also be equipped with a new passenger counting system. Alstom and CrossCountry will also be focusing on sustainability, with the new seats made from at least 95% recyclable materials and lighter components used throughout the trains to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. It was also revealed that the train's owners, Beacon Rail would be funding the renovation.

Peter Broadley, Managing Director, Services UK and Ireland at Alstom, said: “We’re thrilled to be giving these iconic Alstom-built trains a well-deserved makeover. The refurbishment will not only enhance passenger comfort and accessibility but also support jobs and the supply chain across the UK.”

Adrian Hugill, Fleet and Engineering Director at CrossCountry, added: “We’re excited to embark on this project with Alstom and Beacon Rail. The refurbished Voyagers will provide a much-improved journey for our customers.”

The refurbishment is expected to take until 2027, with around 100 Alstom staff working on the project at Alstom’s Litchurch Lane plant in Derby. The work comes as part of a wider investment in CrossCountry’s fleet, with Alstom having recently signed an eight-year extension to its maintenance contract with the train operator.

The news follows Alstom’s recent £370 million contract to build 10 new Aventra trains for London’s Elizabeth line, which was secured in June. The deal offered a lifeline to workers at the Derby plant after it was revealed that unless new orders came through to bridge the gap, 12,000 jobs would be at risk.

CrossCountry has also been in the news recently, with transport secretary, Louise Haigh raising “serious concerns” about the operator’s performance. In a letter to the operator, Haigh warned that she would take further action if performance didn’t improve.