CrossCountry has announced plans to strengthen its long-distance fleet with the addition of eight more Voyager trains, delivering thousands of extra seats and improving reliability across its national network from 2027.
The new trains have been secured through a collaboration between CrossCountry, Arriva, the Department for Transport and rolling stock leasing company Beacon. They will enter service in phases from early 2027 through to May 2028 and are expected to provide much-needed capacity on some of the operator's busiest intercity routes.
The fleet expansion follows the introduction of 12 additional trains during 2024 and 2025. Combined, the programme will deliver almost 60,000 extra seats per week across the CrossCountry network, supporting growing passenger demand while helping to reduce overcrowding and improve operational resilience.
Passengers travelling on key routes including Edinburgh and Glasgow to destinations across England, Reading to Newcastle, Reading to Southampton, and Manchester to Bournemouth are expected to benefit from the additional capacity.
Shiona Rolfe, CrossCountry's Managing Director, said:
"Our customers want a railway they can rely on, and these additional Voyager trains are an important step towards delivering that. They will give us greater flexibility and capacity across the network, helping us reduce crowding, improve reliability and support future timetable improvements. Together with our fleet refurbishment programme, this investment demonstrates our commitment to delivering the reliable railway our customers deserve and building a stronger CrossCountry for the future".
The move has also been welcomed by government, with Rail Minister Lord Hendy highlighting the benefits for passengers across Great Britain.
Lord Hendy said:
"Once these extra trains are in service, it means more seats, less crowding and greater resilience for services between major towns and cities across Great Britain, from Edinburgh and Glasgow in the north to Southampton and Bournemouth in the south.
"As we bring passenger services into public ownership through Great British Railways, we will bring track and train together to deliver the joined-up, reliable services, passengers deserve, supporting growth, jobs and homes up and down the country."
The investment has been backed by Arriva, which operates CrossCountry under contract to the Department for Transport.
Amanda Furlong, Arriva UK Trains' Managing Director, said:
"The addition of these trains is great news for CrossCountry customers and an important step towards strengthening the service. The increased capacity will support a more reliable and resilient railway, helping CrossCountry deliver the dependable journeys customers expect. It will also help to make travelling by rail a more attractive and comfortable option, encouraging more people to leave their cars at home and travel sustainably on public transport."
For Beacon, the agreement represents a significant milestone, bringing all 78 Voyager trains it owns into operation with CrossCountry.
Adam Cunliffe, Beacon's Chief Executive Officer, said:
"We are delighted to be supporting CrossCountry with eight additional Voyager trains, further strengthening capacity across its long-distance network. This milestone will see all 78 Voyager trains owned by Beacon in service with CrossCountry, demonstrating our continued commitment to supporting their fleet requirements.
"Working in partnership with CrossCountry and Alstom, these trains will undergo a modification and refurbishment programme to deliver an enhanced passenger experience. We look forward to seeing the upgraded trains enter service."
Before entering passenger service, the trains will undergo extensive modification and refurbishment work to ensure seamless integration with the existing Voyager fleet and to improve the overall customer experience.
Rob Whyte, Alstom UK Managing Director, said:
"We are delighted to continue supporting CrossCountry as it expands its Voyager fleet to deliver more capacity for passengers across Great Britain. Building on our long-standing partnership, Alstom will maintain these additional trains to the highest standards of safety, reliability and performance, while also carrying out refurbishment works at our Derby site,"
"We are proud to support the continued expansion and upgrade of the CrossCountry fleet, both now and into the future. This investment demonstrates the value of extending and enhancing proven rolling stock to meet growing passenger demand, improve the customer experience and deliver a more reliable railway for communities across Britain."
The latest announcement forms part of a broader investment programme by CrossCountry, which is currently refurbishing both its long-distance Voyager fleet and inter-regional Turbostar trains. The upgrades include improvements to passenger comfort, onboard facilities and overall journey experience.
Together, the fleet expansion and refurbishment programmes represent one of the most significant investments in CrossCountry's future fleet strategy, aimed at delivering greater capacity, improved resilience and a more reliable railway for customers across Great Britain.
Image credits: Alstom
