CrossCountry has officially launched its first fully refurbished Voyager train back into passenger service, marking a major step forward in the operator’s £75 million modernisation programme designed to elevate long‑distance travel across Britain.
The inaugural upgraded unit, 220033, has already clocked more than 5.8 million miles since first entering service. Its extensive refurbishment was delivered by Alstom at the Litchurch Lane facility in Derby. The unit re‑entered traffic on 24 February, departing Alstom’s Central Rivers depot before working the 14:28 Birmingham–Newcastle and 18:33 Newcastle–Birmingham services.
✨ What’s Included in the Voyager Upgrade Programme
Over the next two years, all 70 Voyager units will receive a comprehensive interior and systems overhaul, including:
- New seating with increased legroom
- 3‑pin, USB‑A and USB‑C power at every seat
- Upgraded tables
- New carpets and refreshed interior/exterior artwork
- Full LED lighting
- Refurbished toilets and vestibules
- Enhanced CCTV, forward-facing cameras and passenger counting technology
Shiona Rolfe, Managing Director at CrossCountry, said the investment would “deliver a complete transformation in journey experience”, ensuring the fleet continues to serve as a backbone of the UK’s long‑distance rail network.
Introduced in 2000, the Voyagers helped CrossCountry double patronage within a decade, with the operator carrying almost 40 million passengers in 2025.
Steve Harvey, Alstom’s UK & Ireland Services Director, said returning the first set to service was “a proud moment”, highlighting the strong collaboration between Alstom, CrossCountry and Beacon in extending the lifecycle and performance of the Voyager fleet.
The refurbished trains will serve key corridors across the network, including routes linking Birmingham with Manchester, Bristol, the South West, Reading, Bournemouth, Yorkshire, the North East and Scotland.
🚉 Progress on the Class 170 Fleet
CrossCountry’s upgrade programme extends beyond the Voyager fleet. The operator is also progressing with the refurbishment of its Class 170 Turbostar units. Newly upgraded trains are already in service on routes between Birmingham, Leicester and Stansted Airport, as well as Cardiff–Birmingham–Nottingham.
Image credits: Cross Country
