CrossCountry’s First Refurbished Voyager Returns to the Rails in £75m Upgrade

CrossCountry has placed its first refurbished Voyager back into passenger service, signalling the start of a £75 million programme aimed at modernising long-distance journeys across Britain.

The upgraded unit, numbered 220033, re-entered service on Tuesday 24 February following extensive works at Alstom’s Litchurch Lane facility in Derby. Before heading in for overhaul, the train had covered more than 5.8 million miles — the equivalent of over 12 return trips to the moon. Its refreshed appearance was recently unveiled to staff and invited guests ahead of its public debut.

The train began its return to the network with an afternoon departure from Alstom’s Central Rivers depot, where the Voyager fleet is maintained. After travelling to Birmingham New Street, it was scheduled to carry passengers on the 14:28 service from Birmingham to Newcastle and the 18:33 return from Newcastle to Birmingham. By the end of its first day back in operation, it is expected to have travelled 479 miles.

The overhaul forms part of a two-year programme that will see all 70 trains in CrossCountry’s long-distance fleet refurbished. The work includes both internal and external upgrades designed to prepare the fleet for continued service in the years ahead. Improvements being rolled out across the fleet include:

• New seating with increased legroom and improved under-seat storage
• Integrated power at every seat (3-pin, USB-A and USB-C)
• Upgraded tables at all seats
• New carpets and refreshed interior and exterior artwork
• More efficient LED lighting throughout
• Refurbished toilets and vestibules
• Upgraded onboard CCTV, forward-facing cameras and automatic passenger counters

Alongside the Voyager programme, CrossCountry is continuing refurbishment work on its Class 170 Turbostar trains. Updated units are already operating on routes linking Birmingham, Leicester and Stansted Airport, as well as Cardiff, Birmingham and Nottingham.

Since their introduction in 2000, the Voyager trains have played a central role in CrossCountry’s long-distance operations. Passenger numbers rose from 12 million in 1997 to 24 million by 2007. In 2025, the operator recorded almost 40 million journeys, serving more than 100 stations across England, Scotland and Wales. The newly refreshed Voyager will now operate on routes from Birmingham towards Manchester, Bristol and the South West, Reading and Bournemouth, as well as Yorkshire, the North East and Scotland.

CrossCountry’s Managing Director, Shiona Rolfe, said:

“The Voyager fleet has been a backbone of Britain’s long-distance rail network for more than two decades. Giving them this new lease of life will ensure they are a mainstay on our network for more years to come – but more importantly, that they deliver a complete transformation in journey experience for our passengers.”

Steve Harvey, Services Director UK and Ireland at Alstom, said:

“Seeing the first refurbished Voyager return to passenger service is a proud moment for everyone involved. This programme is about extending the life of a well proven fleet while delivering a step change in comfort, accessibility and onboard experience for passengers. Working closely with CrossCountry and Beacon, our teams at Litchurch Lane and Central Rivers are applying their expertise to ensure these trains are refreshed to a high standard and ready to serve the Great British network for years to come.”

Image: CrossCountry