CrossCountry’s first refurbished Voyager enters passenger service

Long-distance train operator CrossCountry has today (24 February) welcomed passengers onboard its first refurbished Voyager train – marking a major milestone in a £75 million investment to upgrade long-distance travel across Britain.

The train’s return to service follows completion of its refurbishment at Alstom’s Litchurch Lane works in Derby, where the new look was recently launched to colleagues and invited guests. The first train (unit number 220033) travelled more than 5.8 million miles before its refurbishment – further than 12 return trips to the moon.

The refurbished train’s maiden voyage sees an afternoon departure from Alstom’s Central Rivers depot, where CrossCountry’s Voyager fleet is maintained, serviced, and overhauled. After running to Birmingham New Street, the service will be open to passengers travelling on the 14:28 from Birmingham to Newcastle and the 18:33 from Newcastle to Birmingham. Its first day in service should see the train clock up a total of 479 miles.

Alongside the improvements to its long-distance Voyager fleet, CrossCountry’s Class 170 Turbostar fleet continues another refresh programme. Several new-look trains are now serving routes between Birmingham, Leicester, and Stansted Airport, and Cardiff, Birmingham, and Nottingham.

The refurbishment programme delivers a comprehensive refresh inside and out, ensuring the fleet is equipped for the future. Over the next two years, all 70 trains in CrossCountry’s long-distance fleet will see:

• 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

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.”

Introduced in 2000, the Voyager fleet set new standards for reliability and comfort, helping to double passenger numbers from 12 million in 1997 to 24 million by 2007. In 2025, CrossCountry delivered almost 40 million journeys, calling at over 100 stations across England, Scotland and Wales.

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.”

The newly refurbished Voyager train will enter normal passenger service on CrossCountry’s long-distance routes from Birmingham towards Manchester, Bristol and the South West, Reading and Bournemouth, as well as Yorkshire, the North East and Scotland.