ALSTOM unveiled on February 10 the first class 220 inter-city DMU to be refurbished on behalf of operator CrossCountry as part of a £75m programme funded by the fleet’s owner, rolling stock leasing company, Beacon Rail.
The CrossCountry fleet of 34 class 220 four-car Voyager trains and 36 class 221 four and five-car Super Voyagers, totalling 312 cars, was built by Bombardier (now Alstom) in Bruges, Belgium, in 2000-2002. The fleet is maintained by Alstom at its Central Rivers facility near Burton-on-Trent in central England.
The first refurbished four-car train is due to return to service by the end of this month, with refurbishment of the whole fleet due to be completed by October 2027. Additional class 221 trains, formerly operated by Avanti West Coast (AWC), could join the programme if they are added to the CrossCountry fleet. Negotiations on the transfer are underway.
The refurbishment programme undertaken by Alstom at its Derby site covers only the train interiors. New seats, tables, wall panelling, carpets and LED lighting are being fitted, together with internal and forward-facing CCTV and a passenger-counting system. The trains are also receiving a new livery.
While this is the first major refurbishment for the fleet, which is considered to be only halfway through its working life and operates over much of the national network, no mechanical equipment is being refurbished.
“These trains have underpinned long-distance rail travel in Britain for more than two decades, and this investment ensures they remain reliable, comfortable, and fit for the future,” says Beacon Rail CEO, Adam Cunliffe.
