BEACON Rail is to fund a long-awaited interior and exterior refresh of its Voyager and Super Voyager inter-city diesel trains, currently deployed by British operator CrossCountry. Alstom has signed a contract to undertake the £60m project at its Derby facility.

Design work will start immediately on 312 coaches, comprising 34 class 220 four-car Voyager trains (136 vehicles) and 36 class 221 four and five-car Super Voyager trains (176 coaches). In addition, 12 five-car Super Voyagers (60 coaches) will join the programme when released by operator Avanti West Coast.

Physical work, which will start next year and is scheduled for completion in 2027, includes fitting the train interiors with new seats, tables, carpets, improved lighting and a new passenger counting system, while the exteriors will receive a new livery. The new seats will be at least 95% recyclable and 98% recoverable, while lighter materials used throughout the trains will help reduce fuel and carbon emissions.

The contract is welcome news for Alstom’s Derby plant which, until recently, was threatened with closure. A £370m follow-on order for 10 Elizabeth Line class 345 EMUs by Transport for London in June ensured that work will continue at the facility for the foreseeable future.

The 200km/h Voyager and Super Voyager fleets were built by Bombardier (now Alstom) in Bruges, Belgium, and the earliest build of trains will be 25 years old next year. The Covid-19 pandemic and reorganisation of the British operating contract system means neither fleet has received a full refresh since built.

“We look forward to giving these iconic trains some well-deserved TLC with a comprehensive overhaul,” says Mr Peter Broadley, managing director, services UK and Ireland at Alstom.

Last year, Alstom signed an eight-year extension to its Train Services Agreement (TSA) with CrossCountry. The contract extension, valued at around £825m sees Alstom continue to maintain, overhaul, service and clean CrossCountry’s Voyager and Super Voyager fleet until 2031.

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