Alstom unveils first modernised CrossCountry Voyager train at historic Derby works

The first refurbished train in CrossCountry’s Voyager fleet has been unveiled by Alstom, marking an early milestone in a £60 million programme aimed at improving comfort and ambience for passengers across Great Britain.

The newly refreshed unit, Class 220 No. 220033, was presented to invited guests at Alstom’s Litchurch Lane Works in Derby on Tuesday 12 February, where attendees were able to step on board and see the upgrades for themselves. The train is expected to return to service shortly. Since entering service, No. 220033 has travelled 5,811,605 miles, the equivalent of more than 12 return journeys to the moon.

Work on the Voyager refurbishment programme is being delivered by around 130 staff at Alstom’s Derby facility. Ongoing maintenance, servicing and overhauls for the fleet continue to be carried out at the company’s Central Rivers Depot in Staffordshire. The Voyager trains are operated by CrossCountry and owned by rolling stock company Beacon.

Litchurch Lane Works, which will mark its 150th anniversary in 2026, is the UK’s largest and oldest operational train factory. It remains the only site in the country with the capability to design, engineer, build and test trains for both domestic use and export, alongside undertaking large-scale refurbishment and modernisation projects.

Alstom is the UK’s leading supplier of new trains and associated services, supporting around 63% of the nation’s installed train fleet. This work is delivered by approximately 3,000 employees operating across a network of 30 depots nationwide.

Steve Harvey, Alstom's Services Director UK and Ireland said:

“This milestone reflects the strength of Alstom’s refurbishment capabilities in the UK and the expertise of our team in Derby. Upgrading a fleet as intensively used as the Voyagers demands precision, innovation and deep technical knowledge – and our people have delivered exactly that. Working closely with CrossCountry and Beacon, we’re ensuring this trusted fleet is equipped for many more years of reliable and comfortable service for passengers across Great Britain. I’m proud of the quality and dedication our team has brought to the first Voyager to leave Litchurch Lane and I know that same commitment will define every train we deliver throughout this programme.”

Image(s): Alstom