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• Iconic fleet is undergoing an interior and exterior refresh at Alstom’s Derby facility;
• New seats, tables and flooring being installed on Voyagers as part of a £60 million contract.
Revealing the new-look train at Alstom’s historic Litchurch Lane Works in Derby on Tuesday 12 February, invited guests were invited to tour the train and experience the improvements first-hand. The refreshed train Class 220 No. 220033 is set to be back on the tracks soon. In fact, since it was first introduced, No. 220033 has clocked up 5,811, 605 miles of travel or travelled to the moon and back more than 12 times.
The Voyagers are maintained, serviced and overhauled by Alstom at its Central Rivers Depot in Staffordshire, while the refurbishment has been carried out by around 130 staff at its Derby Litchurch Lane facility. Legacy Alstom trains, the Voyagers are operated by CrossCountry and owned by rolling stock company Beacon.
Leading rail provider
Celebrating its 150th birthday in 2026, Derby Litchurch Lane Works is the UK’s largest and oldest operating train factory. It is also the only facility in the country able to design, engineer, build and test trains for UK and export markets, which is offers alongside vehicle modernisation and refurbishment capabilities.
Alstom is the UK’s leading supplier of new trains and train services, with 63% of the country’s installed train fleet supported by the company around the clock and made possible by around 3,000 colleagues across 30 depots.
“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,” said Steve Harvey, Alstom's Services Director UK and Ireland.
He added: “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.”
Over the next two years, a total of 136 Voyager (Class 220) and 176 Super Voyager (Class 221) cars are being refurbished by Alstom in Derby, including an additional 12 trains added to the CrossCountry fleet following their release from Avanti West Coast.
The long-distance Voyager fleet has been a cornerstone of Britain’s railways for over two decades, operating across the CrossCountry network, from Aberdeen, Scotland, to Penzance, England. Originally built in 2000, the trains replaced former British Rail stock and set new standards for comfort and reliability.
Modern features like air conditioning and electronic reservations helped transform long-distance travel, doubling passenger numbers from 12 million in 1997 to 24 million by 2007. In 2025, CrossCountry delivered a total of 39.6 million journeys, calling at more than 100 stations across the country.
"We’re proud to be investing in the future of long-distance"
About Alstom
Alstom (alstom.com) commits to contribute to a low carbon future by developing and promoting innovative and sustainable transportation solutions that people enjoy riding. From high-speed trains, metros, monorails, trams, to turnkey systems, services, infrastructure, signalling and digital mobility, Alstom offers its diverse customers the broadest portfolio in the industry. With its presence in 63 countries and a talent base of over 86,000 people from 184 nationalities, the company focuses its design, innovation, and project management skills to where mobility solutions are needed most. Listed in France, Alstom generated sales of €18.5 billion for the fiscal year ending on 31 March 2025.
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