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CrossCountry unveils new refurbished Voyager train

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CrossCountry unveils new refurbished Voyager train

CrossCountry revealed the newly upgraded Voyager train, 220033, at Alstom’s Litchurch Lane facility in Derby today (Tuesday, February 10).

The Voyager fleet has served as the company’s primary long-distance train for more than 20 years, and the refurbishment project will see all 70 Voyager trains overhauled over the next two years.

Refurbished CrossCountry Voyager – first class seats (Image: CrossCountry)

Shiona Rolfe, Managing Director at CrossCountry, said: “This train marks an important step in our commitment to improving the experience for everyone who travels with us.

“The Voyager fleet has served passengers well for more than two decades, and these upgrades will ensure it continues to meet modern expectations for comfort, sustainability, and security.

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“We’re proud to be investing in the future of long-distance rail travel and look forward to welcoming passengers on board our refreshed trains.”

Refurbished CrossCountry Voyager – power points (Image: CrossCountry)

The £75.1 million refurbishment programme is being funded by rolling stock company Beacon, which leases the Voyager fleet to CrossCountry.

Each train will receive new seating with increased legroom, enhanced under-seat storage, and integrated power sockets, including three-pin, USB-A, and USB-C ports.

Other improvements include upgraded tables, new carpets, refreshed interior and exterior artwork, more efficient LED lighting, refurbished toilets and vestibules, and upgraded onboard CCTV systems.

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Refurbished CrossCountry Voyager – first class-2 (Image: CrossCountry)

The project is also noteworthy for its environmental approach.

Alstom, which is carrying out the refurbishments, operates under a no-landfill waste policy.

Materials that would otherwise be discarded are instead recycled, with further options under consideration to maximise reuse.

The trains are being refurbished by a team of around 130 staff at Alstom’s Derby site, while ongoing maintenance is carried out at the company’s Central Rivers Depot.

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Refurbished CrossCountry Voyager – standard class-2 (Image: CrossCountry)

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.

Refurbished CrossCountry Voyager – standard class 2 (Image: CrossCountry)

“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.”

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The first upgraded train has already covered more than 5.8 million miles since it was originally built in 2000.

Adam Cunliffe, Chief Executive Officer at Beacon Rail, said: “Beacon is proud to support CrossCountry in delivering this substantial upgrade to the Voyager fleet.

“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.

“Through our close partnership with CrossCountry and Alstom, we remain committed to providing sustainable, high-quality rolling stock that enhances the passenger experience.”

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Since their introduction in 2000, Voyager trains have played a key role in modernising long-distance rail travel across the UK.

Features such as air conditioning and electronic seat reservations helped double passenger numbers from 12 million in 1997 to 24 million in 2007.

In 2025, CrossCountry delivered 39.6 million journeys, serving more than 100 stations.

The company’s Class 170 Turbostar trains are also currently being refreshed, with seven already back in service on routes between Birmingham, Leicester, and Stansted Airport, and between Cardiff, Birmingham, and Nottingham.

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Pink rhododendron plant takes over Smithills Estate

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Pink rhododendron plant takes over Smithills Estate

Rhododendron ponticum, bursting into bright colour at this time of year, has been spreading widely across the Smithills Estate for years, crowding out native species.

Rhododendron on Smithills trail (Image: NQ)

The Trailblazers, volunteers working in the area, say the plant’s thick growth is “choking” the woodland floor and leaving little room for other plant life to survive.

Work uncovers water feature on the estate after plants removed (Image: NQ)

Trailblazer Alan Cowardine said: “The problem with the rhododendron is it’s got a thick foliage. “No light gets to the ground, so nothing else can survive.

“So that could be creatures like earthworms, beetles, any flies, anything like that. We’ve actually seen nothing since we’ve been pulling out the rhododendrons.”

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The plant spreads aggressively and is difficult to control once established.

Work is underway to control the plethora of out-of-control rhododendron bushes and Trailblazers are hopeful the can limit its growth, even if hedges found all over the trail are made mostly out of the daunting yet manageable rhododendron.

Rhododendron can cause illness and vomiting when eaten, but while the risks to people and pets are considered low, volunteers say the plant should not be consumed.

Mr Cowardine added: “Each plant will produce a million seeds, then the roots form and it spreads as well, so it’s not a good thing to have and it’s a toxic plant as well.”

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“It is toxic, but you’d have to physically eat it, but it’s not good for the environment full stop.”

Smithills’ Woodland, which spans for acres and is a walking route for locals, is maintained every Monday by the Trailblazers.

Jean Turner (Image: NQ)

Each week, they come together to stay on top of plant life, create walkways for visitors and restore once neat areas, such as ponds.

They have had help from local organisations such as Bolton Council, Friends of Smithills hall, places of education, and Bolton Green Umbrella to name a few.

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Volunteer at work (Image: NQ)

The plant’s impact goes beyond visibility, affecting the balance of the wider ecosystem.

Jean Turner, Chair of Edgworth and District Horticultural Society, said: “The problem we’ve got is rhododendron ponticum, a beautiful flower but deadly to the environment.

“Anything underneath a rhododendron bush will die because the rhododendrons have in themselves a chemical which kills or inhibits any growth.

“The rhododendron plant is poisonous to many animals, so sheep and cows won’t graze on it. I suppose the leaves don’t look very appetising, but you would take precautions.”

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Efforts to remove the plant are ongoing, with volunteers working to dig out roots and prevent regrowth.

They hope that over time clearing the rhododendron will allow native plants and wildlife to return to help the woodland flourish.

 

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Jamie Lynn Spears’ life now from Netflix show to ‘frustrating’ Britney relationship

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Daily Mirror
Jamie Lynn Spears’ life now from Netflix show to ‘frustrating’ Britney relationship – The Mirror