Alstom wins £60m contract to refurbish CrossCountry trains

Derby-based train manufacturer Alstom has secured a new £60m contract to refurbish CrossCountry’s Voyager trains over the next two years.

The upgrade will include an interior makeover with new seats and tables, as well as a fresh paint job for the trains’ exteriors.

It will be carried out at Alstom’s Litchurch Lane factory and while the existing workforce will be prioritised for this project, there is an anticipated need for additional hires.

Earlier this year, the Derby site experienced uncertainty, resulting in the layoff of numerous temporary staff and some employees choosing voluntary redundancy.

However, Alstom subsequently secured a £370m contract, which ensured the future of the Derby factory. 

The refurbishment will cover 312 cars, including 136 Voyager (Class 220) and 176 Super Voyager (Class 221) vehicles. Of these, 252 are part of the current CrossCountry fleet, with an additional 60 carriages from 12 trains being transferred from Avanti West Coast.

Various upgrades include new carpets, enhanced lighting, and a modern passenger counting system.

Design work will begin immediately, with physical refurbishment set to start next year.

The Voyager upgrades are scheduled between 2025 and 2027, overlapping with the start of HS2 train manufacturing and potential bids for additional rolling stock projects.