Bombardier Voyager

Last updated

Bombardier Voyager
Trains 2 054.JPG
Classes 220 (left) and 221 (right) at Durham, showing different bogie designs
BRC220 interior.jpg
The interior of standard class on board a Class 220 operated by CrossCountry
In service2001–present
Manufacturer Bombardier Transportation
Built at Bruges, Belgium and Horbury railway works, Wakefield
Constructed2000–2005
Number built105 sets
Owners
Operators Avanti West Coast
CrossCountry
East Midlands Railway
Grand Central
Specifications
Car body constructionSteel
Car length23.85 m (78 ft 3 in) end cars
22.82 m (74 ft 10 in) other
Width2.73 m (8 ft 11 in)
Maximum speed125 mph (200 km/h)
Prime mover(s) Cummins QSK19 19-litre 6-cylinder turbo-Diesel
Power output750 hp (560 kW) per car
Braking system(s) Rheostatic and electro-pneumatic
Safety system(s) AWS, TPWS
Coupling system Dellner 12 [2]
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge

The Bombardier Voyager is a family of high-speed 125 mph diesel-electric multiple units built in Belgium by Bombardier Transportation, for service on the railway network of the United Kingdom. Construction of the Voyager family took place between 2000 and 2005, consisting of three classes - the Class 220 Voyager (currently operated by CrossCountry), the Class 221 Super Voyager (currently operated by Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry and Grand Central) and the Class 222 Meridian (currently operated by East Midlands Railway).

Contents

Bombardier Voyagers are used on various intercity services throughout Great Britain, including the longest direct rail service in the United Kingdom, which is a CrossCountry service from Aberdeen to Penzance that takes over 13 hours to complete.

Variants

Class 220

A Class 220 in CrossCountry livery Dawlish Warren MMB 07 South Devon Main Line 220032.jpg
A Class 220 in CrossCountry livery

The Class 220 Voyager DEMUs were built to operate Cross Country intercity services. Virgin CrossCountry received 34 four-car sets in 2000/01. [3] All passed with the CrossCountry franchise to Arriva CrossCountry in November 2007. [4]

Class 221

Class 221 Super Voyager in Virgin Trains livery Virgin trains 221113 glasgow.jpg
Class 221 Super Voyager in Virgin Trains livery

The Class 221 Super Voyager DEMUs were built as a tilting version of the Class 220. Although visually similar, they were fitted with a tilting mechanism and heavier bogies. Virgin CrossCountry received 40 five-car and four four-car sets. [5] All passed with the CrossCountry franchise to Arriva CrossCountry in November 2007. [4]

With the removal of West Coast Main Line services from the CrossCountry franchise in December 2007, 16 were transferred to Virgin Trains West Coast for use on InterCity West Coast services. [6] A further five moved from CrossCountry to Virgin Trains West Coast in December 2008. CrossCountry removed the tilting equipment from its Class 221s to improve reliability and lower cost of maintenance. [7]

On 8 December 2019, all of the West Coast sets passed to Avanti West Coast, the new operator of the West Coast Partnership franchise.

Avanti West Coast sent two of their Class 221 Super Voyagers off lease in 2022. [8]

In 2023 Grand Central leased the above two sets to operate services between London Kings Cross and Bradford, [9] with the first of these two units entering service in later that year. [10]

Class 222

Class 222 Meridian in East Midlands Trains livery 222009 at St Pancras.jpg
Class 222 Meridian in East Midlands Trains livery

The Class 222 Meridian DEMUs are broadly similar to the original Voyager units, but feature a number of reliability improvements and different internal layout.

The Class 222 was built in the light of experience gained with the 220 and 221 units; in particular, many more components were installed under the floor so as to increase space for passengers. Twenty-seven sets were built:

Bombardier Voyager variants

ClassImageOperatorTypeNumberCarriagesBuilt
Class 220 Dawlish Warren MMB 07 South Devon Main Line 220032.jpg CrossCountry DEMU 3442000-01
Class 220 CrossCountry Diagram.png
Class 221 Pengam, Cardiff- 1M65 1726 Cardiff Central to Manchester Piccadilly (20951890484).jpg DEMU 442001-02
205
Class 221 CrossCountry Diagram.png
Avanti Voyager departing Rugby 11.21.jpg Avanti West Coast DEMU 1852001-02
Grand Central 221142 at London Kings Cross after working 1A63 1120 from Wakefield Kirkgate 271023 (53289980601).jpg Grand Central 2 [9] 52001-02
Class 222 East Midlands Railway 221104 at St Pancras.jpg East Midlands Railway 2352003-05
47
222 1 EMR Interim.png 222-0 7 car EMR Interim Livery.png

Future


Avanti West Coast's Class 221 units will be replaced by the Class 805 [17] and Class 807, while all Class 222 units are scheduled to be replaced by the Class 810 [18] by 2024-2025.

Technical problems and criticism

Accidents and incidents

Proposed conversion to electrical operation

In 2010 Bombardier proposed the conversion of several Voyager multiple units into hybrid electric and diesel vehicles capable of taking power from an overhead pantograph (electro-diesels EDMUs). The proposal was named Project Thor. [26]

In October 2010 it was speculated that 21 additional pantograph vehicles would be manufactured at Derby Litchurch Lane Works, and 21 sets converted, at a cost of approximately £300million, [27] however in 2011 the plant did not have the facilities to manufacture steel carriages, [28] though it was expected that much of the work would take place in the UK, and provide work for the Derby plant. [29] In December 2011 a proposal to electrify 30-35 sets for the CrossCountry franchise, referred to as "eVoyager", was considered by the Department for Transport. [30]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midland Mainline (train operating company)</span> Train operating company

Midland Mainline was a train operating company in the United Kingdom that operated the Midland Main Line franchise between April 1996 and November 2007. It was owned by the British transport company National Express.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Coast Main Line</span> Railway route in Britain

The West Coast Main Line (WCML) is one of the most important railway corridors in the United Kingdom, connecting the major cities of London and Glasgow with branches to Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Edinburgh. It is one of the busiest mixed-traffic railway routes in Europe, carrying a mixture of intercity rail, regional rail, commuter rail and rail freight traffic. The core route of the WCML runs from London to Glasgow for 400 miles (644 km) and was opened from 1837 to 1881. With additional lines deviating to Northampton, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Edinburgh, this totals a route mileage of 700 miles (1,127 km). The Glasgow–Edinburgh via Carstairs line connects the WCML to Edinburgh. However, the main London–Edinburgh route is the East Coast Main Line. Several sections of the WCML form part of the suburban railway systems in London, Coventry, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow, with many more smaller commuter stations, as well as providing links to more rural towns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virgin Trains</span> British train operating company (1997–2019)

Virgin Trains (VT) was a train operating company in the United Kingdom owned by Virgin Rail Group, a joint venture between Virgin Group and Stagecoach, which operated the InterCity West Coast franchise from 9 March 1997 to 7 December 2019. The franchise covered long-distance passenger services on the West Coast Main Line between London, the West Midlands, North West England, North Wales and southern Scotland, consequently connecting six of the UK's largest cities: London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow and Edinburgh, which have a combined metropolitan population of over 18 million. It had around 3,400 employees in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">InterCity 125</span> British high-speed diesel passenger train

The InterCity 125 or High Speed Train (HST) is a diesel-powered high-speed passenger train built by British Rail Engineering Limited between 1975 and 1982. A total of 95 sets were produced, each comprising two Class 43 power cars, one at each end, and a rake of seven or eight Mark 3 coaches. The name is derived from its top operational speed of 125 mph (201 km/h). At times, the sets have been classified as British Rail Classes 253, 254 and 255.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Mark 4</span> Type of British railway carriage

The British Rail Mark 4 is a class of passenger carriages built for use in InterCity 225 sets on the East Coast Main Line between King's Cross, Leeds and Edinburgh. Withdrawals began in 2019, with some being sold for further use with Transport for Wales between Cardiff and Holyhead.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virgin CrossCountry</span> 1997–2007 UK train operating company

Virgin CrossCountry was a train operating company in the United Kingdom that operated the InterCity CrossCountry passenger franchise from January 1997 until November 2007. Along with the InterCity West Coast franchise held by a separate legal entity, the company traded under the Virgin Trains brand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Class 390</span> Type of electric high-speed train operated by Avanti West Coast

The British Rail Class 390 Pendolino is a type of electric high-speed passenger train operated by Avanti West Coast in the United Kingdom, leased from Angel Trains. They are electric multiple units using Fiat Ferroviaria's tilting train Pendolino technology and built by Alstom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Class 222</span> Diesel multiple-unit high-speed passenger train

The British Rail Class 222 Meridian is a group of 5- or 7- car diesel-electric multiple-unit high-speed passenger train capable of 125 mph (200 km/h). Twenty-seven sets were built by Bombardier Transportation in Bruges, Belgium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Class 220</span> British Diesel-electric multiple unit

The British Rail Class 220 Voyager is a class of diesel-electric high-speed multiple unit passenger trains built in Belgium by Bombardier Transportation in 2000 and 2001. They were introduced in 2001 to replace the 20-year-old InterCity 125 and almost 40-year-old Class 47-hauled Mark 2 fleets operating on the Cross Country Route. They were initially operated by Virgin CrossCountry and since 2007 have been operated by CrossCountry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Class 221</span> Bombardier diesel tilting train

The British Rail Class 221 Super Voyager is a class of tilting diesel-electric multiple unit express passenger trains built in Bruges, Belgium and Wakefield, by Bombardier Transportation in 2001–02.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Class 43 (HST)</span> British high speed diesel locomotive

The British Rail Class 43 (HST) is the TOPS classification used for the InterCity 125 High Speed Train diesel-electric power cars, built by British Rail Engineering Limited from 1975 to 1982, and in service in the UK since 1976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glasgow–Edinburgh via Carstairs line</span> Railway line connecting Glasgow and Edinburgh

The Glasgow–Edinburgh via Carstairs line is a main railway route which connects the Scottish cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh, by means of their respective sections of the West Coast Main Line (WCML).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CrossCountry</span> Train operating company in the United Kingdom

CrossCountry is a British train operating company owned by Arriva UK Trains, operating the current CrossCountry franchise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Midlands Trains</span> Stagecoach Group-owned former train operating company in England

East Midlands Trains (EMT) was a British train operating company owned by the transport group Stagecoach, which operated the East Midlands franchise between November 2007 and August 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Rivers TMD</span>

Central Rivers TMD is a railway maintenance depot, located in Barton-under-Needwood, 4 miles (6 km) south-west of Burton on Trent, England. It was built by Bombardier Transportation as the central maintenance facility for the Class 220 and 221 Voyagers then being delivered to Virgin CrossCountry. It came into operation on 8 September 2001. The nearest railway station is Burton on Trent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British railcars and diesel multiple units</span> Network Rail

Diesel multiple units and railcars are trains, usually with passenger accommodation, that do not require a locomotive. Railcars can be single cars, while in multiple units cars are marshalled together with a driving position either end. As of December 2010, 23 percent of the rail passenger cars used on Network Rail are part of a diesel multiple unit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Birmingham station group</span> Station group in Birmingham city centre, England

The Birmingham station group is a station group of three railway stations in Birmingham city centre, consisting of New Street, Moor Street, and Snow Hill. The station group is printed on national railway tickets as BIRMINGHAM STNS and does not include the international station of Birmingham International, which is located some 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) east of the city centre next to Birmingham Airport and National Exhibition Centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avanti West Coast</span> British train operating company

Avanti West Coast is a British train operating company owned by FirstGroup (70%) and Trenitalia (30%) that operates the West Coast Partnership.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Class 805</span> Hitachi bi-mode train

The British Rail Class 805 Evero is a type of bi-mode multiple unit built by Hitachi Rail for Avanti West Coast. Based on the Hitachi A-train design, 13 five-car units were built to replace Class 221s on services between London Euston, Birmingham New Street and stations on the North Wales Coast lines. Their introduction will allow the elimination of long-distance diesel working on electrified routes.

Virgin Trains is a prospective open access operator proposing to operate services on the West Coast Main Line between London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Rochdale and Glasgow.

References

  1. Sherratt, Philip, ed. (2023). "ROSCO Fleets". Modern Railways: Review 2023. Stamford: Key Publishing. pp. 18–19. ISBN   978-1-80282-569-5.
  2. System Data for Mechanical and Electrical Coupling of Rail Vehicles in support of GM/RT2190 (PDF). London: Rail Safety and Standards Board. 22 June 2011. p. 4. SD001. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  3. "Virgin Voyagers enter public service". The Railway Magazine . No. 1203. July 2001. p. 8.
  4. 1 2 "Bio-fuel under review as Virgin confirms Voyager moves". Rail Magazine . No. 575. 26 September 2007. p. 16.
  5. Virgin Voyager collection complete Virgin Trains 21 October 2002
  6. "New Operator's Trains". Rail Magazine . No. 508. 5 December 2007. p. 65.
  7. Miles, Tony (August 2008). "CrossCountry stops tilting". Modern Railways . p. 71.
  8. Holden, Michael (14 June 2022). "First two Avanti West Coast Voyager trains return to Beacon Rail". RailAdvent. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  9. 1 2 "Class 221 Super Voyager". Units. Rail Express. No. 326. Horncastle: Mortons Media Group. July 2023. p. 21. ISSN   1362-234X.
  10. "Our trains". Grand Central. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  11. "Midland Mainline orders fleet of Meridian Class 222s". The Railway Magazine . No. 1212. April 2002. p. 4.
  12. "MML to reconfigure Meridian fleet". Today's Railways UK . No. 59. November 2006. p. 60.
  13. "EMT starts Medidian reconfiguration". Today's Railways UK . No. 77. May 2008. p. 63.
  14. "Hull Trains goes for Voyager-style units". The Railway Magazine . No. 1219. November 2002. p. 9.
  15. "222/1s for EMT". Today's Railways UK . No. 86. February 2009. p. 57.
  16. "Class 222". Eversholt Rail.
  17. "Avanti West Coast confirms new trains for Holyhead and Liverpool as Class 805s and 807s". RailAdvent. 9 June 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  18. 2020-10-27T10:35:00. "Aurora brand for East Midlands Railway Class 810 inter-city fleet". Railway Gazette International. Retrieved 9 February 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  19. "RAIB Report into incident" (PDF).
  20. Staff; agencies (10 November 2006). "Life sentence for train murder of student". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  21. Wilkinson, Matt (14 March 2008). "Train fire is out". Oxford Mail. Newsquest. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  22. "Nottingham railway station disrupted after engine fire". BBC News Online. 20 April 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  23. "Train evacuated near Derby after fire beneath carriage". BBC News. 18 July 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  24. "Train's 'electrical explosion' probed". BBC News. 11 October 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  25. "Central Rivers Equipment explosion on an empty passenger train, 26 September 2019". GOV.UK. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  26. "Transport and the economy: Memorandum from Bombardier Transportation UK Limited (TE 89)". Parliament of the United Kingdom. 10 November 2010. Retrieved 4 March 2011. Project Thor, being developed with a number of UK private sector partners, would see 500 existing diesel multiple unit vehicles converted to bi-mode diesel / electric capability, allowing them to operate as electric trains where there is already electrification infrastructure in place, continuing their journey in diesel mode where the wires end.
  27. "Bombardier's electrification plan presented to ministers". RailNews. Stevenage. 6 October 2010. Retrieved 12 December 2010.
  28. "Bombardier: Doubts over Derby factory's CrossCountry hopes", www.bbc.co.uk, BBC News, 16 September 2011
  29. "Cross Country contract may save Derby Bombardier jobs", www.bbc.co.uk, BBC News, 11 September 2011
  30. "eVoyager project costs still seen as too high by DfT", www.railnews.co.uk, Railnews Limited, 23 December 2011