British Rail Class 220

British Rail Class 220 Voyager
CrossCountry Class 220 in 2010
Standard Class interior
In service	21 May 2001–present [1]
Manufacturer	Bombardier Transportation
Built at	Bruges, Belgium Horbury railway works, United Kingdom
Family name	Voyager
Replaced	InterCity 125 Class 47 Mark 2 carriages Class 158
Constructed	2000–2001
Number built	34
Formation	4 cars per unit
Fleet numbers	220001–220034
Capacity	174 standard class, 26 first class
Owners	Beacon Rail [2]
Operators	CrossCountry
Specifications
Car body construction	Steel
Car length	23.85 m (78 ft 3 in) (driving cars) or 22.82 m (74 ft 10 in) (intermediate cars)
Width	2.73 m (8 ft 11 in)
Wheel diameter	780–716 mm (30.7–28.2 in) (maximum–minimum) [3]
Wheelbase	Bogies: 2.250 m (7 ft 4.6 in) [4]
Maximum speed	125 mph (200 km/h)
Weight	185.6  t (182.7 long tons; 204.6 short tons) per unit
Traction system	One per car, Alstom alternator, 750v asynchronous ONIX IGBT drive with AGATE traction control, asynchronous traction motors (2 per car)
Prime mover(s)	4 × Cummins QSK19-R [5] (one per car)
Engine type	Inline-6 turbo-diesel [6]
Displacement	19 L (1,159 cu in) per engine [6]
Power output	559 kW (750 hp) per engine at 1,800 rpm 350 kW (470 hp) per traction motor [4]
Transmission	Diesel-electric
UIC classification	1A′A1′+1A′A1′+1A′A1′+1A′A1′ [4] [7]
Bogies	Bombardier B5005 [4]
Braking system(s)	Rheostatic and electro-pneumatic
Safety system(s)	AWS, TPWS
Coupling system	Dellner 12 [8]
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

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. ^[9]

Technical details

Classes 220 (left) and 221 (right) at Durham, showing the differing bogie designs

All coaches are equipped with a Cummins QSK19 diesel engine of 559  kW (750  hp ) at 1,800  rpm. These power a generator which supplies current to motors driving two axles per coach, ^[10] with one axle per bogie powered. ^{[3] [11]}

Voyagers have both air and rheostatic brakes. They are fitted with Dellner couplers, like the Class 222 operated by East Midlands Railway and the Class 390 Pendolino electric trains used by Avanti West Coast, meaning they can be coupled in rescue/recovery mode (air brake only) in the event of a failure. 220s and 221s can also be easily assisted by Dellner fitted Class 57s (Thunderbirds) in the event of a failure. By use of adaptor couplings a failed 220 or 221 can also be assisted by any air braked locomotive.

The Class 220s and closely related Class 222s have B5005 bogies, ^{[3] [4]} which are distinctive as they are of inside-frame design and so the axles are supported by bearings behind the wheels, meaning the outside face of the wheel is visible. The related tilting Class 221 Super Voyager has outside-frame bogies and hence a more conventional appearance.

The Class 220s operate in four-coach sets with a carriage mass of between 45 and 48 tonnes and a total train weight of 185.6 tonnes, a top speed of 125 mph (200 km/h), and a maximum range of approximately 1,350 miles (2,170 km) between each refuelling. Their route availability is very good being RA 2 ^[10] - in part due to the lightweight bogie design.

Class 220 units are fitted with an AB Hoses variable rate sanding system.^{[ citation needed ]}

All Voyagers are maintained at the dedicated Central Rivers TMD near Burton-on-Trent.^{[ citation needed ]}

Current operations

Class 220 New Dawn in 2001

CrossCountry Class 220 near Dawlish in 2009

Main article: Cross Country Route

All units are owned by Beacon Rail, after they were purchased from Voyager Rail Leasing, ^[12] a consortium of Lloyds Banking Group and Angel Trains. ^[13] They are leased to the train operating companies; as of 2013 ^[update] , CrossCountry is the only operator of Class 220 units.^{[ citation needed ]}

Virgin CrossCountry was the sole operator of Class 220 Voyager trains when they were introduced in 2001. When the Cross Country Route franchise was transferred to Arriva CrossCountry in November 2007, most of the Voyager fleet was transferred with it, and by the end of 2007 CrossCountry was the sole operator of Class 220 units.^{[ citation needed ]}

Class 220 units often operate in multiple with Class 221 units, which are mechanically similar except for their bogies and have the same coupler type.^{[ citation needed ]}

Fleet details

Class	Operator	Number	Year Built	Cars per Set	Unit No.
220	CrossCountry	34	2000–2001	4	220001–034

Named units

Under Virgin Cross Country, all units were named, however most have since been denamed. Their naming goes as follows:

• 220001 Maiden Voyager, it was later re-named Somerset Voyager. ^[14]
• 220002 Forth Voyager. ^[14]
• 220003 Solent Voyager. ^[14]
• 220004 New Dawn, it was later re-named Cumbrian Voyager. ^[14]
• 220005 Guildford Voyager. ^[14]
• 220006 Clyde Voyager. ^[14]
• 220007 Thames Voyager. ^[14]
• 220008 Draig Gymreig/Welsh Dragon. ^[14]
• 220009 Gatwick Voyager. ^[14] It is currently named Hixon to commemorate the 11 lives lost and 45 injured in the Hixon rail crash of January 1968. ^[15]

  

  220009 Hixon at Bristol Temple Meads

• 220010 Ribble Voyager. ^[14]
• 220011 Tyne Voyager. ^[14]
• 220012 Lancashire Voyager. ^[14]
• 220013 Gwibiwr De Cymru/South Wales Voyager. ^[14]
• 220014 South Yorkshire Voyager. ^[14]
• 220015 Solway Voyager. ^[14]
• 220016 Midland Voyager, it is currently named Voyager 20 to mark 20 years service of the fleet. ^[16]
• 220017 Bombardier Voyager. ^[14]
• 220018 Central News, it was later re-named Dorset Voyager. ^[14]
• 220019 Mersey Voyager. ^[14]
• 220020 Wessex Voyager. ^[14]
• 220021 Blackpool Voyager, it was later re-named Staffordshire Voyager. ^[14]
• 220022 Brighton Voyager. ^[14]
• 220023 Mancunian Voyager. ^[14]
• 220024 Sheffield Voyager. ^[14]
• 220025 Virgin Voyager, it was later re-named Severn Voyager. ^[14]
• 220027 Avon Voyager. ^[14]
• 220028 Black Country Voyager. ^[14]
• 220029 Vyajer Kernewek/Cornish Voyager. ^[14]
• 220030 Devon Voyager. ^[14]
• 220019 Solway Voyager. ^[14]
• 220031 Tay Voyager. ^[14]
• 220032 Grampian Voyager. ^[14]
• 220033 Fife Voyager. ^[14]
• 220034 Yorkshire Voyager. ^[14]

Accidents and incidents

Units have sometimes been stopped by salt water, when storm-driven waves broke over the train at Dawlish in south Devon and inundated the resistor banks, causing the control software to shut down. ^[17] This problem was fixed by an upgrade to the control software. ^[18]

There were a number of exhaust fires on the Voyager class during 2005–2006 due to incorrect fitting of equipment during overhauls. Fires occurred at Starcross (Class 221), Newcastle, and on 19 January 2006 at Congleton. ^[19]

On 26 May 2006, a passenger was murdered aboard unit 220005 as it approached Oxenholme whilst working the Glasgow to Paignton service. ^[20]

On 14 March 2008, unit 220012, forming a service to Derby, had a roof fire at Banbury. ^{[21] [22]} This fire was caused by a bird getting caught under one of the hot brake resistors on the roof of the train. Damage to the train was not serious and it was repaired and returned to service.^{[ citation needed ]}

See also

• List of high speed trains

References

1. {{cite web |url= https://mediarail.be/Grande-Bretagne/Grandes%20lignes/Virgin%20Rail/VR02-eng.htm |title= InterCity CrossCountry franchise by Virgin (1997 - 2007 |quote= Voyager's first complete train was completed in Belgium in autumn 2000, and arrived in Britain in January 2001 for testing. On May 21 of the same year, a first unplanned service, open to the public, was operated from Birmingham to Reading. The official launch of Voyagers took place on June 5, 2001 by Sir Richard Branson. |access-date= 24 September 2025
2. Sherratt, Philip, ed. (2023). "ROSCO Fleets". Modern Railways: Review 2023. Stamford: Key Publishing. pp. 18–19. ISBN   978-1-80282-569-5.
3. M-Size Bogies: B5000 for Coach and EMU Applications (PDF). Crespin: Bombardier Transport. September 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
4. References: High-Speed Trains and Electric Multiple Units (EMUs) (PDF). Heidenheim: Voith Turbo. May 2008. pp. 20–21. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 December 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
5. Diesel Multiple Units 2010. Sheffield: Platform 5 Publishing. 2010. p. 66. ISBN   978-1-902336-75-6.
6. Every Track - QSK19 for Rail Applications (PDF) (09/08 ed.). Daventry: Cummins Ltd. Bulletin 4087201. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 December 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
7. "Cutting noise and smoothing the ride". Railway Gazette. London. 1 August 2000. Archived from the original on 4 June 2012. Retrieved 20 December 2010. In the Voyager application, every car has a Cummins underfloor engine and alternator supplying power to a pair of body-mounted traction motors. Each drives one inner axle through a cardan shaft and axle-mounted final drive gearbox. Thus all 272 bogies are identical
8. 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.
9. "New Dawn for Virgin Trains" (Press release). Virgin Trains. 5 June 2001. Archived from the original on 19 June 2009. Retrieved 13 February 2009.
10. "Class 220 data". The Railway Centre. 2 June 2008. Archived from the original on 27 October 2007.
11. Defying Convention - B5000 Bogies (PDF). Netphen: Bombardier Transportation. December 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
12. "Beacon Rail buys Voyager DEMU fleet". Railway Gazette International. 24 July 2017.
13. Pritchard, Robert; Hall, Peter (2013). British Railways Locomotives & Coaching Stock 2013. Sheffield: Platform 5 Publishing. pp. 245–6, 373. ISBN   978-1-909431-02-7.
14. "220, 221 & 222 fleet list". Modern Locomotives Illustrated. No. 221. October 2016. pp. 80–82.
15. "Latest Namings". Headline News. Rail Express . No. 305. October 2021. p. 13.
16. "Alstom's Voyager Fleet celebrate 20 years of Inter-City service in UK". Premier Construction News. 30 July 2021. Archived from the original on 30 July 2021.
17. "Virgin Trains chaos 'over by Christmas'". BBC News. 20 November 2002.
18. "Voyager Train fleet "think smart" to operate past Devon sea storms" (Press release). Virgin Trains. 2 December 2002. Archived from the original on 16 October 2006.
19. "Virgin Trains Cross Country news April 2006" (PDF). Section 14 (Press release). p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 September 2006.
20. Staff; agencies (10 November 2006). "Life sentence for train murder of student". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 11 January 2020.
21. "Train fire at Banbury". Banbury Guardian . 14 March 2008. Archived from the original on 19 June 2009. Retrieved 13 February 2009.
22. "Train Fire is out". Oxford Mail. 14 March 2008.

Further reading

• Marsden, Colin J. (2011). Traction Recognition (2nd ed.). Ian Allan. pp. 164–165. ISBN   9780711034945. OCLC   751525080.

External links

• Diesel Electric Multiple Unit, Class 220 "Voyager" - United Kingdom Bombardier Transportation