UK Train operator CrossCountry has unveiled the first train to go through its fleet refurbishment programme.
CrossCountry 170101 in its new colours at Derby Station – Image, CrossCountry
The work is being carried out at Arriva TrainCare’s Crewe depot and funded by Porterbrook, who owns the fleet.
The reintroduction of Class 170 ‘Turbostar’ unit 170101 to CrossCountry’s inter-regional fleet marks a vital milestone in the train operator’s fleet refurbishment programme. The programme will cover 29 trains – totalling 80 carriages.
The refurbishment programme will deliver:
- New tables, seats and carpets;
- New mains and USB plug sockets at all seats;
- A full interior and exterior repaint across each carriage;
- Refreshed on-board toilets;
- Enhanced passenger information screens with more destination information;
- Increased Standard Class seating with the removal of the First Class area;
- New CCTV and automatic passenger counting equipment.
Interior of 170101 pre-deployment – Image, CrossCountry.
The First-Class area on the Turbostar fleet has been removed to provide increased capacity and help to alleviate crowding on some services on CrossCountry’s inter-regional routes.
Over the coming months, the new-look trains will transform journeys on CrossCountry’s inter-regional routes. They include:
- Cardiff and Nottingham via Birmingham
- Birmingham and Stansted Airport via Leicester.
The fleet was first leased from Porterbrook by CrossCountry in 2007.
In Quotes
Shiona Rolfe, CrossCountry’s Managing Director, said:
“It’s fantastic to deliver our first refurbished Turbostar train for passengers on our inter-regional routes.
“We know that these trains provide the bulk of the train service for a good portion of our network, and we hope passengers enjoy the significant improvements in convenience and comfort on those journeys.”
Ben Ackroyd, Chief Operating Officer at Porterbrook, said:
“As passenger needs evolve, it’s important that our trains do too. That’s why we continue to invest in our fleets to ensure they meet customer expectations.
“Alongside our partners at CrossCountry and Arriva TrainCare, we’re pleased to be able to present the first refurbished Class 170 into passenger service.”
Russell Fletcher, Business Development Director at Arriva TrainCare said:
“We’re delighted to be supporting CrossCountry with this significant refurbishment project. The team at our Crewe depot have been working hard to deliver the major fleet overhaul, which will greatly improve the passenger experience – benefitting existing customers at the same time as encouraging even more people to travel on CrossCountry’s services.”
The beginning of a major programme
Into the darkness at Birmingham New Street, with CrossCountry 170101 in its new colours resting between services – Image, CrossCountry
For passengers, there will be welcome improvements – with USB-A and C outlets, updated seating and more of it (with CrossCountry’s regional First Class seating being a… not well utilised product).
Considering the routes these Turbostar trains are deployed on (going as far south as Cardiff, east as Stansted Airport, up to Nottingham and beyond through its Birmingham hub.
With 28 more Turbostars to go through the programme, as well as CrossCountry’s fleet of Voyagers (both Class 220 and Class 221 – which are due to start their refurbishment programme shortly), the aim will be to finish Turbostar fleet refit by 2028.
For now, the easist way to see if you have a new train is to look out for that colour scheme arriving at your train station.
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