CrossCountry is bringing eight more Voyager trains into service from early 2027, adding seats on routes that link the North East, Yorkshire and Manchester with the south coast.

CrossCountry is to add eight more Voyager trains to its long-distance fleet, with the first due to carry passengers early next year.

The deal involves the operator, its parent company Arriva, the Department for Transport and the train-leasing company Beacon. The extra trains will join the 12 brought into service over 2024 and 2025. Together, CrossCountry says, the 20 trains will add almost 60,000 seats a week across its network.

Routes set to benefit include Edinburgh and Glasgow, Reading to Newcastle, Reading to Southampton, and Manchester to Bournemouth.

Derby to do the work

The trains will go into service in stages up to May 2028. Each will first be modified so that it can run with the rest of the fleet, and refurbished by Alstom at its Derby site. Alstom will also maintain them.

The move means all 78 Voyagers owned by Beacon will be running for CrossCountry. Separately, the operator’s existing Voyager and Turbostar fleets are being refurbished, with improvements to comfort and onboard facilities.

CrossCountry managing director Shiona Rolfe said the extra trains would give the company more flexibility, cut crowding and help with future timetable improvements. “Our customers want a railway they can rely on,” she said.

Rail minister Lord Hendy said the trains would bring more seats and greater resilience to services from Scotland to the south coast. He linked the announcement to the Government’s plan to bring passenger services into public ownership under Great British Railways, uniting track and train.

Amanda Furlong, managing director of Arriva UK Trains, said the extra capacity would make rail a more attractive option and tempt more people out of their cars.