CrossCountry XC Class 170 refurbishment

[Discuss223]

First Class on the Turbostars was always popular whenever I travelled on them. I agree that the extra 12 standard class seating will make little difference in the overall capacity, especially if customers can't access that section because the train is too full to walk down. I seem to recall about 5 years ago, that there was a plan to convert the 2 carriage sets to 3 carriage ones, which would have made a difference.

It's now an inconsistent approach, with Voyager services from Nottingham/Cardiff having First Class but the Turbostars not having it, as well as there now being a mixture of travel classes available on the cross-Birmingham corridor.

Many of the trains don't have a catering trolley at all.
They have withdrawn first class advances for that route from sale.

Many of them are supposed to have catering but don't and if so, there is usually no announcement alluding to this or offering an apology. The catering service was very popular when I travelled in November. It's outsourced to a third party company, which seems to be the crux of the consistency problems with catering.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Perhaps they aren't selling many first class tickets anyway, given it's not really worth it.

It’s worth it for the bigger seats and smaller cabin. As you say, I’m sure people will make a beeline for the declassified first class cabin.

XC will have been overcharging for the first class if people weren’t buying it. Perhaps that should have been the solution.

I get that first class was pointless on the Birmingham-Leicester stopper. But otherwise I’d say losing first class from Cardiff to Birmingham and Cambridge to Birmingham seems a huge backwards step.

 

[Discuss223]

It’s worth it for the bigger seats and smaller cabin. As you say, I’m sure people will make a beeline for the declassified first class cabin.

XC will have been overcharging for the first class if people weren’t buying it. Perhaps that should have been the solution.

I get that first class was pointless on the Birmingham-Leicester stopper. But otherwise I’d say losing first class from Cardiff to Birmingham and Cambridge to Birmingham seems a huge backwards step.

I paid about £27 from Nottingham to Derby, First Class Anytime Return, which seemed reasonable. The seats were comfortable and I was offered biscuits etc. Shame that the table lamps haven't worked for a few years whenever I've tried to use them.

 

[MCR247]

I paid about £27 from Nottingham to Derby, First Class Anytime Return, which seemed reasonable. The seats were comfortable and I was offered biscuits etc. Shame that the table lamps haven't worked for a few years whenever I've tried to use them.

£27 for a return from Nottingham to Derby seemed reasonable?!

 

[Russel]

£27 for a return from Nottingham to Derby seemed reasonable?!

I thought the same...

£17 Extra over an anytime return for a slightly bigger seat and some shortbread...

 

[duffield]

I thought the same...

£17 Extra over an anytime return for a slightly bigger seat and some shortbread...

And on the non-stopping services, you only get 21 minutes to enjoy it, so you'll probably be passing through Long Eaton before your coffee's cooled down enough to drink!

 

[Russel]

Are the mockup pictures of the XC 170 refurbishment still available anywhere?

I remember seeing them but can't remember where!

 

[Anonymous10]

Are the mockup pictures of the XC 170 refurbishment still available anywhere?

I remember seeing them but can't remember where!

Its on the first page of this thread

 

[Russel]

Its on the first page of this thread

Thanks, I noticed the post with the external mockup but must have scrolled straight past the post with the internals!

 

[Discuss223]

I've just noticed the mock up picture seems to show the retention of the original PIS screens.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I've just noticed the mock up picture seems to show the retention of the original PIS screens.

To be fair, they’re far from the worst PIS screens.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

170101 has now turned red with it's new paint job. I must say it's very red. I've had a sneak peak at work as it's currently in the wheel lathe. (They open the doors sometimes and you can see inside).

 

[reecestrains]

Any update on when the first refurbished unit is planned to be out?

 

[Jacob Porrett]

Any update on when the first refurbished unit is planned to be out?

Still at Crewe depot having work done. It's still in the wheel lathe.

 

[Russel]

Still at Crewe depot having work done. It's still in the wheel lathe.

I've seen a couple of photos of it at Crewe, it's very red!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I've seen a couple of photos of it at Crewe, it's very red!

Would you be willing to share said photos please? I’d love to see that.

 

[Class172]

I seem to recall about 5 years ago, that there was a plan to convert the 2 carriage sets to 3 carriage ones, which would have made a difference.

If memory serves me right, some were extended to 3 carriages with the middle carriage sourced from former WMR 170/6 units before they transferred across to EMR.

 

[D365]

I paid about £27 from Nottingham to Derby, First Class Anytime Return, which seemed reasonable. The seats were comfortable and I was offered biscuits etc. Shame that the table lamps haven't worked for a few years whenever I've tried to use them.

For Nottingham to Derby, instead of XC, I usually take my chances with an EMR declassified first.

 

[Snow1964]

If memory serves me right, some were extended to 3 carriages with the middle carriage sourced from former WMR 170/6 units before they transferred across to EMR.

Yes, but unfortunately cross country didn't lengthen all the units, and occasionally stupidly short 2car sets get used on Cardiff services. Ok for strengthening, but using 2car singularly is bad idea.

They have units 111-117 as 2car (which are now 26-27 years old, as they are the oldest 170s), along with 3car 101-110 these were originally with Midland Mainline.

Just 7 units is a rather non standard fleet.

 

[43055]

Yes, but unfortunately cross country didn't lengthen all the units, and occasionally stupidly short 2car sets get used on Cardiff services. Ok for strengthening, but using 2car singularly is bad idea.

They have units 111-117 as 2car (which are now 26-27 years old, as they are the oldest 170s), along with 3car 101-110 these were originally with Midland Mainline.

Just 7 units is a rather non standard fleet.

That's because there was not enough center vehicles to lengthen all the 170's. Looking at the allocations on RTT it seems that the 2 cars are mostly centered on the Nottingham - Cardiff route with 2 2 car diagrams and 1 4 car on a weekday.

 

[XCTurbostar]

I know its not a Voyager but here is new liveried 170101 at Crewe.
[Image shows 170101 having been repainted into the new Red/Pink scheme without branding outside Crewe LNWR]

 

[Bletchleyite]

Looks cheap, particularly the white doors at the end that are out of keeping with the rest of it. Trouble is XC isn't actually cheap...

 

[XCTurbostar]

..the white doors at the end that are out of keeping with the rest of it.

Isn't this the same as Northern though?

 

[setdown]

Isn't this the same as Northern though?

Which also looks very cheap and tacky, with the 'n' logos floating around.

I would have thought at this point all new liveries would be very plain and basic, until the new GBR establish a new/standard livery? In the vein of the 390 livery towards the end of Virgin Trains.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Isn't this the same as Northern though?

Northern's base is white so it fits, XC's is grey, so it sticks out horribly. Personal view of course.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

Credit to Ade Paul on the Facebook page Class 168 170 171 172 Turbostar Appreciation Group.

XC Class 170101 has appeared out of the wheel lathe at Crewe depot.

 

[Goldfish62]

Northern's base is white so it fits, XC's is grey, so it sticks out horribly. Personal view of course.

Yes, grey for the end doors would look better.

 

[liamf656]

Yes, grey for the end doors would look better.

Hopefully it's not actually finished and they do make the end doors silver

 

[Royston Vasey]

If memory serves me right, some were extended to 3 carriages with the middle carriage sourced from former WMR 170/6 units before they transferred across to EMR.

Haven't seen a two car on the Stansteds now for a very, very long time.

 

[Kite159]

Haven't seen a two car on the Stansteds now for a very, very long time.

Looks like 170117 is heading that way this afternoon on the 1L44 1422 Birmingham New Street to Stansted Airport service

Realtime Trains | 1L44 1422 Birmingham New Street to Stansted Airport | 30/01/2025

Real-time train running information for 1L44 1422 departure from Birmingham New Street to Stansted Airport on 30/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

2 coaches of hardly any legroom, luxurious