Bombardier Voyager

Bombardier Voyager
Britishrailclass91 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Bombardier Voyager
Caption	Voyager at London St Pancras
Manufacturer	Bombardier Transportation
Family	Voyager
Yearconstruction	2000s
Numberbuilt	55+ sets
Formation	4/5 cars per set
Operator	Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, TransPennine Express
Maxspeed	125 mph (200 km/h)

Bombardier Voyager is a class of high-speed diesel-electric multiple-unit passenger trains introduced in the 2000s for intercity services on the United Kingdom mainline network. Built by Bombardier Transportation at the Derby Litchurch Lane Works and intended to replace locomotive-hauled sets, the units entered service with operators including Virgin Trains, CrossCountry, and TransPennine Express. The design emphasised speed, acceleration, and reduced journey times on routes radiating from London and across the West Coast Main Line and Midland Main Line.

Development and Design

Development was contracted amid franchising changes involving Department for Transport, procurement overseen by operators such as Virgin and National Express. The programme responded to capacity needs highlighted by studies from Network Rail and specifications influenced by earlier InterCity 125 and InterCity 225 programmes. Bombardier adapted existing diesel-mechanical and diesel-electric technologies, drawing on corporate experience with Adtranz designs and continental multiple-unit projects like DB Regio fleets. Design priorities included crashworthiness complying with Rail Safety and Standards Board guidance, passenger comfort echoing standards seen on Eurostar interiors, and compatibility with UK loading gauge constraints enforced by Office of Rail and Road regulations.

Exterior and interior styling involved collaboration with industrial designers previously engaged on projects for Alstom and Siemens. Bogie and traction packages used proven suppliers linked to the supply chains of GE Transportation and MTU Friedrichshafen components; braking and control systems incorporated equipment from Knorr-Bremse and Zebra Cooling Services. Aerodynamic work referenced wind-tunnel data comparable to that used for Class 390 Pendolinos and lessons from HST refurbishment programmes.

Technical Specifications

The units are diesel-electric multiple units with distributed traction, each car containing a Cummins or MTU diesel engine coupled to electric generators feeding traction motors made by suppliers used by Siemens and Alstom. Typical formations are 4-car and 5-car sets, with 125 mph (200 km/h) maximum service speeds, per Rail Safety and Standards Board and Office of Rail and Road certification. Onboard systems include TOC-standard passenger information displays, air conditioning packages similar to those on InterCity 225, and accessibility fittings complying with Disability Discrimination Act-derived railway standards.

Transmission, control electronics, and diagnostic systems share lineage with components used in fleets like Class 220 Voyager and Class 221 Super Voyager, while suspension and ride quality reflect engineering practices from Bombardier bogie designs employed on Aventra prototypes. Energy management systems permit regenerative braking to auxiliaries and heat recovery strategies comparable to European multiple-units used by SNCF and DB Regio.

Service History

Initial deliveries commenced in the mid-2000s, entering service on intercity routes operated by Virgin Trains and later transferred as franchises changed to Avanti West Coast and CrossCountry. Deployment saw units operate on long-distance corridors such as the West Coast Main Line, Midland Main Line, and trans-regional services linking cities including London, Birmingham, Manchester, and Edinburgh. Fleet management and leasing involved rolling stock companies such as Angel Trains and Eversholt Rail Group, with maintenance contracts awarded to facilities like Bombardier Crewe and third-party providers including Arup-backed workshops.

Operational availability fluctuated with franchise transitions involving Department for Transport interventions and industrial action seen historically with unions such as ASLEF and RMT. Major timetable recasts by Network Rail impacted deployment and required driver training programmes aligned with standards set by Office of Rail and Road and national driver certification authorities.

Operations and Variants

Multiple sub-classes emerged to meet operator needs: 4-car and 5-car formations for differing capacity requirements, and variants with tilting capability in the broader Voyager family developed alongside non-tilting units serving cross-country routes. Operators customised interiors: TransPennine Express and CrossCountry provided different seating layouts and catering arrangements influenced by onboard catering providers such as West Coast Railways-contracted contractors and hospitality standards seen on Gatwick Express services.

Leasing arrangements led to transfers between CrossCountry, Avanti West Coast, and regional operators during franchise changes. Modifications over time included software updates compatible with European Train Control System preparations and retrofits to meet evolving accessibility directives championed by Department for Transport and advocacy groups like Transport Focus.

Safety and Incidents

Safety record includes incidents and investigations undertaken by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch and responses coordinated with Office of Rail and Road. Notable events prompted temporary withdrawals or operational restrictions pending engineering inspections similar to procedures used after incidents involving Class 390 or HST fleets. Maintenance regimes and defect reporting were managed by owners such as Angel Trains and operators, with improvements implemented following recommendations from inquiries involving stakeholders like Network Rail and Rail Safety and Standards Board.

Continuous monitoring and safety management systems were adopted in line with recommendations from bodies such as European Union Agency for Railways and domestic regulators, ensuring fleet compliance with national safety targets set by Department for Transport oversight and industry best practice.

Category:British diesel multiple units