CrossCountry upgrade will see 25% more rail seats

Long-distance train operator CrossCountry has announced an expansion that will see about a quarter more seats available on its trains.

Twelve new trains will be in place by May 2025, increasing capacity on north-south routes by over 36,000 seats per week.

The network stretches from Aberdeen to Penzance and from Stansted to Cardiff.

Rail Minister Huw Merriman MP said the upgrade would improve passenger experience and relieve crowding.

All 58 of CrossCountry's existing Voyager trains will also be fully refurbished, as well as its regional Turbostar fleet, which operates from Birmingham to Cardiff, Nottingham and Stansted Airport.

The operator's services connect most of the UK's biggest cities, including Birmingham, Edinburgh, Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds, Newcastle and Manchester.

Extra trains will be progressively introduced from June, following their release from Avanti West Coast, increasing capacity by around 12,000 seats per week in time for the busy summer holiday period.

Passengers travelling to and from Wakefield Westgate and Chesterfield, Basingstoke and Winchester will also see temporary changes to the timetable from June to September in an effort to relieve crowding.

The operator has secured five Voyager trains from rolling stock company Beacon Rail, in addition to seven Voyager trains secured in October, totalling 60 additional carriages.

Julian Edwards and Scott Maynard, CrossCountry's interim managing directors, said: "We're delighted to announce these transformational changes in fleet and on-board experience, which customers will start to benefit from as soon as this summer.

"Our teams are working hard to ensure the smooth introduction and refurbishment of extra trains and we look forward to working with colleagues at Alstom and Beacon Trains to give the ever-impressive Voyager fleet a new lease of life on the CrossCountry network."

Peter Broadley, Alstom's managing director of rolling stock and services for UK and Ireland, said the trains were to get "some well-deserved TLC" with the overhaul including new seats, on-board technology enhancements and an exterior repaint.

He added: "Not only will the refurbishment delight fare-paying customers with increased levels of comfort and accessibility, the overhaul programme will support UK suppliers and skilled jobs across the country."