Class 221

The Class 221 Super Voyager is a type of tilting diesel-electric multiple unit express passenger trains built in Bruges, Belgium and Wakefield, by Bombardier Transportation in 2001–02.

A CrossCountry Class 221 at Leamington Spa in 2015

The class is similar to the Class 220 Voyager, but was built with a tilting mechanism enabling up to six degrees of tilt to allow higher speeds on curved tracks. Additionally, most have five coaches, and they have a different bogie design. They have a maximum speed of 125 mph (200 km/h).

The trains are divided between three operators: Avanti West Coast (13 sets), CrossCountry (25 sets) and Grand Central (2 sets). CrossCountry sets had their tilt function disabled in 2008 to improve reliability and reduce maintenance costs.

Details

The Class 221 units were manufactured as either five- or four-coach sets. Each coach is powered by a Cummins QSK19 diesel engine, generating 560 kW (750 hp) at 1,800 rpm, which drives an electrical generator. This generator powers two motors, each of which drives one (inner) axle per bogie via a cardan shaft and final drive. These units can travel up to 1,200 miles (1,900 km) between refuelling stops. The coach bodies, engines, and most of the equipment in the Class 221s are similar to those in the Class 220s, but the bogies differ significantly: the Class 220 Voyager B5000 bogies have inside frames that expose the entire wheel faces, whereas the Class 221 SuperVoyager Y36 bogies feature a more conventional outside-framed bogie. Unlike the Class 220s, the Class 221s were originally equipped with a hydraulically-actuated tilting system to enable high-speed travel around bends, although this system has now been disabled in the 24 sets operated by CrossCountry.

Classes 220 (left) and 221 (right) showing the differing bogie designs

Each coach weighs between 55 and 57 tonnes, with a total train weight of 281.9 tonnes for a five-car set and 227 tonnes for a four-car set. The trains are equipped with air-operated (pneumatic) and rheostatic brakes, with an emergency stopping distance of 350 metres (1,150 feet) at 60 mph (97 km/h).

Class 221 units are equipped with automatic sanding systems. The units operated by Avanti West Coast are fitted with a Vossloh fixed rate sander, while those operated by Arriva Cross Country have an AB Hoses and fittings variable rate sanding system.

All Class 221 units are maintained at the dedicated Central Rivers TMD near Burton-on-Trent.

Passenger Facilities

As part of a franchise commitment to replace all of the Mark 2 and High Speed Train sets, Virgin CrossCountry ordered 40 five-carriage sets. Additionally, four four-carriage sets were ordered to replace High Speed Trains on Virgin Trains' North Wales Coast Line services to Holyhead. However, all units entered service with Virgin CrossCountry.

In November 2010, Virgin Trains reformed its three four-car sets into two five-car sets and a residual spare two-car set by inserting the two intermediate (non-driving) cars from 221144 into 221142 and 221143. This resulted in 20 five-car sets (and two spare driving cars). This reformation aimed to provide more flexibility and consistency in operating Birmingham-Scotland and London-North Wales services. In 2017, a further reformation occurred, allowing 221144 to return to service with CrossCountry, now operated by Arriva, which involved exchanging some vehicles between Virgin and CrossCountry and reducing two CrossCountry sets to four-car formations.

All vehicles are air-conditioned and equipped with WiFi. Some units still have the at-seat audio entertainment system fitted, although it has been disabled since the introduction of WiFi hotspots. Power sockets are available for devices such as laptops and mobile phones. First Class accommodation features 2+1 seating, while standard class has 2+2 seating. Former Virgin Trains units are fitted with CCTV. Unlike the older trains they replaced, these trains have electronic information display boards on the exterior walls showing the train number, time, coach, destination, and next station. This feature is also present in the Class 220 and Class 222 high-speed DEMUs.

The trains have been criticised for insufficient luggage and bicycle space. Additionally, due to the units being designed to tilt, the carriages have a tapered profile that narrows towards the roof, resulting in a less spacious interior compared to the conventional carriages they replaced.

Bicycle compartments on a CrossCountry Class 221

Operations

All units are owned by Beacon Rail, having been purchased from Voyager Rail Leasing, a consortium of Lloyds Banking Group and Angel Trains.

Upon their introduction in 2002, Virgin Trains operated all Class 221 units, using them on CrossCountry and West Coast Main Line services as well as the North Wales Coast line.

When it was decided to transfer the CrossCountry services that operated via the West Coast Main Line to the InterCity West Coast franchise at the time the former franchise was relet, the fleet was split on 11 November 2007. Virgin West Coast was allocated units 221101-221118 and 221142-221144, while CrossCountry received units 221119-221141. During the overhaul of five High Speed Train sets, CrossCountry subleased units 221114-221118 from Virgin for 12 months.

Avanti West Coast

Avanti West Coast primarily utilises the Class 221 units on routes between London Euston and Scotland via Birmingham New Street (despite the entire route being electrified), between London Euston and Shrewsbury, and between London Euston and Chester and North Wales. They are also used on some London Euston to West Midlands services.

Trains to and from Scotland often operate as double units, alternating between Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley (alternating with TransPennine Express trains to and from Manchester Airport). For busier services, a Pendolino might run through from London Euston, with the Super Voyager filling in on the London to West Midlands route.

On the North Wales route, the trains sometimes operate as double units, running from London Euston and terminating at Chester, Holyhead, Bangor, or Wrexham. The daily return service from London Euston to Shrewsbury also utilises the Class 221.

In December 2019, Avanti West Coast ordered 10 seven-car Class 807 EMUs to replace its Class 221 fleet, along with 13 Class 805 bi-mode units as part of a £350 million contract with Hitachi. These were planned to enter service in 2023.

In June 2022, units 221142 and 221143 were the first Class 221s to be returned to their owners after their leases to Avanti West Coast ended. With the introduction of the Class 805 units, seven Class 221s were transferred to CrossCountry in 2024. The class is set to be fully replaced with the introduction of the Class 807.

CrossCountry

CrossCountry's Class 221 units operate alongside Class 220 units on the routes inherited from Virgin CrossCountry. Since these routes are not cleared for tilting operation (except for Wolverhampton to Stockport), the tilting equipment was locked out of use in 2008 and subsequently isolated altogether, replacing the hydraulic rams with fixed tie-bars. This change was made to improve reliability and reduce maintenance costs. In 2024, seven Class 221s were transferred from Avanti West Coast.

Grand Central

In June 2023, it was announced that Grand Central would be leasing two Class 221 units (numbers 221142 and 221143) for services between London Kings Cross and Bradford.

The Class 221 units first entered service with Grand Central in 2023.