Alstom awarded £60 million contract for the refurbishment of CrossCountry's Voyager trains following an earlier warning from the company against job losses caused by low orders. The refurbishment includes new seats and technology as part of the commitment that will keep the Voyager fleet in service up until 2031.

Now the major train manufacturer Alstom has just landed a huge £60 million deal to give CrossCountry's Voyager trains a fresh, new look. This refurbishment contract couldn't have come at a better time; the firm had issued a warning before that 1,300 jobs in Derby were on the line because of a lack of new orders. Now, with this new project in hand, things will look a little different and favorable for the workers of Litchurch Lane in Derby.

A Makeover for Voyager TrainsThe refurbishment plan shall revive 312 train cars. More comfortable seats, shiny new tables, plush carpets, improved lighting—passengers can look forward to these very soon. Not just that, the trains will also get a new passenger counting system to help keep things running smoothly. It is about making things a little bit better for each person who boards these trains.

This is not the first big project for the Litchurch Lane team. More recently, they have just secured a massive £370 million contract to build new trains for London's Elizabeth line. It's as if the people at Alstom are keeping themselves busy, and that's good news for Derby.

The Eight-Year Extension: A Lifeline for Derby JobsBy November, things were looking pretty bleak for Alstom. The company announced that more than 1,300 jobs were at risk because there was simply not enough work coming through the books. It was a shock not only to the thousands of Alstom employees but to all those people in the supply chain dependent on the factory keeping open.

This was followed by an eight-year extension to its Train Services Agreement with CrossCountry, valued at about £825 million, ensuring Alstom would continue to look after CrossCountry's Voyager and Super Voyager trains until 2031. It is not only maintenance and overhaul but also the servicing and cleaning of the fleet. In other words, Alstom will keep these trains on the rails and running well into the foreseeable future.

For Peter Broadley, head of services for the UK and Ireland at Alstom, this new deal is certainly the best Christmas present he could have asked for. He declared that "We are thrilled to take these Alstom-built trains under our wing and give them a little TLC. There'll be new seats, improved on-board technology, and a lick of paint on the outside." More importantly, it shows how big this success this project holds for Alstom and all those using these trains.

A Nationwide Impact: From Scotland to EnglandThe Voyager trains are owned by Beacon Rail, a company footing the bill for this big upgrade. These trains are also prominent in the CrossCountry network, zooming from Aberdeen in Scotland down to Penzance in England. With this long journey ahead of them, these trains deserve every bit of the makeover they're getting.

Adrian Hugill, head of fleet and engineering at CrossCountry, was similarly ebullient. "We're so happy to start work on updating our Voyager fleet," he shared. "This upgrade will make such a difference to our passengers traveling long-distance journeys.". "We can't wait to see these trains looking better than ever." He added how much they're looking forward to working with Alstom and Beacon Trains in order to make sure that the Voyagers receive a fresh run on the CrossCountry tracks.

The Future in MindWith design work already underway, real refurbishment work is planned to start in Derby next year. It will keep the team busy till 2027, putting Voyager trains in top-notch condition for years to come.

This £60 million contract is more than a job for Alstom; it's a chance to secure the future for many workers in Derby. Moreover, that keeps pointing to the developing need for the smooth and efficient running of the UK's train network. The Voyager trains are integral to that, so this refurbishment will help them go on serving passengers reliably and in comfort.

This refurbishment will give passengers a much more enjoyable experience of travel with modernized trains that are more comfortable and efficient. And for the workers at Alstom, it's a much-needed shot in the arm which could secure their jobs for the foreseeable future.

At the end, this is where everybody benefits from the contract: passengers will benefit with better trains, while Alstom will keep its workforce at work and the UK's rail network thriving. All aboard for a brighter future!