When travelling with us across the CrossCountry network, there are a couple of different trains types you might be travelling on.
Our long-distance services, operating between South-West England and Scotland, and between Manchester and Bournemouth are operated by our Voyager fleet.
Our regional services, operating between Nottingham and Cardiff and between Birmingham and Cambridge / Stansted Airport are operated by our Turbostar fleet.
You can find more about each of these trains and what you’ll find on-board below. To make sure you’re sitting in the best place, be aware that some services change direction during the journey, particularly at Birmingham New Street, Reading, and Derby.
CrossCountry Train Types
Whether you're on-board a Voyager or a Turbostar, whether travelling from city to city or through the countryside - you are set for a comfortable journey through Great British landscapes, with everything you need to make the most of your time on-board.
Voyager Trains
Voyager trains are one of CrossCountry's train types, primarily offering long-distance services along the CrossCountry network.
Voyager trains have either 4 or 5 cars, often coupled together to make a longer train. Train formation is A,B*,C,D,F and G, H*, I, J, L when coupled together. *Only in 5 car units.
Key facts about Voyager trains:
- Fleet size: 70 units (312 individual vehicles)
- Build date: 2001 / 2002 by Bombardier Transportation (now Alstom)
- Top speed: 125mph
- Routes operated: South-West England to Scotland, Manchester to Bournemouth and Bristol, Reading to Newcastle
On-board Voyager trains
- Luggage storage: Limited luggage storage is available on all of our Voyager services, with space under your seat, in the overhead racks above, and a dedicated space at the entrance to each coach for larger luggage items. Most of our Voyager trains also have an additional dedicated luggage area in Coach D
- Wi-Fi: Available free of charge for all passengers. Please see our WiFi On-Board page for further details
- Catering: Food and drink is available on most of our Voyager services and will be provided by either an at-seat trolley service or at the on-board shop depending on the exact train type on your service.
- Plug sockets: For at-seat charging, plug sockets are available and located below the windows
- First Class: Found in Coach A, with larger, more spacious seating
- Seat reservations: If you have a seat reservation, these will be indicated by the LED screens above the seats
- Unreserved seating: Found in coach B on our 5 car trains
- Wheelchair space: Coach A (First Class only) and Coach F (Standard).
- Priority seating: On average, Voyager trains have 8 priority seats per coach, which are identifiable by a blue icon on the seat labels above the seats
- Bicycle storage : Available in Coach D
- Toilets: 3 or 4 toilets on each Voyager, including two accessible toilets in Coaches A and F
Voyager train layout
Download Voyager Train Layout PDF
Download Voyager Train with On-Board Shop Layout PDF
Turbostar Trains
Turbostar trains the train type you will often find on regional journeys along the CrossCountry network. With two or three coaches per train, they're often coupled into longer trains to help more of our passengers get to their destination in comfort.
Key facts about Turbostar trains:
- No. in fleet: 29 units (80 individual vehicles)
- Build date: 1998 / 2002 by Adtranz / Bombardier Transportation (now Alstom)
- Top speed: 100 mph
- Routes operated: Nottingham to Cardiff via Birmingham, and Birmingham to Cambridge / Stansted Airport via Leicester
On board Turbostar trains
- Wi-Fi: Available free of charge for all passengers
- Luggage: Limited luggage storage space is available on the overhead racks above your seat and in dedicated luggage storage areas in each carriage
- Catering: Information about catering on-board selected Turbostar services can be found here.
- Wheelchair space: Available on all Turbostar services
- Priority seating: At least 15 seats on each Turbostar train.
- Toilets: There are two toilets on all Turbostar trains, including one accessible toilet.
- Seat reservations: There are no seat reservations on our Turbostar services. Please sit in any available seat when you board the train
- First Class: There is no First Class on our Turbostar trains
Turbostar train layout
Download Turbostar train layout PDF
CrossCountry Train Refurbishment Programme
CrossCountry are working hard to refurbish all our train fleets to ensure our passengers are comfortable while travelling with us. The first fully refurbished Turbostar trains have now entered service and more will be joining the fleet throughout the year.
Featuring a different layout, the refurbishment will deliver some significant improvements to your onboard experience:
- New seats and tables
- At seat 3-pin, USB A & C plug sockets at all seats
- New carpets
- Full interior and exterior repaint
- Installation of CCTV
- Improved passenger information screens
- Refreshed on-board toilets
Travelling with CrossCountry
*First Class is available on routes operated by our Voyager trains. Please use a journey planner to see services that offer First Class.
Our Trains FAQs
At CrossCountry, our trains are generally pet-friendly. Subject to the following conditions, certain pets are permitted free of charge:
- Dogs, cats, and other small animals can travel on our trains provided they do not endanger or inconvenience other passengers and staff.
- A maximum of two pets per passenger are permitted.
- Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times, unless contained in a basket. Dogs without leads, cats, birds, and small animals must be carried in an enclosed basket, cage, or pet carrier. It must be rigid and not open, and the animal must be able to stand and lie down in comfort.
- Animal carriers must not occupy seats, otherwise you will incur an extra charge.
On board our trains, there is a very limited amount of luggage storage space.
Please visit our luggage page for more information.
All CrossCountry trains are accessible. For more information and to book assisted travel you can check our Travel Assistance page.
Yes, all our train services can carry manual or powered wheelchairs, and mobility scooters, if they aren't bigger than:
Width 700 millimeters, length (including footplates) 1200 millimetres, weight (Including passenger) 300 Kilograms, with a triangular footprint.
On our Voyager trains we have a first class wheelchair space in Coach A and a standard class wheelchair space in Coach F. Our Turbostar trains have two wheelchair spaces, both in Coach C. Our train managers and senior conductors walk through the train regularly ensuring that luggage does not obstruct these spaces.
We recommend that you book in advance via the Travel Assistance page here as spaces can be limited, however we understand that sometimes life can't always be planned ahead, and we'll still do our best to provide the same level of help in those circumstances - just make the station and train staff aware when you arrive at your departure station.
Unfortunately, Mobility Scooters and Motorised Wheelchairs cannot be charged onboard due to a difference in voltage. As space can be limited, we request that it is folded up and stowed away in one of our luggage compartments if this is possible to do so.
CrossCountry know how important it is for our passengers to stay in touch whilst on the move, so there is WiFi available on every CrossCountry service. Subject to availability and usage restrictions.
