British Rail Class 221
The Class 221 SuperVoyager is a train currently used by Avanti West Coast and CrossCountry in the United Kingdom. They were built by Bombardier Transportation between 2000 and 2002 for the British train operating companies Virgin CrossCountry and Virgin West Coast. The first Class 221 SuperVoyager entered traffic between Birmingham and Brighton on 12 April 2002. The Class 221 SuperVoyagers are similar to the Class 220 Voyager units, but they are built with a tilting mechanism offering up to six degrees of tilt to allow faster speeds on curved tracks. They have a maximum speed of 125 mph (200 km/h).
| British Rail Class 221 Super Voyager | |
|---|---|
 Virgin CrossCountry SuperVoyager approaching Bristol Parkway on 4 May 2006 | |
| In service | 2002–present |
| Manufacturer | Bombardier Transportation |
| Family name | Voyager |
| Constructed | 2000–2002 |
| Number built | 44 trainsets |
| Number in service | 44 trainsets |
| Formation | 4 or 5 cars per trainset |
| Fleet numbers | 221101–221144 |
| Capacity | 26 first class, 162 or 224 standard class per trainset |
| Operator | CrossCountry Avanti West Coast |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Steel |
| Car length | 23.85 m (78 ft 3 in) driving end cars 22.82 m (74 ft 10 in) other cars |
| Width | 2.73 m (8 ft 11 in) |
| Doors | Swing plug at vehicle ends |
| Articulated sections | Flexible diaphragm within unit only |
| Maximum speed | 125 mph (200 km/h) |
| Weight | 227 t (223 long tons; 250 short tons) or 282.8 t (278.3 long tons; 311.7 short tons) per trainset |
| Traction system | DEMU |
| Engine(s) | Cummins QSK19 |
| Power output | 750 hp (560 kW) per car |
| Braking system(s) | Rheostatic and electro-pneumatic |
| Safety system(s) | AWS, TPWS, TASS, |
| Coupling system | Dellner |
British Rail Class 221 Media
Classes 220 (left) and 221 (right) showing the differing bogie designs
The first class interior on a CrossCountry Class 221
Bicycle compartments on a CrossCountry Class 221
The electronic information display board on Virgin Trains West Coast Class 221, showing a destination of Holyhead
Avanti West Coast Class 221 at Crewe in 2024, in a light Avanti ends livery.
Virgin Trains West Coast Class 221 at Watford Junction in 2008
Virgin Trains West Coast Class 221 in its 'Flowing silk' livery at Birmingham New Street in 2019
CrossCountry Class 221 at Manchester Piccadilly in 2015
Ex-Avanti West Coast Class 221 operating with Cross Country at Wolverhampton in 2024
Grand Central Class 221 at London Kings Cross
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