JUNE 13 saw the first two ‘Super Voyagers’ go off lease, when Avanti West Coast handed back Nos. 221142/143 to Beacon Rail. The pair, which have become surplus to requirements owing to the reduction in passenger numbers since the coronavirus pandemic reached the UK in early 2020, have been parked up at Central Rivers.
Avanti still has 18 ‘Super Voyagers’ on its books (Nos. 221101-118). Under the current timetable, which is still much reduced compared to pre-Covid, only 12 sets are required to be in traffic on any given day. The remaining sets have a lease expiry date of December 2022, but they are likely to remain in service with Avanti until sufficient Class 805 and 807 sets have entered service. Assembly of these is underway at Newton Aycliffe.
ANOTHER ‘390’ REFURBED
Following on from the release of Nos. 390155/156 in May, which returned to service on May 20 and May 25 respectively, No. 390154 emerged from Alstom, Widnes on June 4, the first set to have its refurbishment completed in two weeks. The sixth Pendolino to be refurbished, it was back in action on June 12. Its place at Widnes was taken by No. 390157, which subsequently returned to Longsight on June 18.
Life extension for Classes 507/508?
ON May 31, No. 508143 was moved by Nos.
