CrossCountry will add eight extra Voyager trains to its fleet from early 2027 to reduce crowding and improve reliability for passengers travelling on the Exeter rail route.
The additional Voyager trains are expected to create 60,000 more seats on services each week across CrossCountry’s network. Several of these trains will operate on the Edinburgh to Plymouth route, which runs through Exeter. This expansion follows the addition of 12 new trains to the CrossCountry fleet between 2024 and 2025.
Shiona Rolfe, managing director of CrossCountry, stated these trains are important for delivering a reliable railway and building a stronger CrossCountry. Rail
Minister Lord Hendy highlighted that extra trains mean more seats, less crowding, and greater resilience on services between major towns. He also said that as passenger services come into public ownership through Great British Railways, track and train will be combined to deliver joined-up, reliable services supporting growth, jobs, and homes nationwide.
The first additional Voyager train will enter service in early 2027, with seven more trains introduced in stages through May 2028. Alongside CrossCountry’s fleet refurbishment programme, this investment demonstrates commitment to delivering reliable service and increasing capacity on routes through Exeter.
