Rolling stock leaser Beacon Rail acquires 78-train fleet

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A Cross Country Voyager train. Credit: Cross Country.
A Cross Country Voyager train. Credit: Cross Country.
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European rolling stock leaser Beacon Rail has acquired the 352-vehicle fleet of Bombardier Class 220 and Class 221 Voyager’s from subsidiaries of Lloyds Bank and the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS).

The diesel-electric multiple units are currently in passenger service on the Virgin West Coast and the Arriva Cross Country franchises.

The fleet is comprised of 352 vehicles in 78 sets of 4 and 5 vehicle formations. Of those 58 sets are operated on the Cross Country franchise and 20 sets are operated by West Coast.

The sale of the Voyager fleet to Beacon Rail brings an end to RBS’s 19 year association with the fleet.


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The Luxembourg-based firm’s portfolio includes: 225 locomotives, more than 1,000 freight wagons, 55 EMU/DMUs, 67 double-decker coaches and 13 sets of five-car intercity carriages on lease.

These deals are in place across the UK, Germany, Denmark, France, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Austria, and the Netherlands.

Beacon CEO Neil Bennett said: “We are very pleased with this transaction because it continues our expansion in the UK passenger train franchise market.

“The Bombardier Voyager trains have proven to be successful in service and this transaction has allowed us to acquire more high-quality UK passenger rolling stock.”


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