I'm fully aware that Skyhook previously ruled out adding a 222 due to not being viable to add the train for one route (or something like that), however due to EMR replacing them with 810 Aurora units and the 222s being cascaded elsewhere (specifically Lumo) I believe that there is now more room for a 222 to be added on more routes. Just as a bit of background, the Class 222 Meridian is a Diesel Multiple Unit built by Bombardier, and is part of the Voyager family of trains. It has a max operating speed of 125mph Lumo In Spring 2026 Lumo will start operating a London Euston to Stirling service using a fleet of six car Class 222 units. The calling pattern for these services will be London Euston, Milton Keynes, Nuneaton, Crewe, Preston, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Motherwell, Whifflet (serving Coatbridge), Greenfaulds (serving Cumbernauld), Larbert and Stirling. This means that a Lumo 222 add-on would add gameplay to Euston to Milton Keynes as well as the upcoming Milton Keynes to Crewe route. Of course, there's future potential there should a route between some of those other Scottish towns ever be made. East Midlands Trains The Class 222s are what currently run the St. Pancras to Sheffield or Nottingham services as EMR's Intercity Fleet, although they are slowly being replaced by the aforementioned Class 810 Aurora's. Adding a Class 222 in East Midlands Trains colours would fit right in alongside the existing Midland Mainline route, and would provide a chance to provide an updated timetable not too dissimilar to what Rivet have provided for Birmingham Cross-City with their 170 pack. In addition to the obvious 222, this new timetable would have playable Cross Country services with the mentioned 170 pack, as well as Voyager AI. In addition there would also be increased AI 158 services at Derby (bound for Crewe) and Nottingham (bound for Liverpool Lime Street, Norwich, Skegness or Worksop). East Midlands 222s are formed of either 5 or 7 car sets. The East Midlands version could also come as EMR but it would need to be bundled with a 170 to run the stopper services.
Sorry for bumping my own thread, but it's also just been announced Scotrail are to get 222s to replace HSTs, so there's potential there too
At the time I made the post originally, I believe that Scotrail getting some was just a rumour, but yes that has also been confirmed now of course
From the press release it sounds like they're getting a very comprehensive refurbishment too. It's sad that the era of the HST is nearly over but nothing is forever and they've been a fantastic servant for us Brits.
Unless TSW adds an inverness to edinbrugh route I don't think they'll add the class 222's for ScotRail, since most city to city trains in scotland are ran by 170's, 158's and 385's. In the mean time though I've created a livery for the class 220 (search SCR Class 222 on the content hub), just testing out a custom route on the fife circle line then I'll upload that too
