CrossCountry cancelled nearly all its train services across the UK on Sunday, August 23, 2026, due to a power outage at its control centre in Birmingham. The power cut, which began on Saturday, August 22, disabled many essential railway management systems, resulting in widespread disruption.
Major UK Routes Affected by Power Outage
The cancellations impacted most CrossCountry routes, including long-distance services between Glasgow and Penzance, Leeds and Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh, Manchester and Birmingham, Cheltenham and Cardiff, and Newcastle and Edinburgh. Some services between Peterborough, Cambridge, and Stansted Airport operated near normally due to planned engineering work on those routes.
Official Statements and Response
A CrossCountry spokesman expressed regret over the
disruption, stating, “We are sorry to passengers affected by this significant and unforeseen disruption.” Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she was concerned about the outage’s impact on passengers and confirmed efforts to mitigate the disruption. She said, “I’ve asked publicly owned operators to lay on extra services where possible.” According to Alexander, Network Rail power teams were deployed onsite at the Birmingham control centre to restore power and systems promptly.
Alternative Arrangements and Ticket Validity
To assist travelers affected by cancellations, Chiltern Railways added services between Birmingham Moor Street and Oxford and accepted all CrossCountry tickets on reasonable alternative routes. London North Eastern Railway also
agreed to accept CrossCountry tickets during the disruption. Tickets dated for Sunday, August 23, remain valid on other train operators’ services running the same routes and on CrossCountry trains until Wednesday, August 26, 2026.
Passenger Guidance and Compensation Rights
CrossCountry advised passengers to check the National Rail Enquiries website before beginning their journeys due to significant service reductions. Passengers delayed by 30 minutes or more qualify for Delay Repay compensation, while those who decide not to travel can claim refunds. The service disruption caused frustration among some passengers but coordination between operators aimed to reduce inconvenience during the outage at the Birmingham control centre.
