A power cut at CrossCountry’s control centre in Birmingham city centre led to the cancellation of almost all CrossCountry train services across the UK on Sunday, August 23, 2026. The disruption followed a power failure that began on August 22, rendering many of the control systems required to manage the network unavailable.
Routes affected and exceptions
Service withdrawals impacted key routes including those through Manchester and the West Midlands. However, CrossCountry maintained limited service between Peterborough, Cambridge, and Stansted Airport. To assist stranded passengers, additional trains were added between Birmingham Moor Street and Oxford.
Passenger assistance and policies
Passengers were urged to verify their travel plans via National
Rail Enquiries before journeying. Rail operators such as Chiltern offered to accept CrossCountry tickets on affected routes to ease travel. Individuals facing delays exceeding 30 minutes became eligible to claim Delay Repay compensation. Customers who opted not to travel on August 23 were able to request refunds through their original point of ticket purchase.
Industry response and official statements
A CrossCountry spokesman said, “A power failure at CrossCountry control centre means their trains can’t run today, so the industry is pulling together to keep customers moving.” He added that services between Birmingham Moor Street and Oxford had been increased and that all CrossCountry tickets would
be accepted by other operators to reduce disruption.
