CrossCountry cancelled nearly all train services throughout the UK on Sunday, August 23, 2026, after a power outage at its railway control centre in Birmingham disabled key management systems.
Disrupted Routes and Service Adjustments
The cancellations affected most CrossCountry routes, impacting services between Glasgow and Penzance and Leeds and Manchester. Other disrupted routes included Glasgow to Edinburgh, Manchester to Birmingham, Cheltenham to Cardiff, and Newcastle to Edinburgh. Despite the disruption, CrossCountry expected near-normal services between Peterborough, Cambridge, and Stansted Airport due to planned engineering work on that route.
Passenger Advice and Ticket Validity
Passengers holding tickets dated August 23, 2026, could travel on other train operators’ services along the same
routes. These tickets remained valid on CrossCountry trains until Wednesday, August 26, 2026. Passengers delayed by 30 minutes or more were eligible for Delay Repay compensation, while those choosing not to travel could claim refunds. Chiltern Railways added extra services between Birmingham Moor Street and Oxford and accepted CrossCountry tickets via any reasonable route. London North Eastern Railway also accepted CrossCountry tickets to support affected customers. National Rail Enquiries urged passengers to check journeys before travelling.
Official Statements on the Disruption
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander expressed concern over the power outage and described the disruption as frustrating for passengers. She said publicly owned rail operators
had been asked to run extra services where possible. A CrossCountry spokesman apologised, stating, “We are sorry to passengers affected by this significant and unforeseen disruption.” CrossCountry confirmed it was working closely with partners to resolve the issue.
Cause of the Disruption and Restoration Efforts
The disruption began early on Saturday, August 22, 2026, following a power cut at CrossCountry’s Birmingham control centre, which left many essential railway management systems unavailable. Network Rail deployed power teams onsite to restore power and affected systems promptly.
