CrossCountry Restores Full Service Monday After Sunday Power Outage
CrossCountry will run a full train service Monday after a power outage at its control center caused widespread cancellations Sunday.
Train operator CrossCountry announced it will resume a full train service on Monday, August 24, 2026, following significant disruption across its network on Sunday.
The disruption was caused by a power outage that affected the company's control centre in Birmingham, leading to mass cancellations and affecting thousands of passengers.
CrossCountry stated that most facilities have now been reinstated and a very limited number of services began operating from around 6:00 PM BST on Sunday, primarily on routes towards Leicester and Derby. Planning is underway to support a full service on Monday, with the operator working closely with National Grid and industry partners.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander expressed satisfaction that services are resuming, stating, "I am pleased to hear some trains are set to run tonight, and a full timetable expected to resume tomorrow." She thanked engineers working to minimize disruption and advised passengers to check their journeys before traveling.
Passengers affected by delays of 30 minutes or more may be entitled to compensation. Those who choose not to travel can claim a refund from their original point of purchase. Earlier on Sunday, customers were informed that CrossCountry had cancelled "almost all" UK services.
One affected passenger, Andy Burton, was traveling from Cromford to Worcester after a family celebration. His journey ended prematurely in Derby when his planned alternative route was also cancelled due to the wider CrossCountry disruption. Stranded, he faced the prospect of an overnight stay and uncertainty about resuming his journey on Monday.
National Rail provided updates throughout Sunday evening, confirming that CrossCountry services between Peterborough, Cambridge, and Stansted Airport would run. They also confirmed the resumption of an hourly service from Birmingham New Street to Leicester and Derby.
The incident highlights the critical infrastructure relied upon by national rail networks and the cascading effects of technical failures. Efforts are continuing to ensure a complete return to normal operations.
This article was written by AI based on publicly available news reporting. Original reporting by the linked source.
