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CrossCountry cancels UK services after power cut

The operator says services will be "significantly disrupted" until further notice.

CrossCountry cancels UK services after power cut

CrossCountry, a UK rail operator, has suspended services across the country after experiencing a power outage at its control centre in Birmingham on Saturday. The shutdown has caused significant disruptions to numerous routes, including those connecting cities such as Glasgow, Penzance, Leeds, Manchester, and Glasgow to Edinburgh.

The operator explained that the power failure has rendered many essential systems for managing the railway unavailable, leading to widespread cancellations. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander expressed concern and requested additional services from publicly owned operators. Network Rail power teams have been deployed to restore power and systems as soon as possible.

Passengers have taken to social media to express frustration, with some resorting to alternative transportation methods. Major routes have been severely impacted, including those from Manchester to Birmingham, Leeds to York, and Glasgow to Edinburgh. CrossCountry has confirmed that Sunday tickets remain valid until Wednesday, while football fans traveling to matches in Manchester, Liverpool, and Newcastle may face busy conditions.

The operator apologizes for the inconvenience and assures passengers that tickets can be accepted by other operators. Additional services have been introduced by Chiltern Railways and London North Eastern Railway to assist affected travelers. London Underground and West Midlands Metro services are also available at no extra cost for affected customers.

Written by urgent.news from BBC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.

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