Train operator to resume full service on Monday after power outage forces cancellations

CrossCountry, the train operator, announced it expects to provide full service on Monday after cancelling nearly all of its UK services the day before due to a power cut at its control centre in Birmingham. The outage disrupted travel from Glasgow to Penzance, with major routes between Birmingham and Manchester, including stops in Stoke-on-Trent, Coventry, and Wolverhampton, also affected. Journeys from Leeds to York and Cheltenham to Cardiff were also impacted, leaving passengers frustrated.

On Monday morning, CrossCountry reported a few service cancellations, which were attributed to trains departing late and staff shortages. Customers were advised to check their journey before traveling. The company thanked passengers for their patience and understanding during the disruption and stated that tickets purchased for Sunday travel would remain valid until Wednesday.

Passengers shared their personal experiences. Andy Burton, from Worcester, was returning from Cromford to Worcester after a family celebration but was forced to stay in a budget hotel in Derby, as his planned alternative route via Leicester was also canceled. Reese Proctor, a 22-year-old traveling to Manchester for a football match, resorted to driving due to the cancellations, adding two hours to his journey.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander expressed concern over the situation and announced the establishment of Great British Railways, including the nationalization of services like CrossCountry, to improve reliability. The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) called for a review of railway operational control centers to prevent future disruptions caused by power outages. CrossCountry was ranked Britain's worst rail operator in June.