CrossCountry cancels nearly all rail services following Birmingham power cut
CrossCountry has suspended almost all train services in Great Britain due to a power outage affecting its control centre in Birmingham.
By The Guardian
CrossCountry has cancelled nearly all of its train services on Sunday, 23 August 2026, following a power failure that impacted its control centre in Birmingham. The disruption began on Saturday, 22 August, and continued into Sunday, with the operator indicating that many essential systems were unavailable.
Passengers are advised to expect significant cancellations and reductions across almost all CrossCountry routes until further notice. However, the service between Peterborough, Cambridge, and Stansted Airport is expected to operate close to normal. Additionally, an hourly service between Birmingham New Street and Leicester/Debry has resumed.
The Department for Transport has requested that publicly owned operators provide extra services where possible. Network Rail power teams have been deployed to assist in restoring power and systems.
CrossCountry has implemented ticket acceptance with other train operators, allowing passengers to use their tickets on alternative routes without additional charges. Those who choose not to travel can apply for a refund. Delay Repay compensation is also available for passengers whose trains are delayed by 30 minutes or more.
A spokesperson for CrossCountry stated, “Our key priority is now to restore as close to a normal service as possible for our customers tomorrow.” They noted that a very limited number of services would begin operating from around 6pm on Sunday, with plans for a full service on Monday, 24 August 2026.
This incident is part of a broader pattern of delays and cancellations affecting CrossCountry services, with the passenger watchdog previously urging the operator to improve its performance. A survey indicated that while 87% of rail customers were satisfied with their experiences, only 79% of CrossCountry customers felt the same, particularly regarding the handling of delays.
CrossCountry has expressed regret for the disruption, stating, “We are sorry to passengers affected by this significant and unforeseen disruption. We are working closely with relevant partners and will provide further updates as soon as possible.”
Passengers are reminded that tickets for travel on Sunday will remain valid on CrossCountry services until Wednesday, 26 August 2026.