CrossCountry has confirmed plans to restore a full train service on Monday following a significant power outage that crippled its network on Sunday. The operator, which had been forced to cancel almost all of its UK services earlier in the day, stated that its primary focus is now returning to a normal operational schedule for passengers.
Service Recovery and Operations
- Current Status: A very limited number of trains began running from approximately 18:00 BST on Sunday, focusing primarily on routes between Birmingham New Street, Leicester, and Derby.
- Network Update: National Rail reported that services between Peterborough, Cambridge, and Stansted Airport also resumed operation on Sunday evening.
- Future Outlook: Planning is currently underway to support a full timetable on Monday, with the operator working alongside the National Grid and industry partners to finalize recovery efforts.
The operator has advised all passengers to verify their specific journey details before traveling. For those impacted by the disruption, CrossCountry noted that customers delayed by 30 minutes or more may be eligible for compensation, while those who opted not to travel are entitled to claim a refund from their original point of purchase.
Passenger Impact and Official Response
The disruption left many travelers stranded, including Andy Burton, who was forced to stay in a budget hotel after his journey from Cromford to Worcester was halted in Derby. Despite being told an alternative route via Leicester was available, he later discovered that service was also cancelled, leaving him without a viable way home.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander welcomed the news of the service resumption, thanking the engineers who worked to minimize the impact of the outage. She added that the government is moving forward with the creation of Great British Railways and the nationalization of services, including CrossCountry, to address long-standing network vulnerabilities.
Union Demands for Review
- RMT Position: The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers has formally called for a comprehensive review of all railway operational control centres.
- Safety Concerns: RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey emphasized that passengers and staff should not be subjected to further travel chaos caused by unreliable back-up systems.
- Proposed Action: The union is seeking assurances that control centres will remain resilient against future power failures.
CrossCountry expressed gratitude to its customers for their patience and understanding throughout the day as the company worked to reinstate its facilities. The report also notes that a CrossCountry spokesperson said: “Our key priority is now to restore as close to a normal service as possible for our customers tomorrow. The report also notes that andy Burton, from Worcester, was travelling back from Cromford to Worcester after spending the weekend away with family celebrating his sister’s birthday, but only got as far as Derby before his journey came to a premature end. The report also notes that if there is still disruption, I may have to get a taxi to Worcester, which will leave me even more out of pocket. The report also notes that including Cross Country next year, to end decades of fragmentation and vulnerability on our network, we are setting up Great British Railways and nationalising services. The report also notes that we are determined to give passengers the reliability they deserve.
Important Details
- The report also notes that an update from National Rail at 18:13 BST said the CrossCountry service between Peterborough, Cambridge and Stansted Airport will be running on Sunday evening, following the power cut.
