- Journey changes are expected across various routes on Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 December.
- A shortage of train crew means there may be more short-notice alterations or cancellations on CrossCountry services.
- Services by other train operators may also be busier than usual.
CrossCountry customers travelling ahead of New Year’s Eve are being asked to double-check journeys as train crew shortages could lead to higher numbers of train cancellations.
Short-notice changes and cancellations are expected on CrossCountry services on Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 December.
Services that do operate are likely to be extremely busy and customers are advised to check their entire journey before travelling.
Though services across all CrossCountry routes could be impacted, areas expected to be particularly affected by cancellations over the weekend include Cardiff to Nottingham via Birmingham, and Leeds to Edinburgh via Newcastle.
As usual over New Year’s Eve, rail services by all train operators will finish earlier than normal so that planned engineering work can take place on the rail network over the bank holiday.
Planned upgrades in the Birmingham New Street area on New Year’s Day will see journey times extended by up to 30 minutes on several CrossCountry routes.
Customers with tickets for journeys operated by CrossCountry services purchased on or before Thursday 28 December can instead travel on Saturday 30 December or Monday 1 January instead for no additional charge.
For journeys involving connections with other train operators, customers should check with the relevant operators for details on ticket acceptance before travelling.
Mark Goodall, CrossCountry’s Service Delivery Director, said: "We know that a lot of people are travelling over the festive period and we’re sorry that services around New Year’s Eve this year are likely to be impacted by train crew availability.
“I’d ask that customers check before they travel and continue to be respectful to on-train colleagues who are working as hard as they can to get people where they want to be.”
Customers can check the latest travel information on the CrossCountry website or with National Rail Enquiries.
Further information on delay repay compensation and ticket acceptance is available at: https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/disruption
Contact Information
CrossCountry Press Office
[email protected]About CrossCountry
CrossCountry is a long-distance passenger train operator, with a network stretching from Aberdeen to Penzance and from Stansted to Cardiff and calling at over 100 stations. Based in Birmingham, CrossCountry connects seven of Britain’s 10 largest cities and delivers 240 services every weekday, equating to over 42 million passenger journeys each year.
For further information on CrossCountry services, visit crosscountrytrains.co.uk or visit one of our social media platforms via X @crosscountryuk or Facebook at facebook.com/crosscountrytrains
Long-distance train operator CrossCountry has announced adjustments to its timetable from 14 December, as part of the rail industry’s twice-yearly timetable review.
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- 14-metre-high mural, created by Leeds based artist Elle Koziupa and Global Street Art, celebrates the journeys that have helped shape Leeds
- Photorealism, painterly illustration and graphics combine to depict the textile carts that powered Leeds’ rise to a northern powerhouse, to CrossCountry trains linking the city’s people and culture to the rest of UK today
- CrossCountry will operate a reduced timetable over the Bank Holiday weekend – with no services on Saturday 23 August - due to industrial action by the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT)
- Services on Sunday 24 August are also likely to be subject to cancellations across all CrossCountry routes
- Passengers are advised not to travel on Saturday 23 August and to travel on either side of the Bank Holiday weekend, or claim a full refund
