CrossCountry to provide full service on Monday after major disruption

ByElliot Ball

West Midlands

Train operator CrossCountry will run a full train service on Monday following major disruption to services across the country.

The operator said it plans to run a "very limited number of trains" from around 18:00 BST on Sunday evening, and a full service on Monday.

It comes after a power outage affected its control centre in Birmingham, resulting in mass cancellations across the network on Sunday.

A CrossCountry spokesperson said: "Our key priority is now to restore as close to a normal service as possible for our customers tomorrow."

They added: "With most facilities now reinstated, we are planning to operate a very limited number of services from around 18:00 this evening, primarily on routes towards Leicester and Derby.

"Planning is underway to support a full train service on Monday and we are working closely with National Grid and industry partners as recovery efforts continue.

"We would like to thank our customers for their patience and understanding during today's disruption."

Customers have been strongly advised by the operator to check their journey before travelling.

Customers delayed by 30 minutes or more may be entitled to compensation, the operator said, adding: "While those who choose not to travel can claim a refund from their original point of purchase."

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.

He's been forced to stay the night in a budget hotel in the hope he can return home tomorrow.

He said: "It was only once I had arrived at Derby that a member of staff told me my planned alternative route via Leicester had also been cancelled, because it was part of the CrossCountry disruption. "

"I soon realised I was stranded, as they said there was no alternative train route back to Worcester.

"I am hoping that the train service from Derby to Birmingham New Street, and then onwards towards Worcester, resumes tomorrow. If there is still disruption, I may have to get a taxi to Worcester, which will leave me even more out of pocket.

"It's not the best end to a great weekend away."

Following the power cut, 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.

The update also said the operator had been able to resume operating an hourly train service from Birmingham New Street to Leicester and Derby.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: "Following earlier disruption on CrossCountry services, I am pleased to hear some trains are set to run tonight, and a full timetable expected to resume tomorrow.

"While passengers should continue to check their journeys before they travel, I'd like to thank engineers who are working tirelessly to minimise disruption as much as possible.

"We are setting up Great British Railways and nationalising services, including Cross Country next year, to end decades of fragmentation and vulnerability on our network. We are determined to give passengers the reliability they deserve."

The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) has called for a review of railway operational control centres following the disruption, "to ensure they remain unaffected by power outages."

RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said passengers and rail workers should not have to face another week of "travel chaos" because of insufficient back-up systems.