A power cut is causing issues across the country
Most CrossCountry services have been cancelled today(Image: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)
Rail passengers are set for a day of disruption with almost all CrossCountry services being cancelled – including in Manchester. The company has been hit by a power cut at its control centre in Birmingham which began yesterday (August 22).
It says that many of the systems used to manage the railway are still unavailable this morning (Sunday) as a result. CrossCountry runs regular services between Manchester Piccadilly and Bournemouth, via Stockport and cities including Birmingham, Coventry and Southampton.
All these services are currently listed as cancelled on National Rail’s departures board for Piccadilly today. CrossCountry says services have been withdrawn across almost all of its routes today, except services between Peterborough, Cambridge and Stansted Airport.
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A CrossCountry spokesperson said: “A power cut in Birmingham city centre has affected the building where our control centre is located. As a result, many of the systems our control teams use to manage the railway are currently unavailable.
“Although colleagues are working hard to safely operate services using alternative processes, CrossCountry services will be significantly disrupted on Sunday, August 23. While we will run as many trains as possible, passengers should expect significant reductions to services and cancellations across almost all CrossCountry routes throughout the day.
“We are sorry to passengers affected by this significant and unforeseen disruption. Ticket acceptance is in place with other train operators, and customers will be entitled to Delay Repay compensation.
“Customers who choose not to travel can claim a refund from their original point of purchase. We are working closely with relevant partners and will provide further updates as soon as possible.”
National Rail says CrossCountry tickets for today will be accepted on services until Wednesday at no extra cost. They can also be used on Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, East Midlands Railway, Grand Central, Greater Anglia, Great Western Railway, London Northwestern Railway, London Underground, Lumo, Northern, ScotRail, South Western Railway, TransPennine Express, Transport for Wales and West Midlands Railway services today.