Temporary changes to CrossCountry timetable announced after successful Easter trial

Train operator CrossCountry will temporarily reduce its timetable from 10 August to 9 November to address ongoing reliability issues. The move comes as the company grapples with a backlog of driver training caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent industrial action.

By cutting services on certain routes, CrossCountry aims to concentrate resources on driver training, ultimately improving service reliability and reducing the number of last-minute cancellations which have caused significant disruption for passengers. A similar approach was successfully trialled over the Easter period.

While the core Birmingham to Newcastle via Leeds route remains unaffected, other areas will see changes. Services to and from Manchester and the South West will be altered, with some routes experiencing a reduction in frequency although there will be minimal alterations to services from Manchester Piccadilly towards Birmingham New Street.

In the south, there will be fewer direct services from Reading to the North East, with customers able to change trains at Birmingham New Street to continue their journey. The operator also confirmed it will be operating fewer services between Cardiff and Nottingham. However, a trial that saw some stations calls removed at Winchester and Basingstoke will end as planned in September.

This is also the case in the north, with station calls at both Chesterfield and Wakefield Westgate reinstated once the trail ends in September.

Additionally, CrossCountry will suspend services beyond Edinburgh to Aberdeen and Glasgow. CrossCountry insists the changes are temporary and will lead to a more reliable service in the long term.

Bethan Jelfs, CrossCountry’s Regional Director for West and Wales, said: “This is a difficult decision, but by taking proactive action now we are investing in building a more resilient and dependable service for CrossCountry customers for the future.”