Important travel advice for CrossCountry passengers over Christmas

• Industrial action set to impact travel over the festive period
• Customers advised of early shutdown on Christmas Eve, with some CrossCountry services stopping at midday
• CrossCountry services are likely to be very busy on 27, 28 and 29 December, with passengers advised to check before they travel and to consider changing their travel plans if possible

Due to ongoing industrial action, CrossCountry customers are advised to complete their journeys early on Christmas Eve with some services stopping as early as midday.

On 27, 28 and 29 December, industrial action on many parts of the rail network means that CrossCountry services between Banbury and Manchester are likely to be very busy. This will affect customers using CrossCountry services at the following stations: Reading, Oxford, Banbury, Leamington Spa, Coventry, Birmingham International, Birmingham New Street, Wolverhampton, Stafford, Stoke-on-Trent, Macclesfield, Stockport, and Manchester Piccadilly. Customers are advised to only travel if essential and to consider altering their travel plans if possible.

Tom Joyner, Managing Director at CrossCountry said: “We understand the significant disruption that these strikes called by the RMT union are causing. They are particularly disruptive over the Christmas and New Year period to those who need to travel by train to see family and loved ones, and once again, I would like to express our sincerest apologies to our customers who are affected. Reaching an agreement as an industry that ensures an improved railway that is sustainable and offers a long-term future for our employees is of the highest importance for us. Where customers can travel earlier, we would urge them to do so.

For customers who have to travel by rail, please check our website for the most up to date travel information, and plan ahead.”

Whilst CrossCountry may form only part of a customer’s journey, we strongly advise customers to check other train operators’ websites to ensure they are able to complete their entire journey.

Information about all CrossCountry services will be regularly updated at www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/disruption, where there will also be information around Delay Repay, refund and ticket acceptance.

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