Avoiding busy stations can make your journey with us safer.
Our number one priority here at CrossCountry is to make sure that you travel safely and with confidence.
The pandemic this year has rocked the whole world, and it’s important that we all take the necessary steps to travel carefully. If you follow guidelines, taking a train is a great and safe way to get from A to B, whether you’re going on a staycation, commuting to work, or visiting loved ones.
One way to travel as safely as possible is by minimising your interaction with others. Avoiding busy stations is one way to do this. Not sure how? We’ll talk you through it below.
Sign up to alerts
After booking your ticket, you can set up journey alerts through the National Rail. If there are any issues affecting your journey, you can get a free text message, email, or Twitter notification. This way, you can keep track of your journey from your phone, rather than from a busy station.
If you’re travelling with CrossCountry, you can also view live journey information, timetables and any changes to your train times online.
Travel off-peak
Travelling off-peak is arguably the best way you can avoid busy train stations. If your journey needs to be Monday-Friday, we recommend avoiding the rush hour periods if you can. These busy periods are 6.30-9.00 and 16.00-18.00. You may also save money by choosing to travel outside of these hours. Our Reservations page can help you select quieter travelling times with the use of our 'traffic light' table.
Plan your journey
Planning your journey is extremely important, especially in these unprecedented times. Before you travel, it’s important to check what the current restrictions in your area are and whether you think it is safe to travel.
Please allow extra time for your journey, as there may be systems in place at the station that take longer than usual. Getting to and from the station may also be interrupted, especially if you’re using public transport. Plan your journey beforehand to make sure you’re covered door to door.
Book tickets online or on the app
We strongly recommend booking advance tickets if you’re planning to travel. Train services have limited capacity due to social distancing, so you may find there is no space on your chosen train.
When travelling with CrossCountry, you must have a seat reservation and so booking in advance is mandatory.
Booking tickets online or through an app also limits your contact with people or touchpoints at the station.
Follow recommended guidance
Many trains and stations across the UK have put extra measures in place to keep you safe. These can include:
- One-way systems
- Spaced out queuing spots
- Use of hand-sanitiser stations
- Altered seating arrangements
Please adhere to these measures and keep a 2-metre distance from people when you can.
Research smaller stations
Usually, inner city stations are busier than smaller ones in the suburbs. If you’re visiting loved ones or heading for a UK holiday, it is worth researching to see if there is a smaller station that is still convenient.
Take extra measures to stay safe
As well as trying to travel during quieter periods, there are things you can do to ensure you’re travelling as safely as possible.
If you don’t have a health condition that prevents you from doing so, you will need to wear a mask while on the train and at the station. This is to keep you and others around you safe. We also recommend carrying hand sanitiser and keeping healthy hand hygiene throughout your journey.
If parking at a station, it’s wise to leave an empty space between you and other cars if possible, and if you wish to purchase anything onboard or in the station, please use contactless payment.
If you have any questions, please visit our Coronavirus Page which has more safety information and a full list of FAQs.