CrossCountry to run full train service after power outage causes major disruption

Train operator CrossCountry says it expects to run a full service on Monday after cancelling nearly all of its UK services the day before following a power cut at its control centre.

The outage in Birmingham at the weekend brought disruption from Glasgow to Penzance.

Major routes were affected between Birmingham and Manchester, which pass through Stoke-on-Trent, Coventry and Wolverhampton. Journeys from Leeds to York and Cheltenham to Cardiff were also caught in the travel chaos, leaving passengers frustrated.

On Monday morning, CrossCountry reported a handful of service cancellations, although these were put down to trains departing late and staff shortages.

The operator on Sunday thanked passengers for their patience and understanding during the disruption.

Tickets purchased for travel on CrossCountry services on Sunday will be valid for travel on CrossCountry services until Wednesday, the company has said.

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 was forced to stay the night in a budget hotel in the hope he could return home on Monday.

"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," he said.

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

Reese Proctor described the cancellations as "frustrating and unacceptable" as he tried to get to Manchester's Etihad Stadium in time for a 14:00 BST kick-off against Bournemouth.

He had hoped to get a train from Reading to Manchester, but instead resorted to driving more than 100 miles to his friend's house in Leicester before driving on to the stadium.

The 22-year-old told BBC Newsbeat the drive had added an extra two hours to his journey, leaving him "fuming".

A number of services resumed on Sunday evening, including an hourly train service from Birmingham New Street to Leicester and Derby.