Government Concerns Over CrossCountry Rail

The UK Transport Secretary, Ms. Haigh, has expressed "serious concerns" regarding the performance of rail operator CrossCountry, indicating potential action if improvements are not made. In response to the criticism, CrossCountry acknowledged its service shortcomings and apologized for the disruptions caused by a new timetable, which is set to run from August 10 to November 9. The operator implemented this slimmed-down schedule in July, aiming to create a more resilient service. Ms. Haigh highlighted the significant increase in train cancellations over the past year, stating that passengers have endured a "substandard service for too long." She noted that CrossCountry's own forecasts indicated a likelihood of breaching contractual cancellation targets in the near future. The Transport Secretary emphasized that her acceptance of the new timetable was intended to provide passengers with greater certainty regarding service availability. To address these issues, CrossCountry has been placed on a remedial plan to ensure improvements in service quality, with a prohibition on profiting from reduced service levels. Ms. Haigh warned that failure to meet the requirements of the Remedial Plan could lead to further action against the operator. CrossCountry admitted that its service has not met passenger expectations, citing frequent on-the-day cancellations as a major issue. As the Labour government moves towards renationalizing passenger rail services, CrossCountry's contract, established by the previous Conservative administration, is set to expire on October 12, 2031. The operator connects major UK cities, including Birmingham, Edinburgh, and Manchester, and aims to enhance its service reliability by training more drivers during the temporary timetable period.