UK rail services have been under the spotlight recently, with significant moves being made to address long-standing issues. The Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has been quite vocal about the troubles plaguing Northern Trains. Every Monday, Burnham sends heartfelt texts to Transport Secretary Louise Haigh, urging her to take action. His weekly complaints reveal the dire situation of rail services within the Northern network, which was nationalized back in 2020.
The Northern network, which serves key cities like Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, and Sunderland, has experienced plummeting performance rates. Alarmingly, only six out of every ten trains arrive on time now. Plus, the number of cancellations has surged significantly—from 1.35 percent of the total services during the 2020-21 season to 5.3 percent for the current year, resulting in over one out of every twenty scheduled trains simply not running. The reasons for these deteriorations are varied; some drivers and conductors are not contracted to work Sundays, causing services to rely heavily on volunteers willing to work overtime.
Burnham didn't hold back when expressing his frustration, asserting the operator is “ruining people's lives.” Northern Trains is managed by the Operator of Last Resort, which operates under the Department for Transport. This company is set to gain control over numerous franchises until Great British Railways is formed—an organization instated to manage the entirety of the UK's rail network.
Transport Secretary Haigh has pledged to prioritize the improvement of Northern services and acknowledged the need for staff to be contracted to work on Sundays. This change is seen as being necessary to lessen cancellations and bring stability to the rail service. Haigh stated, “We need to get drivers and conductors on modern terms and conditions.” This sentiment was echoed after meetings with Network Rail officials and managing directors of companies frequently listed as the worst performers. They indicated past performance levels had been “tolerated and accepted as normal.”
On another rail-related note, CrossCountry has announced the launch of a new 455-mile train service connecting the capitals of Wales and Scotland for the very first time. Starting December 15, this weekday service will enable travel from Cardiff to Edinburgh with convenient stops at 22 stations along the route. It’s quite the distance—over three-quarters of the country’s length! The initiative is part of the rail industry's biannual schedule update.
This service will run once daily each way during the weekdays, beginning with morning departures from Cardiff to Edinburgh. Notable stops include Birmingham New Street, Leeds, and York. The reverse trip will see trains splitting at Gloucester; half will continue to Cardiff, and the other half will head to Plymouth.
Scott Maynard, interim managing director at CrossCountry, expressed enthusiasm about the service. "We’re delighted to introduce this new service joining Cardiff and Edinburgh directly by rail for the very first time," he said, anticipating it's bound to provide even more convenient connections for passengers across the UK.
Transport ministers from both the Welsh and Scottish administrations welcome this newly established service. Fiona Hyslop, Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Transport, underscored the upcoming job opportunities and economic boost the service could generate. Meanwhile, Ken Skates, Wales’s Cabinet Secretary for Transport, called it “a positive development” for providing expanded choices for travelers.
The service is set to operate using CrossCountry's Voyager trains, and it opens up new trip options for passengers. For example, the new route allows travelers to book direct journeys from Newport to Durham without needing to change trains at Birmingham New Street anymore. This positive development emerges as CrossCountry works to mend its services and address patron complaints stemming from overcrowding and summer reductions.
Looking forward, CrossCountry intends to expand its fleet by integrating twelve additional trains by 2025, signaling their dedication to improving service quality and capacity. Passengers eager to take advantage of this rerouting can begin booking tickets directly through CrossCountry’s website.
Despite moments of frustration from the public and officials like Andy Burnham, these updates indicate some promising advancements within the UK rail service. From Burnham’s persistence on fixing local chaos with Northern Trains to the introduction of CrossCountry's long-awaited service connecting Cardiff and Edinburgh, the movements signify the government's continued focus on refining the country’s rail network—from punctuality to comprehensive connectivity.
