CrossCountry: Data & Information
11th November 2007 – Present
Owned by Arriva plc, CrossCountry operates intercity and other long-distance trains (bypassing Greater London) across more than 1,400 route miles across Great Britain. Calling at over 100 stations nationally, stretching from Aberdeen to Penzance, Bournemouth to Manchester and Stansted to Cardiff, CrossCountry covers more of the country than any other train operating company.
In June 2006 the Department for Transport announced its intention to restructure a number of franchises. The changes created a 'New Cross Country' franchise that would incorporate the existing InterCity Cross Country franchise operated by Virgin Cross Country but excluding the West Coast Main Line services. The Birmingham to Scotland services would transfer to Virgin Trains West Coast and the Manchester to Scotland services would transfer to First TransPennine Express. In addition the Cardiff to Nottingham and Birmingham to Stansted Airport services operated by Central Trains would be incorporated into the new franchise.
On 10th July 2007 the department announced that Arriva had won the New Cross Country franchise, with the services formerly operated by Virgin Cross Country along with select services formerly operated by Central Trains transferring to CrossCountry on 11th November 2007. After taking over the franchise, CrossCountry continued to operate the existing timetable including the West Coast Main Line services for a period of four weeks until the new timetable commenced on 9th December 2007.
Originally due to conclude on 31st March 2016, the franchise was extended until December 2019. An Invitation to Tender was to have been issued in October 2018 for the next franchise, but in September 2018 the competition was cancelled to allow the recommendations from a report into the franchising system to be incorporated. In July 2019 the Direct Award Franchise was further extended by a year, to end in October 2020. In September 2020 it was announced that emergency agreements with train operating companies introduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic were to be extended for 18 months and that all passenger rail franchising in Great Britain was abandoned. In October 2020, the DfT confirmed that the franchise has been extended for a further three years to finish in October 2023.
Read MoreOwned by Arriva plc, CrossCountry operates intercity and other long-distance trains (bypassing Greater London) across more than 1,400 route miles across Great Britain. Calling at over 100 stations nationally, stretching from Aberdeen to Penzance, Bournemouth to Manchester and Stansted to Cardiff, CrossCountry covers more of the country than any other train operating company.
In June 2006 the Department for Transport announced its intention to restructure a number of franchises. The changes created a 'New Cross Country' franchise that would incorporate the existing InterCity Cross Country franchise operated by Virgin Cross Country but excluding the West Coast Main Line services. The Birmingham to Scotland services would transfer to Virgin Trains West Coast and the Manchester to Scotland services would transfer to First TransPennine Express. In addition the Cardiff to Nottingham and Birmingham to Stansted Airport services operated by Central Trains would be incorporated into the new franchise.
On 10th July 2007 the department announced that Arriva had won the New Cross Country franchise, with the services formerly operated by Virgin Cross Country along with select services formerly operated by Central Trains transferring to CrossCountry on 11th November 2007. After taking over the franchise, CrossCountry continued to operate the existing timetable including the West Coast Main Line services for a period of four weeks until the new timetable commenced on 9th December 2007.
Originally due to conclude on 31st March 2016, the franchise was extended until December 2019. An Invitation to Tender was to have been issued in October 2018 for the next franchise, but in September 2018 the competition was cancelled to allow the recommendations from a report into the franchising system to be incorporated. In July 2019 the Direct Award Franchise was further extended by a year, to end in October 2020. In September 2020 it was announced that emergency agreements with train operating companies introduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic were to be extended for 18 months and that all passenger rail franchising in Great Britain was abandoned. In October 2020, the DfT confirmed that the franchise has been extended for a further three years to finish in October 2023.
