Cross Country Boxing Day 2026 consultation

[43055]

Not seen it mentioned anywhere but looking through the Cross Country website I stumbled across this consultation for Boxing Day services from Birmingham to Derby, Leicester and Manchester which if happens would be from next year. Closing date is today at 5pm.

CrossCountry is keen to hear the views of its passengers and partners on the feasibility of operating a limited Boxing Day service from the December 2026 timetable.

Christmas Day and Boxing Day remain important times across the rail network. Route closures allow for large-scale essential engineering work when passenger demand on rail services is lower.

In considering forecasted train crew and train availability, alongside having the support of colleagues across the rail network needed to operate a safe service, CrossCountry is asking for views on the potential operation of the following services:

• Birmingham to Derby. This hourly shuttle service would call at Wilnecote, Tamworth and Burton.
• Birmingham to Leicester. This bi-hourly service would call at Coleshill Parkway, Nuneaton, Hinckley, Narborough, and South Wigston.
• Birmingham to Manchester. This bi-hourly service would call at Wolverhampton, Stafford, Stoke, Macclesfield and Stockport, subject to route availability.

Submissions should be sent to BDConsultation@crosscountrytrains.co.uk. The consultation will close at 5pm on Friday 30 May 2025.

 

[Llandudno]

What’s the point stretching their beleaguered train crew resources to run on Boxing Day when they can’t run a full service on normal days…!

 

[vicbury]

Boxing Day is a major day of travel. The Premier League usually has a full set of fixtures, Boxing Day sales etc. Is there a risk that a limited service would be swamped due to the latent demand. Perhaps they will need to make all services mandatory reservations only?

 

[zwk500]

What’s the point stretching their beleaguered train crew resources to run on Boxing Day when they can’t run a full service on normal days…!

Maybe XC crew are quite happy to work on Boxing day? It's a good excuse to get out of a full-family party at least.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 May 2025 ==

Boxing Day is a major day of travel. The Premier League usually has a full set of fixtures, Boxing Day sales etc. Is there a risk that a limited service would be swamped due to the latent demand. Perhaps they will need to make all services mandatory reservations only?

In theory, if they're running a lower service it would be possible to run more targeted, longer trains where demand is really needed (such as football matches). The sales are much less a thing in person now that online shopping is so dominant.

 

[ainsworth74]

Maybe XC crew are quite happy to work on Boxing day? It's a good excuse to get out of a full-family party at least.

One presumes it would also attract some favourable overtime rates as well!

 

[The exile]

Perhaps they will need to make all services mandatory reservations only?

For XC on a day like Boxing Day that isn’t unrealistic (especially as it will still be an improvement on the status quo). As long as it isn’t used as a precedent.

 

[voyagerdude220]

Are there plans for any other TOCs to expand their Boxing Day service levels?

 

[D1537]

Boxing Day is a major day of travel. The Premier League usually has a full set of fixtures, Boxing Day sales etc.

Although that set of services would only be any use for Premier League games if a West Midlands club was playing a Manchester club. Yes, obviously not all fans (especially of the big Premier clubs) actually live near their team - as we saw with the Liverpool parade - and of course there are many other games, but I doubt if the main use of those services would be football. More likely, as you say, shopping...

 

[vicbury]

Although that set of services would only be any use for Premier League games if a West Midlands club was playing a Manchester club. Yes, obviously not all fans (especially of the big Premier clubs) actually live near their team - as we saw with the Liverpool parade - and of course there are many other games, but I doubt if the main use of those services would be football. More likely, as you say, shopping...

Indeed, although as soon as I posted I realised I should have referred to football in general. I myself usually travel to National League South games on Boxing Day, there are fixtures up and down the pyramid.

 

[43066]

Maybe XC crew are quite happy to work on Boxing day? It's a good excuse to get out of a full-family party at least.

One presumes it would also attract some favourable overtime rates as well!

So long as it’s voluntary, and something generous such as time * 3 or 4 (or whatever) is offered, I’m sure they’ll have no issues getting it passed the union, nor in getting volunteers.

 

[Jimini]

Is May 30 a new record for a Boxing Day service thread?

 

[MrJeeves]

Is May 30 a new record for a Boxing Day service thread?

30 May... plus a year in advance!

 

[Horizon22]

What’s the point stretching their beleaguered train crew resources to run on Boxing Day when they can’t run a full service on normal days…!

Well for a start it will be a) a significantly reduced service from a normal day, b) likely to have favourable overtime rates and c) would have little to no bearing on their ability to deliver the regular (LTP) timetable.

XC know what routes are going to actually be available for Xmas ‘25 blockades and have this consulted on this very specific train plan. If it can be resourced and run efficiently it seems like a good opportunity to see how it goes.

 

[LittleRedTrain]

As a non-driver, this would in principle be very welcome. Going to visit family for Christmas currently requires at least a minimum 3 nights stay over or begging for a lift from relatives who aren't getting any younger (not great as a supposedly independent adult).

Sadly, the routes proposed are all north of Birmignham so no use whatsoever to me, but hopefully if it's a success, they might extend it to other routes in future years.

 

[The Planner]

XC know what routes are going to actually be available for Xmas ‘25 blockades and have this consulted on this very specific train plan. If it can be resourced and run efficiently it seems like a good opportunity to see how it goes.

Dec 26 is Xmas 2026. Blocks aren't nailed down at all.

 

[Timetraveller]

It's probably part of their franchise agreement to do a consultation. Similar to what was in the East Midlands franchise to issue one before December 2027. Don't really need passenger trains to run on Boxing day in England. Football fans have managed to get to fixtures for years on Boxing day without trains

 

[AlterEgo]

Don't really need passenger trains to run on Boxing day in England. Football fans have managed to get to fixtures for years on Boxing day without trains

Imagine for a moment that it is better for people to take a train to the football rather than drive.

 

[ainsworth74]

Imagine for a moment that it is better for people to take a train to the football rather than drive.

Or for people who don't want to go to football matches to be able to travel to visit friends or family, to have a day out, go shopping, etc etc without needing a car.

 

[Horizon22]

Dec 26 is Xmas 2026. Blocks aren't nailed down at all.

Ah I misread! That's pretty ambitious planning from XC then!

 

[DarloRich]

Would this be a "one shift" type service do we think?

 

[djox]

Are XC seriously going to be around in December 2026? They deserve to have their contracts terminated ASAP.

 

[ainsworth74]

Are XC seriously going to be around in December 2026? They deserve to have their contracts terminated ASAP.

It's currently expected to be one of the last to go over to GBR when its current contract ends in October 2027.

 

[skyhigh]

One presumes it would also attract some favourable overtime rates as well!

Not XC but one of my driver contracts stipulated Boxing Day work as voluntary and paid at time plus 200%, i.e. triple pay.

You'd probably have plenty of volunteers at that rate...

 

[66701GBRF]

Jeez, are we really going to have yet another boxing day discussion...at this time of year!?

 

[djox]

It's currently expected to be one of the last to go over to GBR when its current contract ends in October 2027.

Someone in the last government was certainly having a laugh when they awarded CrossCountry the renewal to take it to 2027. They must have known how bad they are.

 

[Mag_seven]

Jeez, are we really going to have yet another boxing day discussion...at this time of year!?

You need to have a word with Cross Country if you don't want it discussed.

 

[AF91]

What’s the point stretching their beleaguered train crew resources to run on Boxing Day when they can’t run a full service on normal days…!

Boxing day is outside of most TOCs staff's contracts so would be done entirely on overtime without really affecting days around it. There's plenty of people that would love to get their hands on a full day of overtime.

 

[nw1]

I always think it's a shame that Boxing Day is losing its "quiet day of rest" atmosphere, and is becoming indistinguishable from any other winter weekend day.

As a result, I always make a point of keeping well away from anything busy on Boxing Day and wandering round quiet areas, instead, to preserve the atmosphere the day formerly had.

They also make a point of stopping playing seasonal music on Boxing Day, preferring to play it in mid-November instead for some unfathomable reason, when it's still clearly autumn and the brown leaves are on the trees.

 

[styles]

I always think it's a shame that Boxing Day is losing its "quiet day of rest" atmosphere, and is becoming indistinguishable from any other winter weekend day.

As a result, I always make a point of keeping well away from anything busy on Boxing Day and wandering round quiet areas, instead, to preserve the atmosphere the day formerly had.

They also make a point of stopping playing seasonal music on Boxing Day, preferring to play it in mid-November instead for some unfathomable reason, when it's still clearly autumn and the brown leaves are on the trees.

While I'm of a similar disposition, and take the time to go for a quiet walk somewhere then spend the rest of the day with family; I appreciate that a lot of people do (or want to) travel on boxing day and if CrossCountry find there's demand for it, I've no issues with them rolling it out.

For one thing, those who do choose to drive often end up over the drink drive limit, even if just from the day before. If some of those had the train option, it may even make a material difference on killed and seriously injured incidents.

 

[canary fan]

Or for people who don't want to go to football matches to be able to travel to visit friends or family, to have a day out, go shopping, etc etc without needing a car.

Or indeed those who don’t drive