Cross Country - Birmingham to Stansted

[KaneLeb]

Hi all,

I hope everyone is well. Does anyone have any indication as to why the Birmingham to Stansted cross country line is so unreliable?

I live along that line currently and unfortunately have to use it for any travels elsewhere, and it seems I always get caught with long delays or last minute cancellations. I have no issues elsewhere on the UK rail-line, just this one. Does anyone know any specific reason as to why this specific line is so unreliable?

Many thanks,
Kane.

 

[tram21]

Hi all,

I hope everyone is well. Does anyone have any indication as to why the Birmingham to Stansted cross country line is so unreliable?

I live along that line currently and unfortunately have to use it for any travels elsewhere, and it seems I always get caught with long delays or last minute cancellations. I have no issues elsewhere on the UK rail-line, just this one. Does anyone know any specific reason as to why this specific line is so unreliable?

Many thanks,
Kane.

Do you mean in terms of cancellations (as the majority of these are caused by a shortage of train crew as CrossCountry don't have enough) or delays due to other factors?

 

[sharpley]

I use this line a few times a week, it's not that bad in my experience. Not perfect but I've only made a couple of delays repay claims over the last few months

 

[dk1]

I honestly have never noticed it’s that bad especially compared to Nottingham to Cardiff. Not having a traincrew depot between Cambridge & Leicester might occasionally have its issues but overall there are far worse.

 

[KaneLeb]

Thanks for the responses all, it's most appreciated. I used to commute on this line, albeit during the striking period, but have always encountered delays or cancellations. May just be my luck, or down to probability of using the line so often.

Some lovely rail staff did inform me that it's due to a shortage of drivers.

 

[DannyMich2018]

I live on this route, as DK1 has said its not too bad at all. It's had low points the last few years but right now its pretty good. Mainly suffers from some inevitable late running not helped due to tight turn rounds at Birmingham and crowding at times (it's a busy route all day).

 

[dk1]

I live on this route, as DK1 has said its not too bad at all. It's had low points the last few years but right now its pretty good. Mainly suffers from some inevitable late running not helped due to tight turn rounds at Birmingham and crowding at times (it's a busy route all day).

Thanks. The service has returned to an hourly frequency through to the airport once again. Not really sure why XC let its staffing slip so much that it had to reduce it on such a well used route.

 

[KaneLeb]

I've heard that's the issue. Staff aren't required to work Sundays on their contracts, so they rely on staff being willing to work overtime. I guess this is cheaper than changing contracts, as unlike me, not many people travel late on a Sunday so they probably don't lose much in comparison.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Jun 2026 ==

I live on this route, as DK1 has said its not too bad at all. It's had low points the last few years but right now its pretty good. Mainly suffers from some inevitable late running not helped due to tight turn rounds at Birmingham and crowding at times (it's a busy route all day).

Oh it is definitely better than it was, I remember many torrential 50 mile round trip commutes on the bike due to issues

 

[Jim the Jim]

Cancellations can feel particularly noticeable (east of Leicester) because there's only one train an hour, so you're stuck waiting all that time. Whereas a lot of other services are half-hourly or more, so a cancellation feels like less of a big deal (though still annoying).

 

[E B]

Hi all,

I hope everyone is well. Does anyone have any indication as to why the Birmingham to Stansted cross country line is so unreliable?

I live along that line currently and unfortunately have to use it for any travels elsewhere, and it seems I always get caught with long delays or last minute cancellations. I have no issues elsewhere on the UK rail-line, just this one. Does anyone know any specific reason as to why this specific line is so unreliable?

Same here. Especially over the last month or so. There were three days in a row I took a train on this route which was over 30 minutes late.

 

[45Fox]

Not having a traincrew depot between Cambridge & Leicester might occasionally have its issues but overall there are far worse.

Although Leicester crews only sign Birmingham/Leicester and no further east.

I've heard that's the issue. Staff aren't required to work Sundays on their contracts, so they rely on staff being willing to work overtime. I guess this is cheaper than changing contracts, as unlike me, not many people travel late on a Sunday so they probably don't lose much in comparison.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Jun 2026 ==

XC Drivers are committed to working their booked Sundays if they can't be covered by anyone else, Sundays for Senior Conductors are entirely voluntary.

 

[Stampy]

My major bugbear when I used to catch these trains between Birmingham New Street and Stamford/Peterborough was the amount of people that only used it to go between Birmingham and Leicester.....

Also the fact that it's only a 2-car service and was normally packed on a Saturday evening!!!

 

[Mcr Warrior]

My major bugbear when I used to catch these trains between Birmingham New Street and Stamford/Peterborough was the amount of people that only used it to go between Birmingham and Leicester.....

What's the alternative though? Make all those passengers for stations up to and including Leicester having to wait another half hour for the 'stopper' XC service that terminates at Leicester?

 

[saismee]

1N67 has just been cancelled due to a train fault... whoops.

Two or three coaches is just not adequate for this route. Can a 220 fit in the platform at Stansted Airport?

 

[Intercity_225]

Can a 220 fit in the platform at Stansted Airport?

Yes

 

[londonmidland]

Two or three coaches is just not adequate for this route. Can a 220 fit in the platform at Stansted Airport?

Voyagers are suited unsuitable over the Fens due to their weight, so I've heard. I don't think they can do MU speeds either, so will loose time along the route.

A 3 car 170 actually has more capacity compared to the three standard class coaches on a 220, believe it or not. 190ish standard seats on a 170 compared to 174 on a 220 (not including First Class)

 

[saismee]

Voyagers are suited unsuitable over the Fens due to their weight, so I've heard. I don't think they can do MU speeds either, so will loose time along the route.

A 3 car 170 actually has more capacity compared to the three standard class coaches on a 220, believe it or not. 190ish standard seats on a 170 compared to 174 on a 220 (not including First Class)

First would have to be declassified on this route I would say, the capacity is priority. Lack of MU/Sprinter speeds is quite a problem though.

 

[The exile]

Yes

But take them off their current routes would simply be robbing Peter to pi at Paul.

 

[dk1]

But take them off their current routes would simply be robbing Peter to pi at Paul.

Exactly so not going to happen. The odd spare Voyager however is good for a Leicester shuttle in times of 170 shortages.

 

[Crithylum]

It is only the 221s that have a significant weight increase, with 220s being similar per carriage. They can do MU speeds, but not sprinter. Also, as some others have mentioned, a 4-car voyager isn't an increase in capacity over a 3 car turbostar. XC simply has inadequate rolling stock all round.

 

[chubs]

Yes

I thought voyagers couldnt fit on Stansted Platform 2?

 

[Crithylum]

I thought voyagers couldnt fit on Stansted Platform 2?

It is 106m

 

[saismee]

But take them off their current routes would simply be robbing Peter to pi at Paul.

I agree but if the Voyagers are replaced first then it seems like a sensible option. I guess not if the speeds are limited and the capacity is the same.

 

[Edders23]

Back in the mis 70's it was 6 car lash ups of 104 units plenty of seats but not hourly. it then went to 6 coach rakes of hauled stock a bit too long for platforms but still good capacity albeit to that point Birmingham to Norwich . It was once sprinterisation came in, followed by privatisation that they made it to cambridge and stansted. Although it was now hourly much reduced capacity. The trains now are 3 car but still insufficient for the route and the crowding it gets. In the meantime resignalling and removal of some of the boxes meant there are quite long sections between signals so the increased frequency that was proposed was a non starter as capacity between Peterborough and leicester is restricted and the freight companies hang onto their paths by finding the need to run large numbers of driver training trips whenever the increased frequency proposals resurface.

I seldom have need to use the line but find it generally reliable as opposed to the bad old days of central trains. The current service isn't too bad but really needs 4 coach sprinter sets to relieve the overcrowding. I can't see that ever happening though.

 

[dk1]

I agree but if the Voyagers are replaced first then it seems like a sensible option. I guess not if the speeds are limited and the capacity is the same.

From what was reported in MR magazine this month, I maybe expect Voyagers to be around for more years than originally thought. Apparently even though they are approaching six million miles each the refurbishment program has revealed that they are in remarkably good condition bodywork wise.

 

[sharpley]

1N67 has just been cancelled due to a train fault... whoops.

Two or three coaches is just not adequate for this route. Can a 220 fit in the platform at Stansted Airport?

A few stations along the route won't accommodate a 220 even if Stansted does

 

[a good off]

Every time I use this line between Birmingham and Cambridge it is overcrowded. Three car sets are totally inadequate.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

This route should really be two trains an hour. Subject to additional crews ( yeah, I know.... it's XC... ) and squeezing an extra two diagrams out of the fleet, it would be relatively easy to extend the service from Birmingham which terminates at Leicester through to Peterborough although it would result in a 20/40 interval eastbound; the westbound would be able to be 30/30 though.

That would at least allow the critical part of the route to be doubled in frequency and capacity, although it would be necessary to change at Peterborough off this second service if you wanted Stansted.

 

[Warrior2852]

My major bugbear when I used to catch these trains between Birmingham New Street and Stamford/Peterborough was the amount of people that only used it to go between Birmingham and Leicester.....

Serving Leicester is one of the main objectives of the route though...

 

[1D54]

My major bugbear when I used to catch these trains between Birmingham New Street and Stamford/Peterborough was the amount of people that only used it to go between Birmingham and Leicester.....

Also the fact that it's only a 2-car service and was normally packed on a Saturday evening!!!

There are only 7 two car units and 22 three car units so you were unlucky. I travel regularly on these services between New St and Leicester. What am i supposed to do? Wait for the stopper!!