CrossCountry Trains

CrossCountry is one of the most extensive rail networks in the United Kingdom, connecting cities and towns across England Scotland and Wales without passing through London.

Operated by Arriva UK Trains, CrossCountry provides vital long-distance rail services, catering to both commuters and leisure travelers.

CrossCountry Trains North to South Routes

The popular north to south route operated by CrossCountry trains serve the following mainline train stations:

• Aberdeen
• Edinburgh
• Glasgow to Plymouth and Penzance (via Birmingham, Bristol and Exeter)
• Manchester to Leeds
• and York to Bournemouth / Southampton (via Birmingham and Reading)

CrossCountry Trains East to West Routes

CrossCountry operate these two primary east to west rail services, some are direct whilst other stop at smaller railway stations along the route:

• Cardiff and Bristol to Nottingham and Stansted Airport (via Birmingham)
• Birmingham to Leicester
• Cambridge to Stansted Airport

Birmingham New Street is the central hub for most CrossCountry services, allowing easy transfers between different routes and other train services from Edinburgh and Glasgow to Birmingham, Bristol and Plymouth as well as to destinations like Exeter, Paignton and Penzance.

Facilities Onboard CrossCountry Trains

CrossCountry trains are designed for comfort, especially for long-distance travel.

The fleet primarily consists of Class 170, Class 220 Voyager and Class 221 Super Voyager trains, offering various passenger amenities:

Seating Options

• Standard Class: Comfortable seats with tables, power sockets and luggage storage.
• First Class: Spacious seating, complimentary Wi-Fi, at-seat power outlets and complimentary refreshments on select services.

Food and Drink

• CrossCountry Cafe: A buffet car offering hot and cold drinks, snacks, sandwiches and light meals.
• At-Seat Service (First Class): Passengers can enjoy complimentary drinks and snacks served at their seat.

Wi-Fi and Power Outlets

• Free Wi-Fi is available in both Standard and First Class.
• Power sockets (USB and standard plugs) are provided at most seats.
• Passengers can access entertainment via the CrossCountry app or their own devices using onboard Wi-Fi.

Accessibility Services

• Wheelchair-accessible spaces and toilets.
• Assistance for passengers with reduced mobility can be booked in advance.
• Overhead racks and dedicated luggage areas for larger suitcases and bicycles (bike reservations required).

With extensive routes, modern facilities and reliable service, CrossCountry remains a popular choice for long-distance travel across Britain.

Although ticket offices and ticketing machines at most train stations sell CrossCountry train tickets, purchasing your CrossCountry train ticket online here is by far the simplest and usually a lot cheaper too.