Christmas travel plans have been thrown into disarray for thousands of passengers after CrossCountry announced the cancellation of all its direct services between Nottingham and Cardiff Central for the entire day.
Widespread Disruption on Key Route
The rail operator confirmed the severe disruption, which began on Monday, 22 December 2025, is due to an acute shortage of train crew. The issue is expected to last until the end of the day, with services hoped to resume to a normal timetable on Tuesday.
Typically, the route offers one direct train per hour connecting the two cities via key hubs including Birmingham New Street, Cheltenham Spa, and Gloucester. Today, however, that service has been completely axed, forcing passengers to seek alternative arrangements just days before Christmas.
Alternative Travel Options for Passengers
National Rail has issued detailed advice for affected travellers. Tickets for the cancelled CrossCountry services will be accepted on alternative routes at no extra cost. The primary accepted alternatives are:
- Travel between Birmingham New Street and Cardiff Central on any available service.
- Using CrossCountry services between Birmingham New Street and Bristol Parkway, then changing for Great Western Railway services to Cardiff Central.
Passengers do not need to amend their tickets to use these alternative services. Furthermore, if a specific CrossCountry service is cancelled, ticket holders can travel on the two services before or the two services after their originally booked time.
The disruption also allows for flexibility regarding starting stations. If a passenger needs to travel from a different station due to the cancellations and return later, their existing ticket will be valid for that return journey.
Christmas Travel Chaos Extends to Roads
The rail disruption coincides with what is predicted to be one of the busiest days on UK roads in the festive period. The AA forecasts around 24 million cars will be on the roads, combining last-minute Christmas journeys with regular commuter traffic.
This follows peak traffic levels seen on Friday. Drivers are also contending with unsettled weather, with showers forecast for northern Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, following misty conditions across parts of the UK on Sunday.
CrossCountry has apologised for the disruption to its train services. Passengers are advised to check the National Rail website or their train operator's app for live updates before travelling.
