Book early for CrossCountry services during May Day bank holiday
Monday, 21 April 2008
XC 2008/013 (DE)
CrossCountry will be running services to all destinations during the May Day holiday weekend from Friday 3 May until Tuesday 6 May 2008.
To ensure a comfortable journey during this busy period, customers are strongly advised to take advantage of complimentary seat reservations when buying tickets in advance. Reservations are now open for CrossCountry services throughout the holiday period. Saver tickets will be valid for travel at any time from Saturday 3 until Monday 5 May inclusive and Weekend First Upgrades are available from as little as £10 during this time.
Also, because of extensive engineering work taking place on the West Coast Main Line at Rugby, CrossCountry will accept all valid Virgin Trains tickets on its services throughout the May Day holiday.
Ample storage space for medium sized suitcases and large bags is available on overhead luggage racks throughout each carriage and space between and underneath seats is perfect for small bags. All customers will enjoy a more comfortable journey by not placing luggage in the aisles, vestibules or special needs area, or on adjacent seats.
During the holiday period Network Rail engineers will be carrying out essential engineering work to upgrade the network. This may require alterations to services and for some trains to be replaced by coaches on which all valid tickets for that route will be accepted. Any disruption will be kept to an absolute minimum, but customers are advised to check travel details in advance by calling the National Rail Enquiry Service on 08457 484950 or by visiting www.nationalrail.co.uk
Full normal services will be provided by CrossCountry from Tuesday 6 May.
SERVICE ALTERATIONS DURING MAY DAY HOLIDAY WEEKEND
BASINGSTOKE
On Saturday 3, Sunday 4 and Monday 5 May, services between Birmingham New Street and Bournemouth will either start from and terminate at Reading or divert via Guildford to and from Southampton Central, with journey times extended by one hour. Special coaches will link Reading, Basingstoke, Winchester and Southampton Airport Parkway.
KENSINGTON OLYMPIA
Also on these dates, services to and from Gatwick Airport and Brighton will divert via Guildford and not call at Kensington Olympia and East Croydon.
OXFORD
Until 11:25 on Sunday 4 May, trains to and from the north will start from and terminate at Oxford. Hourly train services will run between Didcot and Bournemouth and special coach services will link Oxford and Didcot.
HINCKLEY
On Sunday 4 and Monday 5 May, trains will run between Leicester and Stansted Airport with special coaches linking Leicester with Birmingham New Street.
DERBY
On Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 May, trains will be diverted via Erewash with journey times extended by 30 minutes. Hourly services will run between Birmingham New Street and the north-east.
SHEFFIELD
Until 16:00 on Sunday 4 May, trains from Birmingham New Street to Scotland will be diverted and not call at Sheffield, and connecting trains will link Chesterfield and Sheffield. Services from Scotland will also be diverted, but will continue to call at Sheffield.
SCOTLAND
EDINBURGH HAYMARKET
From 06:50 on Saturday 3 May, trains that normally run to Glasgow Central will start from and terminate at Edinburgh Waverley from where connecting train services will run to and from Glasgow Queen Street.
MARKINCH
On Sunday 4 May, trains will start from and terminate at Edinbugh Waverley from where CrossCountry replacement coaches will link with stations to Dundee to connect with train services to and from Aberdeen.
ENDS
For more information feel free to contact us on 0121 6547010.
Notes to editors
CrossCountry started operating on 11 November 2007. The franchise, which is the most extensive in the UK, will run until 31 March 2016. For further information on CrossCountry services and future franchise plans log on to www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk
CrossCountry facts and figures
STATIONS SERVED: 131
ROUTE MILES: 1,654
WEEKDAY SERVICES: 288
PASSENGERS CARRIED: Over 30 million passenger journeys a year anticipated
ANNUAL TRAIN MILEAGE: Approximately 16 million
EMPLOYEES: Approximately 1,800
LONGEST TRAIN SERVICE: Penzance to Dundee (701 miles)
CrossCountry is part of the Arriva group which operates transport services in ten European countries, employs more than 37,000 people and provides more than one billion passenger journeys every year. For more information about the Arriva group visit www.arriva.co.uk
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