Cardiff Joins Edinburgh, Bristol, Newcastle, Birmingham and More as CrossCountry Rail Strike Sends Christmas Travel Plans into Chaos

Published on December 4, 2025

This Christmas, travellers across the UK face an unprecedented travel warning. The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) has confirmed strike action targeting CrossCountry — putting rail trips from hubs such as Birmingham to cities like Manchester, Leeds, Edinburgh and Cardiff at serious risk.

With holiday reunions, festive shopping and seasonal events looming, this strike threatens to turn the joyous season into a logistical nightmare. The emotional weight of potentially cancelled journeys — family gatherings, festive fun, long‑planned trips — hangs heavy.

What Triggered the Strike: Long‑standing Disputes

The strike by CrossCountry staff under RMT arises from a breakdown in negotiations over three core issues:

• Disagreement over pay rates, including overtime compensation.
• Persistent staffing shortages, which union members argue undermine safe, reliable service.
• Unfulfilled commitments by CrossCountry’s management on prior agreements.

According to RMT’s general secretary, the latest proposal from CrossCountry was “worse than what was already on the table,” leaving workers with “no choice but to take strike action.”

CrossCountry, in turn, says it has tried to propose a “fair and reasonable offer,” but is disappointed by the timing of the strike given how disruptive it will be during the December holiday season.

Strike Dates & Extent of Disruption: What Travellers Must Know

The strike will hit on four consecutive Saturdays in December: 6, 13, 20 and 27 December 2025.

Impact on Services

• On strike days, expect “limited service” on some routes, and no service at all on several parts of the CrossCountry network.
• Where trains do run, services will likely finish much earlier than usual.
• Demand for remaining services will surge: passengers warned that trains will be “significantly busier” than usual.
• Some calling patterns may change, and planned engineering work may further extend journey times.

Areas & Routes Affected

CrossCountry’s network spans a wide geography — trains link many major cities across England, Scotland and Wales, connecting points from Aberdeen in the north down to Penzance, and from Stansted to Cardiff, covering over 100 stations.

Why December Is Particularly Problematic

December is peak season for rail travel in the UK. Many people travel for:

• Family reunions or festive get‑togethers
• Christmas markets, seasonal events and holiday shopping trips
• Return journeys — both before Christmas and after for New Year

With four consecutive Saturdays hit, the strike threatens to derail all these plans. Especially concerning is 20 December — one of the busiest travel days before the holiday — and 27 December, typically a return‑home day after festive celebrations. The latter also coincides with scheduled engineering works on other main lines, reducing alternatives.

Additionally, with many routes closed or restricted, capacity for the remaining trains or alternative transport (coaches, flights, etc.) will be severely tested.

Advice for Travellers: Steps to Navigate the Strike Disruption

Given the scale of the planned walkouts, travellers must plan proactively:

1. Check schedules frequently. CrossCountry has advised passengers to verify journeys via its website or the official rail enquiry site before travelling.
2. Avoid travelling on strike Saturdays if possible. Consider shifting trips to non‑strike dates, or travel a day earlier or later.
3. Look for alternate routes or modes. Other train operators, coach services, or flights may provide alternatives — but expect heavy demand. Corporate travellers and those with firm dates should especially consider booking early.
4. Plan return journeys carefully. On strike days, services may finish earlier — make sure you don’t get stranded.
5. Book flexible tickets or refunds. CrossCountry has indicated that tickets may be valid on “reasonable alternative routes” — but delays and cancellations are likely.
6. Prepare for crowding and potential delays. Trains that do run will likely be overcrowded. Build in buffer time for your travel, and avoid tight connections.

Wider Consequences: Economic, Social & Tourism Impact

The strike’s effects go beyond individual travellers — the ripple effects may hit cities, local businesses and the national tourism economy:

• Tourism & Christmas markets: Cities like Edinburgh, Manchester, Leeds, Cardiff and Bristol often attract holiday visitors. With rail links disrupted, footfall in seasonal markets, shops, and festive events may drop significantly.
• Regional economies: Hospitality, retail and services around rail-connected cities rely heavily on visitor traffic over December. A slump in travel could translate into lost revenues.
• Emotional toll on people: For many, Christmas travel is about family, reunion, warmth and celebration. Disruptions may force cancellations, dampen spirits, or even lead to missed gatherings — a blow to Christmas’s emotional fabric.
• Pressure on alternative transport: The surge in demand for coaches, flights, or car rentals could overwhelm those networks, leading to inflated prices, booking shortages and even more uncertainty.

What the Union and CrossCountry Management Say

RMT’s stance: The union argues this strike is the last resort after months of failed negotiations. According to them, CrossCountry’s final proposal was worse than previously offered, failing to address staff shortages, pay inequality and broken promises. RMT insists that fairness for its members must come before convenience for passengers.

CrossCountry’s position: The operator expressed regret that the strike will tarnish holiday travel, particularly at a time when people expect smooth journeys. They claim to have made meaningful offers and remain open to negotiation — but hinted that the strike announcement leaves them little choice. Their immediate priority is to minimise disruption, though they acknowledge “significant disruption is inevitable.”

Suggested Travel Strategy: If You’re Planning a UK December Trip

For travellers hoping to navigate the disruption effectively, here’s a recommended plan:

• Book early, but stay flexible. If you must travel, buy tickets ASAP, but opt for flexible fares or refundable ones where possible.
• Use alternative rail operators or coach lines. Other providers may still run on strike Saturdays — but availability will be limited.
• Try flying for long distances. If connecting England to Scotland or Wales, consider flights, especially early bookings before demand surges.
• Consider splitting journeys. If direct routes are cancelled, break the journey into smaller legs, perhaps mixing rail, coach and car travel.
• Start and return on non‑strike days. For example: travel 5 or 7 December instead of 6; or return on 28 or 29 December instead of 27.
• Stay updated. Check official updates on train operator websites; monitor travel forums, social media, and National Rail notices — schedules may change.

Table of Key Dates, Entities, Impact & Advice

The Emotional Undercurrent: What This Means for People

For many, the joy of Christmas lies in heartfelt reunions — parents seeing children, siblings returning home, friends gathering, festive dinners and shared laughter. A strike might turn such hopes into last‑minute panic, cancelled reservations, searches for alternate transport — or worse, missed celebrations altogether.

Holiday trips planned months in advance may collapse with little warning. The uncertainty, the last‑minute scramble for seats, the fear of missing loved ones — these are not just logistical hassles. They strike at the emotional core of what makes festive seasons special.

Yet, for a portion of rail staff, this strike represents more than disruption: it is a stand for dignity, fairness, safe staffing and respect for long hours and effort. The tension between public convenience and workers’ rights underlines the deep socio‑economic rifts at play.

Final Thoughts: The CrossCountry Strike – A Christmas Travel Red Flag

As 6 December approaches, UK rail travellers must acknowledge the cold, hard fact: this Christmas, rail travel via CrossCountry will be riskier, more uncertain, and potentially chaotic. Many familiar and relied‑upon routes may be suspended; demand for remaining services will spike.

If you plan to travel between major UK cities — Edinburgh, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Cardiff, Bristol, Cornwall, or any point serviced by CrossCountry — now is the time to act: check schedules, book early, stay flexible, and have contingency.

And perhaps plan Christmas not around travel, but around resilience — because this season’s journey might test patience, planning and resolve.