Single power failure halts trains across three UK regions, exposing centralised signalling risk

A power cut at Manchester's Rail Operating Centre on 6 August 2026 halted trains across north-west England, the Midlands, and Wales after a backup generator failed to engage in time. Seven operators were affected. Network Rail has spent over a decade consolidating signalling into regional hubs, trading distributed risk for concentrated risk — one node's failure can now paralyse hundreds of route miles.