CrossCountry has unveiled an exclusive new onboard drink that celebrates both Birmingham’s brewing scene and the city’s long-standing railway heritage. The train operator has teamed up with Stirchley-based Attic Brew Co. to launch Signals IPA, a locally brewed beer now available across its long-distance services.

The 440ml cans feature a bespoke label inspired by Birmingham New Street’s iconic signal box, blending the industrial identity of Britain’s second city with CrossCountry’s distinctive brand. The beer’s introduction marks the latest development in the operator’s strategy to champion regional suppliers and showcase local products across its nationwide network.

CrossCountry first partnered with Attic Brew Co. in 2022, offering passengers the brewery’s Intuition Pale Ale and Birmingham Pilsner. The new Signals IPA completes that collaboration with a distinctly railway-themed addition, reinforcing CrossCountry’s roots in the city where its head office is based.

Raj Chumate, CrossCountry’s Head of Catering, said:

"Signals has always had a natural connection to the railway, and bringing it onboard felt like the perfect way to celebrate that. With our head office in Birmingham, what better way to celebrate the area than showcasing Attic Brew Co? Signals is a bit of Brum — and we think it’s a perfect fit for a train operating company. We’re proud to support a Birmingham brewery that shares our values of quality, creativity and local pride."

The release of Signals IPA aligns with CrossCountry’s aim to bring regional craftsmanship to passengers travelling on its extensive network, which links more than 100 stations across England, Scotland and Wales. As the operator of the UK’s longest direct rail service, the company says it wants its onboard offering to reflect the diversity and character of the communities it serves.

For Attic Brew Co., the collaboration provides a national platform for a distinctly local beer. The brewery’s co-founder, Jo Farn, said:

"Working with CrossCountry has been fantastic from the start, and seeing Attic cans onboard has been really exciting. We’re proud to supply train beers for CrossCountry customers – it’s a brilliant platform to spread the word about Birmingham and maybe even encourage people to jump on a train and visit!"

Passengers can now purchase the newly designed Signals IPA cans onboard CrossCountry trains from Monday, 10 November — offering travellers across the UK a genuine taste of Birmingham along the way.

Image: CrossCountry