Worst train companies to be named and shamed
Transport correspondent
Transportation Manufacturer
PAStarting Thursday, millions of passengers will see train cancellation and delay data highlighted in more than 1,700 train stations in England.
This data will be updated every 28 days to show statistics for the last month to increase transparency and hold operators accountable.
The government said performance information will appear on large digital display panels, with smaller radios showing QR codes for passengers to scan on their smartphones.
Ince and Elton in Cheshire were the worst performers in cancellations from the week to February 1, according to the Office of Rail and Highways (ORR).
PAThe BBC understands that the data will not be announced for printing disorders, but the government says online data will be published on a new portal that has been accessed by screen reader users, such as blind and visually affected.
The concept of publishing train reliability data is not new. ORR released performance statistics detailing the percentage of services delayed or cancelled.
According to ORR, between July 1 and 30, 2024, 4.2% of train services were cancelled and only 67.7% were on time.
However, this is the first time a day when millions of British train passengers are proactively asking potentially embarrassing information.
This is also the first time that ORR has released monthly numbers on the worst performing radio stations throughout England, Wales and Scotland.
The 10 worst performing radio stations in the UK, multiplied by the percentage of cancelled trains
- Ince and Elton (Cheshire) – 22.8%
- Gathurst -16.2%
- Earl (Sarri) – 11.7%
- Birchgrove -11.7%
- Rhiwbina -11.7%
- Huizen Church (Cardiff) – 11.7%
- Salford (Surry) – 11.7%
- Alam – 10.7%
- Hartlepool -9.9%
- Ellesmere Port – 9.7%
Source: Railway and Road Office. Covering the period from January 5 to February 1
In addition to revealing the worst performers, the data also showed that over 18,000 sites were not cancelled during the four-week period.
Buckenham in Norfolk is the only station to score perfectly. It has no cancelled or unplanned stops, and all trains arrive on time or within three minutes, although only 100 trains stop there for the month.
This move is popular with independent passenger bus mobile phones, which is the transportation focus.
Natasha Grice, the organization’s director, told the BBC Railways that need to rebuild trust and the cancelled transparency is part of it.
“Previously, performance information tended to be obtained through routes or a set of routes. The program made the data more relevant to individual passengers by displaying the numbers of its sites,” she said.
Jacqueline Starr, chairman and CEO of the Railway Delivery Team, said the move shows how serious the industry is for customers frustrated by cancellations and delays.
“These displays are a step to rebuilding trust with passengers using our railroads as we continue to address the root causes of frustrating delays and cancellations,” said Transport Minister Heidi Alexander.
The move is part of a wider overhaul of the country’s railways as the government plans to return to nationalization under the Greater British Railways.
“With basic railway reform, we are eliminating decades of functional barriers,” Ms. Alexander said.
The government said the industry has developed a framework with “clear focus areas”, “resilience of timelines” and staffing to “return performance to acceptable levels.”
The Railways Minister will meet with all train operators to “solve the problem and ask for immediate action”.
