Published Article

HeadlineTrain delays cost passengers nearly four million hours

Short HeadlineNearly four million hours lost to train waits

StandfirstThe data showed 80 trains per day were at least 30 minutes late

3.9 million hours were lost to train delays in 2018. This is according to data from consumer group Which?

Roughly 80 trains per day are late by 30 minutes or more.

A further 660 are cancelled according to data taken from the Office of Rail and Road.

This is the highest number of cancellations since records began in 2011.

A widely implemented timetabling change in May 2018 lead to record numbers of delayed and cancelled services across the country.

Added to this, is the continuing row between The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (rmt) and Train Operating Companies (TOCs). This concerns the role of guards on trains which has further impacted train times.

Weather disrupting services and failures in infrastructure also contribute to train delays.

Passengers are able to claim compensation for delayed train services. But Which? is calling for compensation to be automatically distributed.

This is because currently up to 36% of passengers do not claim for delayed services.

A review of the rail industry has been commissioned. This follows criticism of the way the franchising of the network is carried out.