Lancaster named most delayed train hub in UK as worst stations revealed

20 February 2020, 20:30

Two thirds of trains at the worst station were late last year
Two thirds of trains at the worst station were late last year. Picture: Getty

By Ewan Somerville

Lancaster has been named Britain’s worst train station for delays, with nearly two thirds of trains arriving late.

Some 63.5 per cent of trains failed to turn up on time last year at the West Coast Main Line station, which is used by 2.1m passengers a year.

Data released under freedom of information laws also found that 72 per cent of peak time services were late in the 12 months to January 2020.

Of the 2,566 stations in the UK, the worst three for delays also saw East Coast Main Line stations Wakefield Westgate at 63 per cent and Durham at 62.8 per cent.

Transport hub Birmingham New Street was 10th worst with 58.7 per cent of trains late, and York also featured in 15th.

Four of the ten most delayed stations were run by disgraced operator Northern Rail, which is being stripped of its franchise on March 1 over dismal performance.

Lancaster station
Lancaster station. Picture: Geograph

The most punctual station was Cardiff Bay, where only 6.4 per cent of trains arrived late, followed by Falmer in Brighton and Chingford, north east London.

Five further stations in the capital feature in the top 20 - Upminster, Gidea Park, Moorgate, Highbury and Islington and Heathro Terminal Five - and eight c2c-run hubs in Essex.

Rotacloud, the software firm that revealed the data, said delays at York station has forced them to introduce flexible working for staff at its headquaters in the city.

“Our staff have had issues getting into the office on time for a long while,” said co-founder James Lintern.“

Our solution was to introduce flexible working, and as long as our staff are here for our core hours, they can now come and go as they please, something that has greatly relieved the pressure on our team.”