Train cancellations up 8% in one year

Train cancellations in England and Wales have increased by 8% over the past year, according to the latest figures.

According to data from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), the equivalent of 249,133 trains were cancelled in the year to the end of March.

This represents an average of 681 per day.

Over the previous 12 months, the total was 230,799, a daily average of 632.

The figures relate to what the rail industry describes as the cancellations score.

This counts each fully cancelled service as a cancellation, and each partially cancelled service as a half cancellation.

Average train fares increased by almost 5% in England and Wales on March 3.

A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group, which represents operators, said: “We know how important reliability is to customers and we apologize to everyone affected by the canceled services.

“Everyone at the railway company works hard to ensure that train services are reliable and punctual for passengers.

“This includes significant investments to improve infrastructure and rolling stock reliability.

“Train companies have been working hard to maintain as many services as possible, but cancellations or delays can also occur due to a variety of factors, including weather and flooding, industrial action, infrastructure issues such as track or signalling faults, train breakdowns and external incidents such as trespassing.

“The railway continues to address these issues, and when train delays or cancellations occur, we proactively notify passengers in advance and raise awareness of Delay Repay to simplify train requests. compensation of the passengers concerned. »

Meanwhile, the newspaper reported that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s decision to abandon plans to extend HS2 north of Birmingham could lead to a rise in fares on main lines between London, Birmingham and Manchester.

He cites unnamed industry sources who believe the measure will be necessary to manage overpopulation.