Train delays and cancellations soar under Labour

Train delays and cancellations have soared since Labour came to power.

By far the worst figures were recorded by Northern and LNER, two of four networks nationalised under the Conservatives after poor performance by private operators.

Data released by regulator the Office for Rail and Road for July to September showed punctuality worsened at 16 of 24 operators and cancellations at 18 of them – the worst for four years.

Some 4.2 per cent of services were cancelled across the network. 

At Northern, nearly one in ten services were cancelled, while at state-run East Coast Main Line operator LNER, 7.4 per cent of services were no-shows – partly due to an industrial relations dispute resolved in the early autumn.

Overall, just 85.2 per cent of trains arrived at their destination within ten minutes of their scheduled time – the lowest since before the pandemic.

The figures come soon after Labour gave drivers a 15 per cent pay rise. 

The party pledged to renationalise the rest of the franchises in its manifesto. 

Northern blamed a failure to reach agreement with the RMT, which represents conductors. 

A spokesman said: 'We are working hard to address issues with traincrew availability.'

An LNER spokesman said: 'The latest figures are already several months old and over the past three months, pre-planned cancellations due to industrial action have significantly reduced.'