Worst train companies to be named and shamed

This is the first time the information will be proactively presented to passengers

Millions of passengers will see train cancellation and delay data published prominently at more than 1,700 railway stations in England from Thursday.

The data will update every 28 days showing statistics for the most recent month in a bid to increase transparency and to hold operators to account.

The government says performance information will appear on large digital display boards, with smaller stations displaying QR codes for passengers to scan on smartphones.

Ince and Elton in Cheshire was the worst performing station for cancellations in the four weeks to 1 February, according to data from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).

The BBC understands that the data will not be announced audibly for people with print disabilities but the government says online data will be posted on a new portal which has been made accessible to screen reader users such as those who are blind and visually-impaired.

The concept of publishing train reliability data is not new. The ORR publishes performance statistics which detail the percentage of services that are delayed or cancelled.

Between 1 July and 30 September 2024, 4.2% of train services were cancelled and only 67.7% of services were on time, according to the ORR.

However, this is the first time that potentially embarrassing information will be proactively presented to millions of English train passengers each day.

It is also the first time the ORR will publish monthly figures on the worst performing stations for the whole of England, Wales, and Scotland.

Britain's 10 worst performing stations by percentage of cancelled trains

• Ince and Elton (Cheshire) - 22.8%

• Gathurst - 16.2%

• Earlswood (Surrey) - 11.7%

• Birchgrove - 11.7%

• Rhiwbina - 11.7%

• Whitchurch (Cardiff) - 11.7%

• Salfords (Surrey) - 11.7%

• Arram - 10.7%

• Hartlepool - 9.9%

• Ellesmere Port -9.7%

Source: Office of Rail and Road. Covers the period 5 January to 1 February

As well as revealing the worst performers, the data also reveals that 33 stations of out of over 18,000 had no cancellations in the four-week period.

Buckenham in Norfolk was the only station with a perfect score. It had no cancellations or unscheduled stops and all trains arriving on time or within three minutes, although only 100 trains stopped there in the month.

The move has been welcomed by the independent passenger watchdog, Transport Focus.

The group's director, Natasha Grice, told the BBC the railway needs to rebuild trust, and transparency around cancellations was part of that.

"Previously, performance information has tended to be available by route or a group of routes. This initiative makes the data more relevant to an individual passenger by showing the numbers for their station," she said.

Jacqueline Starr, chair and chief executive of Rail Delivery Group said the move shows how serious the industry is about putting things right for customers frustrated by cancellations and delays.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: "These displays are a step towards rebuilding trust with passengers using our railways, as we continue to tackle the root causes of frustrating delays and cancellations."

The move forms part of a wider overhaul of the country's railways under the government's planned return to nationalisation under Great British Railways.

"Through fundamental rail reform, we're sweeping away decades of dysfunctionality," Ms Alexander said.

The government says the industry has set out a framework with "clear areas of focus", "timetable resilience", and staffing to "recover performance to acceptable levels".

The rail minister will be meeting with all train operators to "address concerns and demand immediate action".