Which? survey shows Arriva, Thameslink, Great Northern, First Great Western and Southern are among the UK’s most delayed train services
If you're reading this while swaying on one of the capital's much-maligned commuter train services, take heed: new research has found commuters suffer the UK's worst train services – and Londoners are among the worst hit.
The research, by Which?, found a third of commuters experienced delays on their last journey – with Arriva Trains Wales, Thameslink and Great Northern, First Great Western and Southern among the worst culprits.
But at the bottom of the table when it came to seating, punctuality, cleanliness, reliability and value for money were Southeastern and Thameslink and Great Northern, which were both given a satisfaction score of just 46 per cent, while Abellio Greater Anglia had 47 per cent.
Meanwhile, Grand Central was rated the best service, with a score of 79 per cent, followed by Hull Trains, which was given 73 per cent.
“Our report shows that commuters are getting a raw deal from their train operator," said Which? executive director Richard Lloyd.
"Whether it's dirty facilities on the train, overcrowding or delayed trains, it is clear operators need to up their game.
"“Rail operators need to do much more to treat their customers fairly, providing better information and access to compensation when passengers are delayed. Passengers want to see action taken to make rail delay refunds easier and we have asked the regulator to investigate using our super-complaint powers.” Well, quite.
How did your train company do?
Company | Seating | Loos | Cleanliness | Train | Reliability | Frequency | Punctuality | Value |
Grand Central | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 |
Hull Trains | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
Merseyrail | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
Virgin Trains West Coast | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
C2C | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
East Coast | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
Chiltern Railways | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
Scotrail | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
East Midlands Trains | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
London Overground | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Cross Country Trains | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
First TransPennine Express | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
London Midland | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
TfL Rail | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
South West Trains | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
First Great Western | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
Northern Rail | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Arriva Trains Wales | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Southern | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
Abellio Greater Anglia | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
Southeastern | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
Thameslink | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 |