Story perspectives

Northern Cuts Cancellation Rate to 4.5%, UK's Best Improvement

6/28/2026

Summary

Story summary

Northern, now publicly owned, cut its cancellation rate from nearly 7% to 4.5%, the sharpest improvement among UK train operators.
The Office for Rail and Road recorded 352,000 cancelled or partially cancelled services from April 2025 to April 2026, representing 4.6% of all services.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the decline shows progress across publicly owned operators and pledged to build Great British Railways for a simpler, more dependable network.

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Story summary

Northern, now publicly owned, cut its cancellation rate from nearly 7% to 4.5%, the sharpest improvement among UK train operators.
The Office for Rail and Road recorded 352,000 cancelled or partially cancelled services from April 2025 to April 2026, representing 4.6% of all services.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the decline shows progress across publicly owned operators and pledged to build Great British Railways for a simpler, more dependable network.