2 days ago
Cumbrian railway station ranked amongst worst for delays over past 12 weeks
NEW data has revealed that a west Cumbrian train station is amongst the worst for delays and cancellations across the country over the past 12 weeks.
According to On Time Trains, just 14 per cent of trains arrived on time at St Bees station, with 8 per cent delayed by more than 10 minutes and 5 per cent of services cancelled.
St Bees was ranked as the 2,614th 'best' station in the country out of 2,639, making it the 25th worst performing station in England, Scotland and Wales.
Other stations on the Cumbria coast trainline were also among the worst performing stations including Workington and Whitehaven, according to On Time Trains.
There is a stretch of single track near St Bees station which can cause congestion which leads to delays.
Matt Rice, Northern's chief operating officer, said: 'We have been working hard to stabilise performance and cut cancellations in recent months.
'There are green shoots of progress, but we know more work needs to be done before we can deliver lasting improvements for our customers.
'That includes securing a new agreement, so we are no longer reliant on conductors volunteering to work Sundays.
'We are also working to reduce sickness levels by helping staff return to work, introducing state-of-the-art simulators to accelerate our training programme and planning to make the largest ever investment in our fleet by introducing up to 450 new trains.'
Cumbrian MPs have called for a 'major upgrade' of the Cumbrian coast railway line to help boost economic growth.
Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promised to 'upgrade' the energy coast line linking Carlisle, Workington and Barrow after cancelling the leg of HS2 from Birmingham to Manchester.
The upgrade would see more space for freight and passenger trains and improve the reliability of the line more broadly – both seen as essential to support inward investment and to meet the needs of businesses and communities along the length of the line and the wider rail network.
Labour MP for Whitehaven and Workington, Josh MacAlister, raised the issue in parliament and said investment in the line is 'much needed'.
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'A major upgrade of the Energy Coast Rail Line is critical to our success in West Cumbria and delivering it is a top priority for me,' said Mr MacAlister.
'I'm now working with Cumbria's other MPs, the leaders of both councils and our civil and defence nuclear leaders to secure £5million from the government to get it to FBC - Final Business Case - which is the next and final stage before we can then get a funding decision from government on the upgrade.'
