This is officially Britain’s best railway operator

You don’t need us to tell you that train operating companies aren’t particularly well loved these days, what with the constant delays, cancellations, reduced services, strikes and all. So, you could argue that being named the best railway operator in the country isn’t really saying much. 

Nevertheless, having fewer cancellations than everyone else is still something to boast about. The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) looked at data between August 19 and September 16 of this year to reveal which operator can confidently say that it is currently the most reliable of them all. 

And the business that reigned supreme was… Hull Trains! The ORR found that the operator has kept disruption to a minimum, with only one percent of its services affected by cancellations. 

Hull Trains runs 94 weekly services and has managed to successfully maintain smooth direct services to London King’s Cross from Hull, Selby, Howden, Grantham and Doncaster. 

For comparison, Grand Central Trains, the country’s worst operator, had 9.4 percent of all its journeys cancelled over the same four-week period. 

Martijn Gilbert, managing director of Hull Trains, said: ‘This an incredible achievement for Hull Trains. There have been so many circumstances that have affected the reliability of some rail services, many out of the operator’s control, so for Hull Trains to maintain vital transport links during the same period shows our commitment to delivering reliable and environmentally friendly services.’

See? Railway news isn’t always doom and gloom. Amid ticket price increases and HS2 abandonment, let us share a bit more locomotive-related positivity with you. Wales could be getting five brand new train stations and this steam train covered in Christmas lights is coming back for 2023. Why not also fill the time waiting for your delayed train by looking at our list of the UK’s most beautiful train stations or most scenic railway journeys? 

Did you see that England is getting a brand-new cross-country rail line?

Plus an immersive, train-themed restaurant is coming to York.