Study finds Avanti West Coast the UK's least reliable train operator, with average delays of 10.6 minutes
Analysis of Office of Rail and Road data ranks 20 operators on punctuality, cancellations and passenger delay over 12 months to August 2025
Passengers on Avanti West Coast trains experienced the longest average delays among Britain’s rail operators over the year to August 2025, a study of Office of Rail and Road (ORR) data has found.
The analysis, carried out by gambling comparison site Bet Clever using ORR statistics covering August 2024 to August 2025, evaluated 20 operators on punctuality, the percentage of cancelled services and average passenger delay to produce a performance score out of 100. Avanti recorded an average passenger delay of 10.61 minutes, a punctuality rate of 38.90 percent for trains arriving on time and a cancellation rate of 3.98 percent.
Other long-distance operators also ranked poorly. CrossCountry had the second-worst average delay at 6.10 minutes, while Great Western Railway posted an average delay of 6.57 minutes and a 3.75 percent cancellation rate. London North Eastern Railway and the Caledonian Sleeper recorded average delays of 8.31 and 8.46 minutes respectively.
By contrast, commuter and regional operators topped the reliability table. Greater Anglia led the rankings with a performance score of 97.16, recording 83.81 percent of trains arriving within 59 seconds of their scheduled time and an average passenger delay of 1.37 minutes. c2c and Chiltern Railways were also among the best performers, with c2c posting an average delay of 1.12 minutes and Chiltern an average of 2.35 minutes and a score of 86.39. ScotRail and Merseyrail rounded out the top five, each reporting average delays below 2.5 minutes and cancellation rates under 2.1 percent.
Bet Clever's Roberto Romanello said the figures highlighted marked differences in reliability between operators. "These statistics show significant differences in the reliability of train services across the UK," he was quoted as saying. "Passengers on the worst-performing routes face more than five times the delays compared to the best services. With train fares continuing to rise each year, passengers have every right to expect punctual services."
The study’s methodology combined punctuality thresholds, cancellations and average passenger delay to generate a single performance score, allowing comparison across operators that serve different markets and route types. The ORR data used is the regulator’s official performance dataset for the relevant 12-month period.
The results underline variation in passenger experience across the network and add to regulatory and political scrutiny of rail performance as fares and contractual arrangements continue to be debated. The Daily Mail reported it had contacted Avanti West Coast for comment on the findings.
The full ranking lists Greater Anglia, c2c and Chiltern Railways as the most reliable operators and places Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry and Great Western Railway among the weakest performers on the metrics used. The ORR dataset and operator responses will determine whether the differences reflect operator performance, differences in route complexity, or other operational factors.