Transport watchdog challenges rail industry over ‘unreliable’ timetables

15 May 2018

The independent watchdog has pressed the industry to do more to warn passengers when timetable changes and engineering works will affect their journeys.

At a special public meeting called by the Board of Transport Focus, senior representatives from Network Rail and the Rail Delivery Group were asked to explain what steps were being taken to warn passengers. The Trainline declined Transport Focus Board’s invitation to present at the meeting.

The independent watchdog is calling for train companies and ticket websites to do more to warn passengers about timetable inaccuracies. The meeting also probed the slow recovery back to the normal 12 week timetable notice period by Christmas and a long term solution to stop this happening again.

Anthony Smith, chief executive of the independent watchdog Transport Focus, said:

“The rail industry must do more to warn passengers about inaccurate timetables on all websites, including National Rail Enquiries, Trainline and others.

“We’re calling on the rail industry to act now to stop websites selling tickets for trains that they know won’t run.”

Click here to read the watchdog’s update on how well industry is alerting passengers to potential changes.