City Thameslink in London has been named the worst of Britain’s busiest railway stations for cancellations, according to figures from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).
Between September 2024 and August 2025, nearly one in 13 of its almost 150,000 scheduled stops were cancelled. That rate made it the poorest performer among the country’s 100 busiest stations, BBC analysis of ORR data found.
The figures also revealed the scale of disruption nationwide: of around 89 million scheduled stops, roughly three million were cancelled. The government has pledged action, calling the current overhaul of the railways the largest in a generation.
For many commuters, however, change cannot come soon enough. Earlswood station in Surrey recorded one of the worst cancellation rates in Britain, ranking sixth overall. Managed by Thameslink — the same operator responsible for City Thameslink — the station saw one in 10 stops cancelled over the year.
Passengers like 23-year-old student Cat Edge say the impact on daily life is severe. She told the BBC that smaller stops like Earlswood are often sacrificed when trains run late, as operators prioritise major hubs such as nearby Gatwick Airport.
“Despite leaving extra time, I’m often late for university,” she said. “It feels like I miss out and come across poorly. It’s difficult with professors who have busy schedules, trying to ask for lenience. It’s quite embarrassing.”
Edge also described the uncertainty and stress of not knowing whether her train would actually stop at her station. “It’s so stressful, especially if when you get on a train, it’s dark and you don’t know whether it’s actually going to stop,” she explained. “It’s scary.”
She added that late-night cancellations were particularly difficult, leaving passengers feeling vulnerable. “That’s when it’s the worst,” she said. “I’d really welcome more advance notice if a train isn’t going to stop.”
Campaigners say passengers at smaller stations across the country share similar experiences. They argue that reliability must be improved not only for major commuter routes but also for the communities left stranded when services are cut short.
The Department for Transport said it is determined to improve standards and reduce cancellations as part of a “once-in-a-generation reform” of the rail industry. Thameslink, meanwhile, has not yet commented on the specific cancellation figures but previously cited staff shortages and signalling issues as key factors.
For now, passengers like Edge continue to bear the brunt of the disruption. “It’s exhausting,” she said. “You’re constantly on edge, never sure whether you’ll get where you need to be.”
