We're finally seeing Northern Rail deliver meaningful improvements after all our efforts
Blackburn with Darwen Council’s leader Cllr Phil Riley has welcomed recent improvements in Northern’s rail performance following years of pressure on East Lancashire’s main train operator to tackle the disruption experienced by local passengers.
He said residents across the borough were now seeing more reliable journeys, fewer cancellations, and reduced overcrowding.
At a recent meeting between Cllr Riley and Northern bosses, they outlined recent positive developments relating to performance, rolling stock, and Sunday services.
For several years Cllr Riley has been pressing the train operator on the high level of cancellations of trains from Blackburn station especially on Sundays and in 2024 and 2025 held several meetings with its bosses to raise local residents complaints about the poor service.
At the meeting Northern bosses confirmed that rail performance across East Lancashire has improved significantly in recent months with cancellation rates falling below the levels recorded during the same period last year.
They said key improvements included:
- a sharp reduction in overall cancellations compared with 2025;
- only 2.2 per cent of trains on routes through Greater Manchester, including the Clitheroe line via Darwen, cancelled between February 1 and 28 2026;
- Northern’s cancellation rate halved year-on-year;
- rail users travelling through Blackburn and East Lancashire seeing noticeably more space and reduced overcrowding; and
- fewer last‑minute disruptions to work, school and hospital shifts – concerns that residents have repeatedly raised with Blackburn with Darwen Council during periods of poor performance.
Northern is also working hard to restore four‑carriage trains on several routes following a period of disruption caused by unexpected faults earlier in the year.
The temporary use of two‑car units has led to overcrowding on key routes including the Clitheroe line and the Todmorden Curve.
Cllr Riley said: “Residents are beginning to feel a real difference – fewer cancelled services, more predictable journeys, and a noticeable improvement in day‑to‑day reliability.
“While some delays still occur, the direction of travel is encouraging, and we will continue pushing for consistent, dependable services every day of the week.
“The council has pressed Northern consistently on the quality of local rail services, and it’s encouraging to see that our efforts are starting to deliver meaningful improvements.
“Our residents deserve a rail service that is reliable, comfortable, and fit for purpose – not just sometimes, but every single day.
“We will keep working with Northern and pressing where needed to ensure this progress continues.”
He said he would continue push for consistent four‑carriage services on all peak‑time routes, further improvements to Sunday and late‑evening services, a continued reduction in short-notice cancellations, and clearer timetable information for passengers.