James Wild launches consultation amid concerns about rail reliability in King’s Lynn and West Norfolk

A survey has been launched amid “growing concerns” about rail reliability in West Norfolk.

James Wild, the North West Norfolk MP, is inviting residents to share their experiences of train travel, following worries raised with him by constituents and recent performance data highlighting ongoing reliability challenges affecting routes to and from Lynn.

Mr Wild has heard directly about the impact of train delays and cancellations on work, healthcare appointments, and family life.

The survey is designed to gather detailed feedback that will inform his ongoing efforts to help secure improvements for passengers.

Great Northern’s figures for July 20 to August 16 show just 47.8% of trains arrived at Lynn within three minutes of scheduled times, with 6.4% cancelled.

Across Great Northern’s wider network, in the same period, cancellations reached 8.1% - more than double the operator’s 3.9% target - and 38.8% of trains arrived late at their final destination.

Mr Wild said: “It is essential to be able to rely on trains or other public transport getting you where you need to be on time whether for work, study, appointments, of leisure.

“Constituents have raised concerns about too many delays, cancellations, or rail replacement services and passengers are rightly frustrated at such disruption.

“By launching this survey, I want to ensure local voices are heard clearly. I will use the results to take up concerns and press for the more reliable, high-quality train service that our area deserves.”

Under the industry’s T3 punctuality measure, which counts trains as on time if they arrive within three minutes of schedule, Great Northern recorded 86.3% punctuality rate during the same period across its wider network.

Nevertheless, local data indicates that passengers in North West Norfolk continue to face higher levels of disruption, due to cancellations and late arrivals.

Additionally, infrastructure upgrades overseen by Network Rail taking place along the Lynn to London King’s Cross line are also contributing to service disruptions, with frequent weekend closures and rail replacement services.