RAIL firms have been ranked in a national survey - with Northern receiving the lowest customer score.

The passenger study, conducted by Which?, asked more than 10,000 train passengers to rate their train service over the past year, across 30 train companies.

Northern, which operates on the Furness Line and Lakes Line, scored only one star out of five in eight of the nine categories passengers were asked to rate, including punctuality, reliability, customer service and value for money. The train provider achieved just 32 per cent, while Island Line Trains, which serves the Isle of Wight, achieved the highest customer score with 68 per cent.

Alex Hayman, managing director of Public Markets for Which?, said: “It is shocking that a modern transport system is allowed to have such a negative impact on the people who rely on it every day. Its failures are affecting people’s health and employment, and some are even forced to move home as a result of the disruption.

“If the government rail review is to have any hope of restoring faith in the system it must listen to passengers, who have too often been an afterthought.

“However, train companies should not wait for the results of the review to take action. The industry must start putting the interests of passengers first to address the chronic issues identified in our survey.”

Richard Allan, deputy managing director for Northern, said: “Last year was very difficult for many customers for well-known reasons including the delays to infrastructure upgrades that meant Northern had to plan and deliver the May 2018 timetable changes in 16 weeks rather than the normal 40 weeks.

“The resulting disruption and the ongoing RMT dispute caused significant problems.

“We’re working very hard to win back customers in 2019 with the introduction of £500m of new trains, further investment in refurbished trains, more services and better stations.”

“Customers are also benefitting from Delay Repay 15 - providing compensation for delays over 15 minutes."

He added: “We are doing everything we can to find a resolution to the RMT dispute. We have over 1,300 conductors and we can guarantee that they will continue to work to help customers with information, ticketing, personal security and accessibility."

Services will be disrupted for the 46th day of strike action by the RMT (today) Saturday.