Hitchin's rail service ranked as one of the worst in the UK

Rail disruption has defined recent weeks for many commuters so it should come as no surprise that new data has revealed that HItchin has one of the worst rail services in Britain, despite being the UK's 177th busiest train station. 

Hitchin's service level is notably lower than that of nearby stations at Stevenage and Letchworth according to the data.

On Wednesday, August 17 there were only 34 stations in the entire nation with a worse rail service than Hitchin according to data from ontimetrains.co.uk.

Over the last four weeks the service has been ranked one of the bottom 500 stations in Britain in terms of performance, ranked 2,240th out of the 2,621 stations on the entire rail network. 

The Liberal Democrats have called for urgent action to improve rail services at Hitchin Station after new data reveals that it has some of the worst service levels in Britain. 

Liberal Democrats parliamentary candidate for Hitchin and Harpenden, and Hitchin Councillor Sam Collins: "This situation has been going on far too long, ever since the fundamentally flawed timetable was introduced in 2018.

"Hitchin has suffered disproportionately with a poor rail service, and recently things have been getting much worse. We need to see urgent action from both the rail operators and Network Rail in order to address these ongoing issues. 

"Unfortunately the Government and local MP's seem to have little or no interest in the plight of commuters and rail users locally as they are far too focussed on the Conservative Leadership campaign and trying to secure themselves plum jobs. Yet again people in Hitchin are being taken for granted by the Conservatives.  

"People's careers, and day to day lives, rely on our train services, and this seemingly never ending disruption is having a daily impact on people that is simply unacceptable."

Commuters face further misery this winter, as Hitchin Nub News has previously reported, the manned ticket office at Hitchin railway station has been earmarked for closure.

The station, which opened 172 years ago, is believed to have had a manned ticket station since the first sections of the Royston and Hitchin Railway welcomed passengers on October 21, 1850.

The news regarding Hitchin ticket office comes after the RMT revealed plans by the rail industry for a swathe of ticket offices closures across the network, with more than 1,000 ticket offices facing immediate risk of closure. 

The development comes after more than 40,000 staff at Network Rail and 13 train operators went on strike again this week following talks over pay and job losses failed to be resolved.

The RMT insists the forthcoming closure of ticket offices is down to train companies aiming to save money and cost costs by sidelining many thousands of station staff roles - including Hitchin station.

The union fear the move will make the railway far less safe, while becoming far more difficult for those with disabilities as well more challenging for the elderly - while also facilitating a 'muggers paradise' in dimly lit stations late at night - also including nearby Stevenage station.