Andy Burnham, the favourite to succeed Sir Keir Starmer as Labour leader, arrived in London by train from Manchester on Monday, but the journey was delayed by around 19 minutes. The livestreamed arrival at London Euston was described as surreal, with passengers able to claim compensation for delays of 15 minutes or more.
The incident has been seen as a metaphor for the shortcomings of Starmer's premiership. Despite promises of change at the 2024 General Election, many are disappointed with the government's performance, particularly regarding the railway network.
Railway Woes Under Labour
New data shows that in 2025-26, only 66.7% of trains across Britain arrived on time, the lowest since 2019-20 when the figure was 64.97%. The ageing infrastructure and delayed HS2 project have drawn criticism. HS2 currently only connects London and Birmingham, a move described as selfish by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Burnham has promised to revive the HS2 leg to Manchester if he becomes Prime Minister. The UK lags behind countries like Japan, which plans a magnetic bullet train between Tokyo and Osaka.
Government Promises vs Reality
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander stated after bringing Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) under public ownership: “As we set up Great British Railways, we’re putting passengers first, fixing what’s broken, and delivering a railway people can rely on.” However, the ongoing delays suggest more work is needed.
Burnham's late arrival serves as a reminder of the challenges ahead. The Labour government had a chance to reform the railways but has so far failed to deliver on promises.
