Three North East motorway services have been ranked among the UK's best and worst in a new national survey. Washington Southbound placed 28th with 97% overall satisfaction, Durham ranked 70th with 95%, and Washington Northbound came 94th.
Watchdog Transport Focus's motorway services user survey asked 37,000 motorists about toilets, accessibility, food and drink, facilities for HGV and lorry drivers, and electric vehicle (EV) charging. A total of 123 motorway services were included in the poll.
Top-rated services
Welcome Break Rotherham on the M1 in South Yorkshire was rated Britain's best motorway services with a 99% satisfaction rate, with more than eight in 10 visitors saying they would recommend it. Seven other services also received a 99% satisfaction rate, including Moto Rugby, Moto Sawtry, Welcome Break Sarn Park, Moto Kinross, Moto Pease Pottage, Moto Donington Park and Roadchef Norton Canes.
Britain's oldest motorway services ranked last place for overall satisfaction. Watford Gap northbound on the M1 in Northamptonshire, which opened in November 1959, received an 86% satisfaction rating, down from 95% last year.
Lowest scores and investment
Four of the five services with the lowest overall satisfaction are operated by Roadchef, including Watford Gap southbound. The company has announced more than £300 million of investment across its business over the next five years. The average score of all Roadchef services was 93%, 3% lower than the joint-top operators Moto and Extra.
Louise Collins, director at Transport Focus, said: "Motorway services have improved significantly over the years, and road users are seeing the benefit. There is still more to do, including on car parking, wayfinding and facilities for HGV drivers, and our survey will help us track progress in these areas in the years ahead."
Accessibility and HGV facilities
Three-quarters of disabled visitors said the services catered well for their impairment, an increase of 13% since 2022 but still one of the lowest scores in the survey. Ms Collins added: "We've also seen real progress on accessibility. It shows what can be achieved when the industry recognises an issue and works together to tackle it."
HGV drivers reported a 90% rate of satisfaction, less satisfied than the general public. Only 54% viewed HGV parking availability positively, 51% said the number of showers was sufficient, and 42% were happy with the value of the parking package.
