IT may not come as a surprise to many frustrated rail passengers, but new data has confirmed St Helens commuters are routinely facing train delays.

Using data released by Network Rail, software provider RotaCloud analysed the punctuality for all trains and stations in the UK for the last year and have revealed the country’s best and worst stations for late-running services.

If you’re boarding at St Helens Central, there is a 52.3 per cent chance that your train will be late and if you are travelling from St Helens Junction, there is a 61.4per cent per cent chance that your train will be delayed.

Out of all 2,566 British rail stations, St Helens Central ranks 516th for lateness, with St Helens Junction in position 293.

If you’re boarding at Lea Green, there’s a 63.6 per cent chance that your train will be late. That is the 251st ranking for lateness.

The chance of a train running late at Newton-le-Willows is 57.2 (379th in the country) and Earlestown 51.9 (524th)

Out of the top 20 worst performing stations for punctuality, 13 are in the north of England.

The lateness figures are based on an average punctuality across the year, however at peak times the percentages can rise as high as 72 per cent for Lancaster.

The most punctual train station goes to Cardiff Bay in Wales with almost 94 per cent of all trains that pass through it doing so on time.

Out of the top 20 best performing stations, 15 are in the south of England, with eight of those in Essex and six in London.

Two Merseyside stations also made the top 10.