RAIL passengers lost an estimated four million hours to significantly delayed trains in 2018, according to new analysis.

The “staggering” level of delays - some 3.9 million hours - relate to 8.1 million passenger journeys, a report by consumer group Which? stated.

A train is classed as being significantly late if it is delayed by at least 29 minutes.

Around 80 trains per day fell into this category last year, with a further 660 cancelled.

It was the highest figure for cancellations since comparable records began in 2011.

Reliability in 2018 was plagued by a number of problems in addition to the timetable changes, including extreme weather, strikes and signalling failures.

Across East Lancashire, there was widespread disruption as Northern Rail passengers experienced weeks of cancellations and delays following timetable changes.

READ> Warning for train companies amid major timetable changes

Industrial action and staff shortages only served to make matters worse but Northern Rail escaped without a fine after an investigation by the Office of Rail and Roads (ORR) found that ‘reasonable steps’ were taken by staff to rectify issues.

Cllr Phil Riley, a member of Transport for the North’s board, said: “It will be no consolation to the passengers whose journeys were disrupted on a monumental scale to hear that Northern Rail have been exonerated.”

READ > Northern Fail: Thousands of trains cancelled amid last year's timetable chaos

The latest research - based on analysis of Office of Rail and Road data - was published on the first working day since new train timetables for summer 2019 were introduced.

Passenger groups urged the industry to learn the lessons of May 2018, when new timetables led to chaos on large parts of the network.