RAIL passengers face “another difficult year” amid more timetable changes and an increase in engineering work, a Commons report has warned.

In a report released last week by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), it said there were “unacceptable levels of disruption” last year. One in ten Northern trains were cancelled each day after new timetables were introduced in May, while other services were “significantly delayed and overcrowded.”

More timetable changes for Northern trains between Newcastle and Carlisle are planned for May 19, 2019, amid increased amounts of maintenance work and major improvement projects.

However, MPs warned there was still “a way to go” before public sector body Network Rail and train operating companies collaborated in a way that minimised disruption during infrastructure projects.

The report added passengers and taxpayers “risk continuing to pay the price” for the failure of the Department for Transport (DfT) to improve its railway management.

PAC chairwoman Meg Hillier said: “2018 was a year from hell for many rail users and unless the Government gets a grip there is every chance that passengers will suffer in 2019 as well.” A DfT spokesman said the disruption last May was unacceptable and the lessons learned helped to deliver timetable changes in December.