Train companies have 'plenty more to do' despite boost in punctuality

20 February 2020, 13:17

File photo: Avanti West Coast's punctuality was down 3.9 per cent. Picture: PA

By Megan White

Britain's train companies have "plenty more to do" despite a boost in punctuality last year, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said.

65 per cent of trains arrived at stations within one minute of the timetable in 2019, Office of Rail and Road figures show - up 2.9 per cent compared with the previous 12 months.

But the increase is not entirely due to improved performance, with the ORR noting the change is partly down to more trains running and a rise in data recording.

Responding to the figures, Mr Shapps wrote on Twitter: "Last year I asked for trains to be regarded as 'on time' only when they arrive to the minute (not five or 10 mins late as per previous measure).

"Today's data shows movement in the right direction, but there's plenty more to do.

"Big changes are coming."

The Department for Transport will set out reforms of the railways in a white paper, responding to recommendations of the Government-commissioned Rail Review led by former British Airways boss Keith Williams.

Four operators saw a decline in punctuality last year.

They were Avanti West Coast (formerly Virgin Trains) and Caledonian Sleeper (both down 3.9 percentage points), West Midlands Trains (down 3.6 percentage points) and Transport for Wales (down 1.9 percentage points).

Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris said: "Ensuring passengers have reliable trains which run on time is a priority for the Government.

"While performance has improved over the last quarter, there is clearly still a long way to go.

"Every minute of delay and cancellation adds up, and for far too long passengers have been left stuck on train platforms.

"We have been clear to operators that continued poor performance and the failure to meet contractual obligations will be met with a firm response.

"Operators simply must do better."

Services on routes operated by Northern will be brought under public control on March 1 amid major punctuality and reliability problems.

Earlier this month Mr Shapps ordered West Midlands Trains to invest £20 million in improving its services to address "endless delays and cancellations".