Forum Brief: Train Punctuality

Britain's rail operators secured a four-year high in punctuality last Autumn, although one in four trains still arrived behind schedule, the Strategic Rail Authority revealed on Thursday.

Party Response: Conservative Party

Shadow environment and transport secretary Theresa May, said: “Seven years on under Labour and nearly a quarter of all trains are still running late - and for some as many as one in three. No wonder more than half of voters think that public transport is bad.

“The SRA’s answer to punctuality is to make some journeys longer; Network Rail wants to re-paint stations and the government wants another review of the railways.

“People do not want gimmicks and reviews. They want reliable, quick and punctual trains.”

Forum Response: Association of Train Operating Companies

George Muir, director general of the Association of Train Operating Companies, said: “These are the best punctuality figures for the critical autumn period for four years while numbers of complaints are down by 40 per cent compared with the same quarter last year and are now at their lowest level since 1997.  This is a solid improvement which will be welcomed by passengers.

"The autumn period is traditionally a time when train performance dips due to the effects of leaf fall on train services but this year the drop in performance was only four per cent compared to the previous quarter. In the same period in 2002 performance went down by twice that amount.

“ATOC and train operators remain ruthlessly focused on working with the rest of the rail industry to change the railways for the better and ensure that passengers get a train service that they expect and deserve.”

Forum Response: Virgin Trains

David Ewart, press officer for Virgin Trains told ePolitix.com: "We are heartened by the improvements in our cross country services highlighted by these statistics, but we are not complacent. We shall continue to strive for furthur improvements for our customers."

Forum Response: Transport and Salaried Staff Association

Gerry Doherty, TSSA general secretary, said:  “These figures show that a passenger train franchise can be run successfully in the public sector.