Railway punctuality slumps to a 12-year low

TRAIN services slumped to their worst punctuality performance for 12 years following severe winter weather and the implementation of a new timetable.

Fourteen per cent of trains missed the industry’s Public Performance Measure of punctuality in the 12 months to August 18, according to Office of Rail and Road data.

The last time the annual rolling average was higher was in February 2006, when it stood at 14.2 per cent.

The decline in punctuality was blamed on factors including the “Beast from the East” winter storm and the introduction of new timetables on May 20, which led to weeks of disruption in the North and South East of England.

Charles Horton, the Govia Thameslink chief executive, quit in the aftermath and it was announced that planned timetable changes for December were being abandoned as the industry desperately tried to avoid a repeat.

Peter Vicary-smith, the chief executive of Which?, said: “These latest statistics are damning but unsurprising given a year of delays and cancellations that have left many passengers at their wits’ end. It is vital that the outcome of any inquiry or review reflects the needs and experiences of passengers.”

Darren Shirley, the chief executive of Campaign for Better Transport, warned that increasing fares in January would “risk further denting passengers’ confidence in the railways”.

Robert Nisbet, the regional director of the Rail Delivery Group, which represents the rail industry, made assurances that work was being done to “deliver its long-term plan” to improve punctuality.