The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Britain on track for ‘6,400 more rail services by 2021’
But punctuality of trains lowest for over a decade
Some 6,400 more train services will be running each week by 2021, according to industry analysis.
The ongoing £50billion investment in the rail network will result in an 11% rise in the number of weekday services, according to the research.
Operators are already running over 1,350 more trains each week compared with four years ago, the study found.
The figures were released by the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), representing train companies and Network Rail.
The additional services by 2021 include an increase in train frequency for London commuters and those on high-speed England to Scotland routes, and a better timetable for passengers using the Edinburgh to Glasgow and TransPennine routes.
Many of the extra services will be operating by 2019. The ability to run more trains is one of the key benefits of south-east England’s Thameslink Programme and Crossrail project.
Punctuality on Britain’s rail network is at its lowest point in over a decade.
More than one in 10 ( 12.3%) trains failed to reach their destinations on time last year, according to the Office of Rail and Road.
This is the worst performance for a 12-month period since the year ending September 2006, when the figure reached 12.5%.
The latest passenger survey by Transport Focus in autumn last year revealed that just 81% are satisfied with the railways – a figure which has not been lower since spring 2007. RDG chief executive Paul Plummer said: “Rail is an ever more vital public service, enabling jobs, housing and economic growth.
“But there’s a capacity crunch affecting the railway, with journeys having doubled in 20 years and the number of trains increasing too.”
Mick Cash, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, said: “Like most people, we will believe this when we see it.
“There simply aren’t the trains and staff available to make this plan happen.
“Like somuch of the spin from our rip-off private train companies, these big promises are doomed to turn to dust.”
“Like most we will believe this when we see it”