Why train delays are worse than you think

Under the new system, services now classed as delayed if they are late by more than 60 seconds

Trains are late three times more often than previously thought, official figures reveal, as a new method of measuring punctuality is introduced. Under the old system – where a service was “on time” even if it was 10 minutes late – almost 90 per cent of trains between April and June 2018 were on time. However, this drops to just over 60 per cent under the new system. Introduced in April, the method scores trains on when they arrive at stops and they are only “on time” if they are delayed by no more than 60 seconds.

TRAINS are late three times more often as previously thought, official figures reveal, as a new method of measuring punctuality is introduced.

Between April and June last year, it was reported that trains ran to schedule almost 90 per cent of the time – but this figure plummets to just over 60 per cent under the latest system.

Previous scores were based on whether a train reached its destination on time. Services were still classed as “on time” even if they were up to 10 minutes late.

A new system introduced in April this year now rates punctuality based on whether trains arrive at stops on time, and they are only classed as “on time” if they are not delayed by more than 60 seconds.

It is hoped the new Office of Rail and Road figures will give a more accurate reflection of disruption faced by commuters.

This means that trains were really running to schedule only 62.2 per cent of the time last year, not 86.9 per cent as previously reported.

In 2019, trains ran to schedule 64.7 per cent of the time, which would have been 87 per cent under the old system.

Grant Shapps, Transport Secretary, claimed this change will “stop masking whether trains are really on time”.

He said: “Commuters just want their trains to run on time, and that’s my first priority. New statistics published today will stop masking whether trains are really on time.

“I believe this is a step in the right direction, providing more accountability and transparency to help hold operators to account, but much more needs to be done to get performance to where it should be.”

Hull Trains had the worst on-time figure at 36.8 per cent, followed by Transpennine-express (38.7 per cent) and London North Eastern Railway (41 per cent), according to the data published by the Office of Rail and Road.

The best punctuality was recorded by c2c (83.2 per cent).

Anthony Smith, chief executive of watchdog Transport Focus, said passengers’ biggest priority is punctuality and “clearly one-third of trains running late is not acceptable”.

He added: “Transport Focus welcomes the industry heeding its call for the figures to reflect actual arrival times rather than allowing trains up to 10 minutes late to count as ‘on time’.

“This will help rebuild trust in the railway.”

Susie Homan, director of planning, engineering and operations at the Rail Delivery Group, which represents train companies, said: “Every minute matters for our passengers, and that’s why the industry has been publishing tothe-minute punctuality data – the most transparent measure of any railway in Europe – since April.

“There is more to do – but over the last year, while we’ve added thousands of extra services we’ve also seen train punctuality start to improve.

“Rail staff are working hard every day to improve train performance through innovations like digital signalling and investment in new, more reliable infrastructure and trains.”

Andrew Haines, chief executive of rail infrastructure owner Network Rail, said: “Passengers tell us punctuality is the most important thing for them which is why, since joining Network Rail, I have restructured the company to make this the key focus.

“We’re making progress, as today’s figures show, but we know there is much more to do and together as an industry we won’t stop until passengers get the reliable railway they deserve.”