WEBTRAINS.CO.UK
01/20/2010 AT 07:27
Train performance remains good this autumn period
Train punctuality and reliability over the autumn hit record levels this year with delays caused by infamous, 'leaves on the line', cut by 40%.
Network Rail today released the latest train performance results which saw 89.4% of trains arriving on time during November - the best on record - and combined with October's record result of 90.2%, made 2009 the best autumn ever.
Robin Gisby, director operations and customer service, said: "Most of the rail network has had a good autumn, with delays cut and train punctuality at record levels. It hasn't been the easiest autumn with some extreme weather and awful flooding affecting passengers and train operators in some areas. However, the hard work Network Rail and the train operators have made in making our railways more resilient is paying off."
Period nine (15 November to 12 December) marks the end of the autumn period that sees train punctuality traditionally fall by up to five percentage points as trains have to cope with the railways equivalent of black-ice, compacted leaf mulch. Passengers saw services maintain high levels of performance despite this difficult time for train punctuality as Britain's rail network enjoyed its best ever November.
Severe weather, particularly flooding in the North West, meant November was particularly challenging. Network Rail brought relief to the community of Workington in Cumbria, whose town had been cut in two after road and footbridges were washed away. By building a temporary station, Network Rail and train operators were able to re-connect the town, with a special shuttle service running, saving residents a two-hour road journey.
Robin Gisby, director of operations and customer service, said: “We're now through the most difficult time of the year for train performance and high levels of punctuality have been maintained for Britain's millions of daily passengers."
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