Department of Transport

Private rail performance powers ahead – Watts
_______________________________________________________________

date 19 November 1996
source Department of Transport
type Press release

note 348

Private sector train operators are comfortably outstripping their
pre-privatisation performance on punctuality and reliability, John
Watts, Minister for Railways and Roads, revealed today.

Welcoming new figures comparing the current performance of the first
eight franchised train operators with their last year under state
ownership, Mr Watts said:

"The latest figures show the private sector passenger train operators
pulling ahead of their state run predecessors. The first eight
companies all improved on last year's performance levels for
reliability and all but one were well above Passenger's Charter
standards. Seven out of eight also comfortably exceed
pre-privatisation performance levels for punctuality.

"Already we are seeing franchised passenger companies ordering new
trains and breathing innovation and enthusiasm into the services they
provide for passengers, with the prospect of more to come. Today's
figures are even further confirmation that the private sector is
getting our railways moving once more."

Operating performance by the private sector passenger train operators
has been strong on all fronts. For example, the performance
indicators reveal South West Trains main line services were on time
89.2% of the time over the last year, up from 85.9% in the year prior
to franchising, whilst the LTS Rail (London Tilbury Southend line)
saw punctuality increase from 89.3% in the year prior to
privatisation to a current annual average of 92.3% .

Notes to editors

1. Figures for the performance of franchised rail companies are
published by the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising on a quarterly
basis. This first version of the figures covers the start of
franchises on 4 February 1996 up to 12 October 1996 and incorporates
eight franchised companies. The full figures are as follows:

Reliability Average % for year Average % for Charter
prior to franchise year to period 7 Standard %
Great Western 99.3 99.4 99.0
South West Trains
(Main Line) 99.4 99.5 99.0
(Suburban) 99.3 99.4 99.0
Great North Eastern 98.8 98.9 99.0
Midland Main Line 99.4 99.5 99.0
Gatwick Express 99.5 99.7 99.0
Connex South Central
(South London Lines) 99.4 99.5 98.5
(Sussex Coast) 99.4 99.5 99.0
LTS Rail 98.1 98.7 98.0
Chiltern Railway 99.5 99.6 99.0

Punctuality

Great Western 89.9 91.1 90.0
South West Trains
(Main Line) 85.9 89.2 90.0
(Suburban) 90.3 92.0 90.0
Great North Eastern 86.7 88.8 90.0
Midland Main Line 90.2 91.1 90.0
Gatwick Express 89.2 91.2 90.0
Connex South Central
(South London Lines) 89.9 91.7 89.0
(Sussex Coast)83.3 87.4 85.0
LTS Rail 89.3 92.3 88.0
Chiltern Railway 94.4 94.3 93.0

2. One key driver of these promising results has been the improved
performance by Railtrack. Better infrastructure management has lead
to better punctuality both for franchised and BR owned TOCs.

Railhub Archive ::: 1996-11-19 DoT-001