UK: trains can’t hit 92% punctuality because of congestion

[John Ashworth]

Trains can’t hit 92% punctuality because of congestion on the lines

Some of Britain’s railways are as congested as the M25, the head of Network Rail told MPs.

By John Higginson - 13th March, 2012
Metro

There are so many trains on some lines that they are unable to hit their 92 per cent punctuality target, said Sir David Higgins.

Giving evidence to the Commons transport committee, the rail authority’s chief executive said there had been a huge growth in the number of trains being run on the network.

As many as 12 different rail operators use the West Coast Main Line, with the result that it was the equivalent of Britain’s busiest motorway.

He told the committee: ‘You could hit 92 per cent (punctuality) on long-distance but you might have to regulate other services to achieve that.’

Sir David said improving long-distance performance could come ‘at the expense of commuters’.

On Scottish services, he told the MPs: ‘I don’t think we can achieve the punctuality target with the current timetable.’

He added NR aimed to meet all its performance targets for the current five-year period ending in 2014.

Labour MP Graham Stringer asked why privatised Network Rail was getting more subsidy from the government than its public sector predecessor British Rail.

Sir David replied BR was carrying fewer passengers every year.