National train performance is 91.4% for the period 8/1/12 to 4/2/12

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Network Rail press release:

NATIONAL TRAIN PERFORMANCE FOR PERIOD 11 IS 91.4%

Punctuality on the railways reached 91.4% during period 11, according to monthly performance data released today by Network Rail. The data for Britain's train services covers the period from 8 January 2012 - 4 February 2012. This compares to 90.3% for the same period last year and is the highest period 11 punctuality figure ever recorded. The moving annual average is now at 91.6%.

For Virgin Trains period 11 performance was 3.1% worse than target with PPM^▸ (Parry People Mover, or Pence Per Mile, or Public Performance Measure - depending on context) of 85.7%. Performance throughout the period was generally very good, with 19 days above 90% and eight of these above 95%. There were four poor days of less than 80%, with the main incidents including fatalities at Nuneaton and Cheddington and signalling problems at Birmingham International. The most severe incident, impacting the last two days of the period, was a derailment at Bletchley (PPM was just 9.4% on 3rd February). The incident is currently under full investigation.

[jessicafoxton]

Well a big congratulations for them for making 1.3% of effort more than last year
The target PPM^▸ (Parry People Mover, or Pence Per Mile, or Public Performance Measure - depending on context) should be at least 92% or more. I fail to see how other countries in Europe can get their train systoms near imacculate and we can't even scrape reliable(speaking purley about the London to Cambridge lines.) I havn't seen a train from London Kings Cross to Cambridge that hasn't been delayed since before christmas! Ranging throughout the day I might add.
They clearly can't deal with a lots of customers and especially peak times, they should quit while they're ahead and sell their company.

And the fact public transport is supposed to be cheaper so we use it for the envirnoment has backfired as it's now cheaper for me to be driven to town that my extortion train ticket of ^4.20 for 10 minutes, less than 8 miles and no stops between me and Cambridge. Truly disgusting.

[Tim]

Well an improvement is an improvement so credit were it is due.  91.4% is still not very good though.  Especially when you consider that a train is only late until it is 10 minutes late (late enough to miss a connection though)  and that some of this improvement has been achieved by padding timetables.

Having said that I am not sure that international comparisons are entirely fair.  We have more trains running on less track than most of Europe.   

[IndustryInsider]

Especially when you consider that a train is only late until it is 10 minutes late

5 minutes late for the majority of trains.  10 only applies to the long distance services.  Oh, and my personal experience of European train services is far from immaculate - delays, cancellations and I've even been involved in a low speed collision!

[inspector_blakey]

The old canard that all train services in Europe are wonderful and Britain's are terrible is little more than a false impression born out of ignorance or prejudice and not substantiated by any facts.

It is certainly true that there are some superb, high-speed intercity services on the continent, but in many countries (including France and Germany) commuter and regional services in some areas are appalling: slow, dirty and using rolling stock that makes a 142 look space-age.

[jessicafoxton]

Wow..a low speed collision... ouch? I am just speaking from experience. I have never experienced a delay in Germany in 3 recurring years but here it is a problem I face every day.

[ellendune]

The last time I was at Koln hauptbahnhof ICE's were running over 30 minutes late from several desinations.  My German companion thought this was normal!  Local trains did look somewhat shabby. 

[Electric train]

The comparison with Europe is the classic Westminster village spin of statistics  ("There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."
Disraeli ) to suit the particular flavour of the month, they miss the fact that over the last 40 / 50 years they have neglected the national rail system and that UK^▸ (United Kingdom) without doubt operates the highest density mixed traffic system in Europe possibly even the world, the system is in many places operating in permanent way that was designed and built over 125 years ago.  There is a lot of aging equipment(signaling and traction electrical power) that is gradually being replaced even some installed in the 1980's "to a budget" is failing and needs replacing .

 

[ellendune]

The comparison with Europe is the classic Westminster village spin of statistics  ("There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."
Disraeli ) to suit the particular flavour of the month, they miss the fact that over the last 40 / 50 years they have neglected the national rail system and that UK^▸ (United Kingdom) without doubt operates the highest density mixed traffic system in Europe possibly even the world, the system is in many places operating in permanent way that was designed and built over 125 years ago.  There is a lot of aging equipment(signaling and traction electrical power) that is gradually being replaced even some installed in the 1980's "to a budget" is failing and needs replacing .

Well said!