Rail firms to be named and shamed
Train companies are to be named and shamed over the number of delays and cancellations to their services.
Screens at larger stations across England will display the statistics of cancellations and delays while passengers at smaller ones will be able to find them by scanning QR codes on posters.
The screens also provide information on what train operators and Network Rail are doing in the area to improve performance.
From today, performance data produced by the Office of Rail and Road is available for more than 1,700 stations.
Train reliability across Britain is at a record low, with the equivalent of more than one in 25 services cancelled in the year up to Feb 1.
Heidi Alexander, the Transport Secretary, said: 'Today marks the beginning of a new era of rail accountability.
'These displays are a step towards rebuilding trust with passengers using our railways, as we continue to tackle the root causes of frustrating delays and cancellations.
'Through fundamental rail reform, we're sweeping away decades of dysfunctionality – putting passengers first, driving growth through connectivity as part of this Government's Plan for Change.'
Data is available for the 14 operators funded by the Department for Transport (DfT), as well as for other train companies who have agreed it can be displayed.
Figures published in December showed Avanti West Coast, which runs services between London, the North West and Scotland, was the least punctual in Britain.
Just 41 per cent of its trains arrived on time between July and September last year, a five point drop from the same period a year earlier.
London North Eastern Railway cancelled 7.4 per cent of trains – second worst after Northern trains which had a rate of 8.7 per cent. This includes services axed on the day and those pre-cancelled before the day of travel.
Jacqueline Starr, the chief executive of the Rail Delivery Group, which represents operators, said: 'We know how frustrating it is for customers when their train is cancelled or delayed.
'By being transparent with this data and the positive actions we're taking, it shows how serious the industry is in putting this right by continuing to strive for improvements.
'This sends a clear message to customers that the rail sector is committed to improving punctuality and to find solutions to make train services more reliable.'
Natasha Grice, a director of Transport Focus, watchdog for transport users said: 'Passengers tell us they want a reliable, on-time train service and will welcome improvements to information about the punctuality of their service and cancellations being shared more transparently.
'It's important that the industry uses this information to drive up performance.'
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