Trains 'later since privatisation'

Commuters are waiting even longer than before

Train punctuality is now worse than it was before privatisation, research has suggested.

Analysis for the BBC by the Strategic Rail Authority indicates that the situation had been improving, until the Hatfield crash last October.

Before the crash, which killed four people and left 35 injured, train punctuality had improved by about 3% since privatisation in the mid-1990s, it said.

But since Hatfield that trend has been reversed, with punctuality now 3% worse than before privatisation.

Such comparisons have not been made before, because calculation methods have changed.

But the BBC asked the SRA to apply the old statistical method for an analysis.

BBC correspondent Roger Harrabin says it is difficult to tell whether the figures show a blip in an otherwise upward trend, "or whether they show privatisation has created faults which may lead to new catastrophes in the future".

One in five

Whatever the reasons, public perceptions certainly seem to be that punctuality is declining.

Complaints from rail passengers rose sharply in the months of speed restrictions and network repairs which followed the fatal crash.

In the financial year 2000-2001 only 59% told the SRA they were content with train punctuality and reliability, compared with 74% in the previous year.

Long-distance routes which felt the effects of numerous speed restrictions fared the worst.

Commuters in London and south-east England were understood to be faring the best.

A commuter train is classed as late-running if it is five minutes behind schedule; for a long distance train the threshold is 10 minutes.

Earlier this year, train companies promised to get back to pre-Hatfield levels - where one in five trains were late.