Simon Montague: Government will keep up the pressure on rail companies

Some companies have already failed to publish Easter holiday train times.

Engineering works on Connex South Central mean revised timetables will not be out for another fortnight.

"People do expect that information to be made available," said David Bertram of the Central Rail Users' Committee. "Once that commitment has been made it should be met. We're all very concerned about the lack of consistency on the railways at the moment."

But train companies insist 98% of Easter timetables were out on time.

'Early access is essential'

This has not impressed the acting rail regulator, Chris Bolt, who said in a statement he hoped to impose the so-called T-12 plan - T minus 12 weeks. The move will affect the 25 privatised train operators and Railtrack which owns tracks and signalling.

"Early access to accurate timetable information is essential for rail passengers," said Bolt. "The continuing failures lead me to believe that the industry's public commitment to T-12 needs to be expressed in a more tangible form and made enforceable."

His plan comes just weeks after the Christmas period, which saw chaotic timetabling of trains due to problems between Railtrack and train operators.

Mr Bolt said if the industry failed to agree to the plan voluntarily, he would refer the matter to competition watchdog, the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

His hardline approach comes at a time when the government is considering a replacement for the position of rail regulator after John Swift resigned last November. Mr Swift had been viewed critically by the government for being too soft on the rail industry.

The Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott will address the timetabling issue, among others, at a rail industry summit next month.