Rail punctuality 'will improve'

Overhead cables were brought down by a train caused delays in June

A joint scheme between Network Rail and National Express East Anglia has been announced with the aim of improving punctuality to trains across the East.

Over the last year punctuality on all of its services between London and the east of England has increased from 87.1% to 90.2%, National Express said.

However, the company said it hopes to better this over the next 12 months.

The joint plan aims to tackle technical faults overnight to improve punctuality on morning services.

In addition, the scheme aims to see work carried out to modify electric unit trains to reduce failures, 35 miles (56km) of track and overhead power cables between London and Chelmsford renewed and a remote monitoring system to provide early warning of any equipment failure.

Cables stolen

In June, severe delays occurred on the main London to Norwich line after a train went over overhead cables.

In the same month, freight and rail passengers were delayed when 300m of cabling was stolen by thieves on the line between Ely, in Cambridgeshire, to Ipswich, Suffolk.

Andrew Chivers, managing director of National Express East Anglia, said: "We recognise that punctuality is not at the level of consistency our customers expect, as occurred in June with a number of disruptive incidents that affected mainline services.

"We're therefore pleased to publish a further Joint Performance Improvement Plan with Network Rail as part of our work to achieve higher and more sustained levels of punctuality"