Rail chiefs promise improvements

First Great Western has been told it could have its franchise removed

Wales' rail chiefs have promised to put their under-fire services and network back on track.

First Great Western was warned in March that unless its services improved it could have its franchise taken away.

Network Rail, which runs the rail track across Wales, has also been threatened with action over its repeated service failures.

But both companies have shown signs of improvement in the past month and have pledged that this trend will continue.

In March, Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly said First Great Western was being put "on notice" to improve services, which she said had been "unacceptable for far too long".

The Office of Rail Regulations' (ORR) quarterly public performance measurement (PPM) figures last year revealed First Great Western was the worst performing rail franchise in the UK.

If this improvement we've seen is better throughout the year we can look back and say we're actually proud of this railway that we're running Network Rail's David Ward

During this period as few as 70% of its trains ran on time but in the past month this figure has risen to 90%.

Meanwhile, Network Rail was also warned by the ORR at the end of 2007 about the performance of its Western area network.

The rail regulator told the company, which owns and maintains the track and infrastructure across the UK, it had caused so many cancellations and delays that it was in danger of being investigated for breach of licence and facing millions of pounds in fines.

However, both companies told BBC Wales' Week In Week Out programme they had been working together.

They explained how, until a new management had been put in place at the end of 2007, both companies had blamed each other for the poor levels of service and performance but said this was all in the process of changing.

First Great Western's chief operating officer Andrew Haines said: "We didn't have enough crews, we had some problems with our trains, infrastructure long overdue for renewal."

Ideologically and practically speaking a private railway has provided a level of investment, innovation and imagination that wouldn't have happened if British Rail had stayed as it was Rail Minister Tom Harris

Network Rail's western route director David Ward added: "There were some certain basics where the eye had gone off the ball.

"If this improvement we've seen is better throughout the year we can look back and say we're actually proud of this railway that we're running."

"The improvement will get better," added Mr Haines. "David Ward and I won't be here in six months if that improvement isn't better - our bosses will find someone else to do the job - and I'm confident that won't be the case."

Week In Week Out sent rail journalist Christian Wolmar on a return First Great Western journey from Paddington Station in London to Cardiff to investigate whether the company is in crisis.

Network Rail has been threatened with investigation by the ORR

"I've been following the privatisation story for the last 15 years and in my view it's been a complete disaster and an enormous waste of taxpayers money."

However, apart from the cost of his £158 ticket, which Mr Wolmar described as "outrageous", he found the companies were finally getting their acts together.

Rail Minister Tom Harris told the programme: "Ideologically and practically speaking a private railway has provided a level of investment, innovation and imagination that wouldn't have happened if British Rail had stayed as it was."

Week in Week Out, The Great Western Blues, Tuesday, June 10, BBC One Wales, 10.35pm