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| Record number of trains 'on time' | Record number of trains 'on time' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Nine out of 10 trains ran on time over the last year - the highest proportion since records began in 1992, Network Rail has said. | Nine out of 10 trains ran on time over the last year - the highest proportion since records began in 1992, Network Rail has said. |
| A total of 90.6% of trains were on time in the year to March 2009, and April saw a monthly record of 93.5%. | A total of 90.6% of trains were on time in the year to March 2009, and April saw a monthly record of 93.5%. |
| In 2002, when Network Rail took over responsibility for rail infrastructure, punctuality was less than 79%. | In 2002, when Network Rail took over responsibility for rail infrastructure, punctuality was less than 79%. |
| The TSSA union called the figures "spin", saying they had been better under a nationalised rail service. | The TSSA union called the figures "spin", saying they had been better under a nationalised rail service. |
| According to Network Rail, the best performing train company was C2C, operating on the London to Tilbury and Southend lines, which ran 95.3% of its trains on time. | According to Network Rail, the best performing train company was C2C, operating on the London to Tilbury and Southend lines, which ran 95.3% of its trains on time. |
| Chiltern and Merseyrail also reached the 95% mark. | Chiltern and Merseyrail also reached the 95% mark. |
| They do not begin to compare with the old British Rail figures before privatisation in 1996 Gerry Doherty, TSSA leader | |
| Virgin Trains and London Midland performed worse in 2008/9 than in the previous year due to disruption caused by the West Coast Main Line upgrade. | Virgin Trains and London Midland performed worse in 2008/9 than in the previous year due to disruption caused by the West Coast Main Line upgrade. |
| Only eight out of 10 Virgin trains were punctual in 2008/9, compared with 86.2% the previous year. | Only eight out of 10 Virgin trains were punctual in 2008/9, compared with 86.2% the previous year. |
| London Midland slipped from 88.9% to 86.5%. | London Midland slipped from 88.9% to 86.5%. |
| 'Even higher levels' | |
| A train is considered to have arrived on time if it reaches its destination within five minutes of the timetabled arrival time for commuter services and within 10 minutes for long-distance services. | |
| Network Rail said this measure was used throughout Europe. | |
| Network Rail's operations and customer service director, Robin Gisby, said passengers were experiencing the most punctual train service ever provided on Britain's railways. | Network Rail's operations and customer service director, Robin Gisby, said passengers were experiencing the most punctual train service ever provided on Britain's railways. |
| "But we are far from complacent and realise that passengers still experience some delays, albeit less often than in times past. | "But we are far from complacent and realise that passengers still experience some delays, albeit less often than in times past. |
| COMPANY BREAKDOWN c2c Rail - 95.3%Chiltern - 95.2%Merseyrail - 95%Arriva Trains Wales - 93.1%South West Trains - 93.1%London Overground - 92.3%First Capital Connect - 91.1%First Scotrail - 90.6%National Express East Anglia - 90.5%First Great Western - 90.5%First Transpennine Express - 90.3%CrossCountry - 90.1%Southeastern - 90%Northern Rail - 89.8%Southern - 89.5%East Midlands Trains - 89.3%National Express East Coast - 86.9%London Midland - 86.5%Virgin Trains - 80% | |
| "Our focus in the years ahead will be to drive performance to even higher levels with particular attention given to reducing the number of very late services." | "Our focus in the years ahead will be to drive performance to even higher levels with particular attention given to reducing the number of very late services." |
| Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers said: "Passengers will welcome today's news of improvements to punctuality. | |
| "However, Network Rail still has a long way to go. While punctuality has improved, we need to see action taken to improve capacity and give rail passengers better value for money." | |
| Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Norman Baker said: "Any improvement in punctuality is to be welcomed but passengers mustn't be hoodwinked by these results. | |
| "It's not good enough to simply record that half a million trains were within five minutes of their schedule. On time should mean on time." | |
| The Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc) said the achievement was significant as it was running one million more timetabled trains last year than British Rail did just before privatisation. | The Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc) said the achievement was significant as it was running one million more timetabled trains last year than British Rail did just before privatisation. |
| Alec McTavish, Atoc's director of policy and operations, said the priority now was to narrow the differences in performance across different services. | Alec McTavish, Atoc's director of policy and operations, said the priority now was to narrow the differences in performance across different services. |
| Gerry Doherty, leader of TSSA, said: "These figures are just spin and poppycock. | Gerry Doherty, leader of TSSA, said: "These figures are just spin and poppycock. |
| "They do not begin to compare with the old British Rail (BR) figures before privatisation in 1996," he added. | "They do not begin to compare with the old British Rail (BR) figures before privatisation in 1996," he added. |
| "The old InterCity services regularly reported punctuality figures of 92% and the biggest part of BR, Southern, regularly reported figures of 95% during the early 1990s." | "The old InterCity services regularly reported punctuality figures of 92% and the biggest part of BR, Southern, regularly reported figures of 95% during the early 1990s." |
| Ashwin Kumar, director of the transport users watchdog, Passenger Focus, said one in 10 trains runs with delays, meaning there was still room for improvement. | Ashwin Kumar, director of the transport users watchdog, Passenger Focus, said one in 10 trains runs with delays, meaning there was still room for improvement. |
| He added that the industry must get better at providing passengers with information and telling passengers about the compensation owed. | He added that the industry must get better at providing passengers with information and telling passengers about the compensation owed. |
| What's your experience of your train service? Send us your comments using the form below. | What's your experience of your train service? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |