Virgin Trains 'the least punctual'

Virgin Trains was the least punctual train company over the festive period, according to monthly performance data released today by Network Rail.

Overall, the passenger train companies ran 88.7% of trains on time in the period December 11 2011 to January 7 2012, compared with a figure of 81.1% for the same period last year.

However the figures from Network Rail showed the worst performing company for that period was Virgin Trains, which only operated 80.6% of trains on time, despite improving from 65.1% for the same period in 2010.

Network Rail said Virgin's performance was hampered by seven days of less than 80% punctuality.

The worst impacts were caused by overhead line damage at Stowe Hill in Northamptonshire on December 13, extremely high winds across the route and a death at Leighton Buzzard on January 5, and a track circuit failure at Kings Langley on December 30.

The best performing company was London Overground which ran 97% of trains on time over the festive period, compared to 93.2% last year, and every company showed an improvement compared to the same period last year.

Companies which failed to meet the national average for punctuality were Stagecoach South West Trains, Southern, National Express East Anglia, London Midland, First Scotrail, First Capital Connect, East Coast and Crosscountry.

PA