Train delays on East Coast Main Line among the worst in country

May 27 2009 by Sam Wood, The Journal

TRAIN punctuality on one of the region’s key routes is among the worst in the country, despite big improvements in the past 12 months, new figures have revealed.

And in the wake of the figures, business leaders have warned rail delays can have a ‘significant cost’ for business.

Network Rail last night released performance statistics for all train companies in the country.

In the period 2008/09, 86.9% of trains on the National Express East Coast route, which connects Newcastle with Leeds and London, were on time, compared with a national average of 90.6%.

That represents a 4% improvement on the year before, but only Virgin Trains, which operates on the badly disrupted West Coast Main Line, and London Midland, had worse records of punctuality in the country.

Northern Rail managed to achieve 89.8% on time and for Virgin Crosscountry, which also operates service in the North East, the figure was 90.1%.

Liz Mayes, CBI North East assistant regional director said more improvement was needed to help the economy of the region: "It is positive that there are some improvements in punctuality on the East Coast Main Line, but as these figures show there is still a great deal of room for improvement.

"Transport links to London are of critical importance to the region’s business community and to the whole of the region’s economy. When it runs to time the East Coast Main Line is a great asset to the region, but delays can have significant costs for business which can be ill afforded in the current economic climate."

Head of policy at the North East Chamber of Commerce Ross Smith said: "The East Coast Main Line has been hit by issues such as Hatfield, Selby and also flooding which have impacted on performance and punctuality.