Thefts make trains run late on East Coast Main Line

Oct 1 2010 by Robert Weatherall, The Journal

AN MP is demanding answers from train executives after figures revealed services are failing to arrive on time.

Durham City MP Roberta Blackman-Woods is to write to train company East Coast Main Line following the publication of new figures indicated the company had the poorest punctuality of all train operators for services in September.

All train companies strive to meet the target of making at least 91% of their services arrive on time.

But during September, East Coast only managed to ensure 85.2% of their trains arrived when they were scheduled to. Metal thefts, damage to overhead power cables and breakdowns were blamed for the delays by the company.

It runs services between London and Scotland, and makes stops at a number of stations in the region including Newcastle, Darlington, Durham and Berwick.

The company is run by the Department of Transport after the previous private operator, National Express, had to give up the franchise.

The punctuality figures were published by Network Rail and relate to travel times between August 22 and September 18. However, NR acknowledged that East Coast was hit by problems beyond its control.