Latest Rail News

21.11.17

Caledonian hit by delays and poor performance as c2c tops period 8

Caledonian Sleeper services hit the bottom of Network Rail’s Public Performance Measures, with C2C topping the chart.

Caledonian, which took over from First ScotRail in 2015, only had 73.8% of services come in within NR’s five-minute time limit, a huge drop from the 87.4% it had over the same period last year and considerably below the 83.9% national average.

Over the period between 15 October and 11 November, the majority of delays were caused by delays out of the operator’s hands, such as weather, vandalism or Network Rail’s infrastructure work.

The poor performance recorded by Caledonian comes as a surprise, as they topped the scale in period 5.

GTR also recorded extremely low performance, coming in with 75.3% this year, however this is still significantly higher than last year’s score where it was recorded as low as 70%.

On the other end of the scale, c2c topped the table with an impressive 95.9% of services coming on time, improving its high performance from last year and just beating out London Underground’s 94.2%.

c2c’s managing director, Julian Drury, said: “We are really proud that we can once again call ourselves Britain’s best railway. This is only possible thanks to a huge amount of hard work and dedication from all our staff.

“We know that just one service being delayed or cancelled can cause frustration if it’s your train that’s affected, but this is less likely to happen when travelling with c2c than anywhere else in the country.”

David Simpson, Serco’s production and safety director at Caledonian Sleeper, said: “Caledonian Sleeper is unique in that we only operate a small number of services. As such, a few minor incidents can lead to our trains falling behind PPM targets – for example, a tree blocking the line at Lockerbie during a period of high winds.

“Like other train operators, the impact of low rail adhesion was significant during autumn and we faced particular challenges on our Fort William and Aberdeen routes. Addressing this is a key priority and we are working closely with industry partners to ensure improvements are made.

“While there have been some challenges, we are already seeing performance move back above targets. We’re proud of our overall performance, with Caledonian Sleeper the best performing long distance operator as measured by ‘Right Time’ arrivals.”

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Comments

SPT   21/11/2017 at 11:52

Well quelle surprise with c2c being top of the tree - not really too difficult is it when they only have to run over a total of 80 route miles and are essentially the sole operator on their route bar a few freight trains to and from Barking/Tilbury... Not really something to shout about in my book... and definitely wouldn't suggest that 95.5% PPM makes them "Britain's best railway" - its about a lot more than that...

Sonning Cutting   21/11/2017 at 12:35

What these figures show of course is that operating a complex network viz: GTR is far more difficult than a relatively simple operation to Southend with basically uniform rolling stock. The moral is "keep it simple stupid" That means you - DFT

Andrew Gwilt   21/11/2017 at 13:52

Much prefer using c2c because their trains are always on time. Much better than Greater Anglia. As I live in Benfleet Essex and I don’t live too far from Benfleet station which is on the c2c (LTS) line that is near or Rayleigh station which is the nearest station to me that is on the GA Southend Victoria line.

Highlander   21/11/2017 at 18:42

Worth remembering a point about statistics. CS only operate 4 trains per day; into and out of London at least. If just one is occasionally late it constitutes a much bigger percentage than for an operator like C2C who have more 4 trains per hour.

Lee   21/11/2017 at 22:21

C2c is a terrible service, it has no consideration for it passengers and the customer service is diabolical. Displays saying how many carriages and less turn up twice last week. Always cancelling a time, finished with my commute on 22nd Jan thank Christ

Bob   22/11/2017 at 11:45

@Andrew - Thanks for informing me of your location so I note never to ever visit Benfleet.

Andrew Gwilt   22/11/2017 at 13:11

@Bob. Why you dont like Benfleet station. Nothing wrong with that station.

Andrew JG   24/11/2017 at 03:09

Benfleet railway station hasn't got no lifts and that's the problem with disabled commuters who use Benfleet station will have to go to another station that has got lifts. I think that c2c should improve Benfleet station a lot more and to install new lifts on both platforms so that it would be easier for commuters on wheelchairs and parents with babies on pushprams to access the station much easier and to catch the train they need to get to. Same could be said with other railway stations that Greater Anglia manages these stations in Essex such as Ingatestone on the London-Norwich main line and stations on the Southend Victoria line including Wickford, Rayleigh, Hockley, Rochford and Prittlewell stations that don't have lifts but have ramps which takes longer for a commuter in a wheelchair to get from one side of the station to the other side. Plus the footbridges at those stations does need to be replaced with new footbridges which could also feature ramps or lifts for easier access if you are disabled or a parent with a baby in a pushpram. Saying about Prittlewell station. It may not need a lift but a ramp could be ideal to access to the station would be a great idea. Southend Airport railway station that is still new and opened in 2011 which has got lifts that is easier to access the station much easier as the station serves London Southend Airport main terminal, the airport itself, retail park and local areas including Eastwoodbury. Billericay railway station has been improved with a new lift that goes down to platform 2 and the old lift that goes down to platform 1 which would do with being replaced with a new lift.

Andrew JG   24/11/2017 at 09:34

Could of said about Hatfield Peveral, Kelvedon and Marks Tey stations that could do with step free access for disabled passengers and parents with babies on pushprams including replacing the old footbridges with new footbridges with lifts or ramps. I think Kelvedon is ok because it’s easier to get from one side to the other side as it’s on the slope. Also Shenfield station if Crossrail were to refurbish and revamp Shenfield then it could have a footbridge that would link from the car park at the far end of the station to the main entrance instead of taking the long way round.

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