c2c Railway has been named the UK’s best‑performing train operating company for punctuality and reliability, according to Network Rail’s latest annual Railway Performance statistics.
The figures, published earlier this month, cover the 12‑month period to 31 March 2026 and place the Essex and east London operator at the top of the national industry rankings.
Service punctuality is measured using the industry‑standard Time to 3 (T‑3) metric, which records the percentage of trains arriving within three minutes of their scheduled arrival time. c2c achieved an industry‑leading 91.9%, outperforming every other train operator in the country.
The operator also ranked first for service reliability, with cancellations recorded at just 1.7% over the 12‑month period — the lowest rate in the national network.
Commenting on the results, c2c’s Managing Director Rob Mullen said:
“Providing customers with a safe, reliable and punctual service remains our number one priority, and the latest annual statistics collated and published by Network Rail - which see us top the industry leaderboard - are testament to the hard work and dedication of the c2c team right across the route.
“c2c remains fully committed to providing customers with a high-quality, easy-to-access service, and we will be doing all we can to further enhance our service and improve on these already impressive figures.
“With our colleagues at Greater Anglia also recording fantastic punctuality and reliability scores in 2025/26, the recently published data clearly demonstrates the strength of rail performance being delivered in the Anglia region, as our organisations, working closely alongside Network Rail Anglia, move forward together.”
Strong commercial growth alongside operational excellence
The performance milestone comes during a strong trading year for c2c, with passenger numbers and ticket sales continuing to rise. Revenue increased by 10.6% compared with the previous financial year, significantly outpacing wider industry growth.
c2c’s Commercial and Business Strategy Director Eleni Jordan highlighted the impact of digital innovation and sustained investment across the route:
“c2c and the wider rail industry has faced many challenges over the past few years, not least the exponential growth in home working and online shopping.
“I am therefore delighted to see that the introduction of contactless and e-ticketing across the entire c2c route, supported by number of sustained and effective marketing campaigns, has directly led to strong double digit commercial growth.
“We are continuously reinvesting in our stations and the c2c network to ensure an even better experience for customers.
“In the last year we have introduced a wide range of improvements across our estate, including platform renewal works at Basildon and Rainham stations, the redevelopment of the main concourse, ticket offices and ticket gatelines at Barking, and improved lighting at many locations across the route.”
“Our strong revenue growth in 2025/26 reflects our continued momentum under public ownership as we build back better and move towards Great British Railways.”
Anglia performance sets national benchmark
With both c2c and Greater Anglia delivering standout results, the latest figures underline the strength of rail performance across the Anglia region and the benefits of close collaboration between operators and Network Rail Anglia.
As the industry continues its transition towards Great British Railways, c2c’s latest results provide a clear benchmark for operational excellence, customer focus and commercial recovery under public ownership.
Image credit: c2c
