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Train firm turning things around
TRAIN operator First Great Western has improved its punctuality just five months after coming last in national performance tables.
Last month, 88.9 per cent of Thames Valley rush-hour trains were on time, just below its 92 per cent target, while 91.1 per cent of its long-distance expresses were punctual, beating the 90 per cent target.
At the end of last year, FGW was bottom in the Office of Rail Regulation's performance tables, with just 79.7 per cent of its trains on time in the last three months of 2007.
FGW's own figures showed its performance was even worse on peak services in the Thames Valley, with only 64 per cent of trains on time at the turn of the year.
Nationally, passenger train operators ran 86.9 per cent of trains on time in the same period. The rail industry has an overall national target for punctuality of 88.3 per cent.
FGW and infrastructure operator Network Rail implemented a joint performance improvement plan, supervised by the ORR, to cut delays.
FGW's chief operating officer Andrew Haines said: "We still have work to do and it is early days, but the performance figure for April of just over 90 per cent is evidence that our actions to improve performance are beginning to take effect.
"We need to ensure that we deliver this improvement consistently for our customers and are working hard to do so."
Zahra Akkerhuys, a spokesman for Oxford commuter group Ox Rail Action, said: "We welcome the improvements and want to give credit where it's due.
"What was a truly abysmal service has been turned around but these are one month's figures and we want to see the improved performance sustained in the long term. Overall, punctuality is better, but a train I was on on Tuesday arrived 15 minutes late."
6:03am Sunday 11th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Andrew, Oxford on 10:34am Sun 11 May 08
So approximately 90% on time...
That means if you take a direct train to and from work 5 days a week, you are almost guaranteed to be either late home or late at work once a week. Not exactly something to be proud of.
Maybe services would improve if cross-rail electrification were to be extended to Oxford and TFL operated "semi-fast" and "slow" services between Oxford & London leaving FGW to concentrate on Express and Diesel operated services.
So approximately 90% on time...
That means if you take a direct train to and from work 5 days a week, you are almost guaranteed to be either late home or late at work once a week. Not exactly something to be proud of.
Maybe services would improve if cross-rail electrification were to be extended to Oxford and TFL operated "semi-fast" and "slow" services between Oxford & London leaving FGW to concentrate on Express and Diesel operated services.
Posted by: julia, oxford on 10:39am Sun 11 May 08
These are the operators own figures - yet to be confirmed by the rail regulator.
These are the operators own figures - yet to be confirmed by the rail regulator.
Posted by: Phil Gale, Oxford on 4:17pm Sun 11 May 08
It's not as if "on time" actually means "at the scheduled time", either: what's the margin? 10 minutes?
If you recorded the number of trains that actually got to their destination at the time the timetable stated ... I'd guess it would be close to zero.
Mind you, I was on a train this week which stopped for several minutes between Kennington and Oxford: the ticket collector/guard walked up the train pointing out that we were running early... that will never be allowed!
It's not as if "on time" actually means "at the scheduled time", either: what's the margin? 10 minutes?
If you recorded the number of trains that actually got to their destination at the time the timetable stated ... I'd guess it would be close to zero.
Mind you, I was on a train this week which stopped for several minutes between Kennington and Oxford: the ticket collector/guard walked up the train pointing out that we were running early... that will never be allowed!
Posted by: julia, oxford on 5:56pm Sun 11 May 08
The real question is why, after two years of continiously rotten performance, FGW still have the franchise? Wasnt the whole idea of contracting services that if the provider failed, you could dump and replace them?
The real question is why, after two years of continiously rotten performance, FGW still have the franchise? Wasnt the whole idea of contracting services that if the provider failed, you could dump and replace them?
Posted by: Andrew, Oxford on 8:03pm Sun 11 May 08
[quote][bold]Phil Gale[/bold] wrote:
It\'s not as if \"on time\" actually means \"at the scheduled time\", either: what\'s the margin? 10 minutes?
If you recorded the number of trains that actually got to their destination at the time the timetable stated ... I\'d guess it would be close to zero.
Mind you, I was on a train this week which stopped for several minutes between Kennington and Oxford: the ticket collector/guard walked up the train pointing out that we were running early... that will never be allowed![/quote] Don't all trains pause at that section for a while - whether on time or not?
Oxford desperately need two additional through platforms and a southern terminating platform.
Phil Gale wrote:
It\'s not as if \"on time\" actually means \"at the scheduled time\", either: what\'s the margin? 10 minutes?
If you recorded the number of trains that actually got to their destination at the time the timetable stated ... I\'d guess it would be close to zero.
Mind you, I was on a train this week which stopped for several minutes between Kennington and Oxford: the ticket collector/guard walked up the train pointing out that we were running early... that will never be allowed!
Don't all trains pause at that section for a while - whether on time or not?
Oxford desperately need two additional through platforms and a southern terminating platform.
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