Network Rail missed all of its punctuality targets for England and Wales in the last year, according to figures from the rail regulator.
This failure has led Virgin Rail Group, which runs the West Coast mainline, to call for Network Rail to spend “millions of pounds of customer-focussed improvements” instead of being fined by the Treasury.
Network Rail is facing penalties of up to £75 million from the government for its poor performance in the year ending on March 31, 2013.
The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) said 90.9 per cent of trains ran on time in 2012/13 – down from 91.6 per cent in the previous year.
Punctuality in London and the south-east was 91 per cent - 1.7 points below the target set by the ORR.
For long-distance trains, including Virgin’s West Coast Mainline services, the punctuality rate was 87 per cent – 4.5 points off the regulators’ target.
Virgin Rail Group chief executive Tony Collins said: “Network Rail has consistently failed to deliver what it is contracted to deliver.
“That has directly affected customers’ experience, and their impression of rail travel. So any penalties levied on Network Rail should be in the form of tangible improvements that customers benefit from. There is really no benefit to Network Rail, customers or VRG in having money leave the industry.”
Virgin added that punctuality on the West Coast line had been 85.7 per cent for the four-week period ending on May 25 – 2.3 points below the target of 88 per cent.
The train firm said that 70 per cent of delays were caused by “infrastructure issues” which were the responsibility of Network Rail.
Network Rail said that it spent £5 billion in 2012/13 (which works out at £14 million per day) to renew and extend the UK’s rail network.
Group finance director, Patrick Butcher, said: “The challenge we have faced over the last year, and will continue to face in the years ahead, is one of success – more people wanting to use more trains, more of the time.
“Over the last 12 months we have invested an unprecedented amount in growing and expanding the rail network through over 2,000 projects nationwide.
“However, the economic times in which we live mean that alongside delivering new capacity we need to keep a constant drive for improved efficiency. Our overall financial performance remains strong and we are on track to deliver over £5bn of cost savings for the five years to 2014.”
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