Published on: Friday, 5 April 2013
Last updated: Wednesday, 5 October 2016
Abellio train operator Greater Anglia has reported excellent levels of punctuality for the most recent four-week period ended 31 March 2013, with a public performance measure (PPM) result of 93.6%.
This good performance means that the moving annual average (MAA) punctuality result – which measures performance over a 12 month period – has improved to a new high of 92.3%, the best MAA figure recorded so far for the existing East Anglia franchise area (which was established in 2004). Greater Anglia has consistently delivered improvements in train punctuality since taking over the franchise in February last year.
In this most recent punctuality period, all the individual route sectors of the Greater Anglia network again performed well with Metro & Southend punctuality at 95.0%, West Anglia service punctuality at 94.7%, Mainline at 92.5%, Stansted Express at 91.9% and Rural at 91.8%.
The 12 month MAA punctuality level for Mainline services is at an all-time high of 91.2%. Meanwhile, within the Mainline route, Greater Anglia’s Intercity Norwich to London services are performing at their best punctuality levels for over 13 years.
The improvement in train service performance achieved by Greater Anglia since its franchise began in February 2012, has resulted in a sustained increase in the annual average punctuality of services (both for the franchise as a whole and across all the individual route sectors). The positive progress reflects the ‘alliance’ the train operator has established with Network Rail to drive up reliability levels and deliver a better service for customers. This proactive partnership is providing a real focus on improving performance and when problems do occur improved contingency plans are helping to ensure that the service can recover more quickly following any disruption. Greater Anglia’s train fleet is also operating more reliably, with the intercity trains amongst the most reliable intercity trains on the UK network.
In addition, this joint strategy has resulted in most weekends this year being free from disruptive engineering work, so passengers can enjoy weekend days out to and from the Capital on the train on the Great Eastern Main Line (GEML) between Norwich, Ipswich, Colchester and London (without the need to travel part of the way on a bus). In fact weekends are now clear of disruptive engineering work on the GEML for the rest of the year (apart from one Sunday in early October).
Ruud Haket, Managing Director Greater Anglia said: “Our relentless focus on delivering better train service punctuality is positively reflected in these latest performance statistics.
“Once more, the alliance with Network Rail and the increased reliability of our fleet of trains has helped to achieve an excellent four-week period of performance and the best-ever annual average punctuality across the Greater Anglia network. However, both we and our customers are looking for even higher standards and even greater consistency. We will therefore continue to work closely with our colleagues at Network Rail, focusing on further improvements for our customers and the region we serve.”