Punctuality on the railways reached 93.4% during Period 13, according to monthly performance data released by Network Rail.
The data for Britain’s train services covers the period from 04 March 2012 – 31 March 2012.
This compares to 92.9% for the same period last year. The moving annual average is now at 91.6%.
All operators achieved at least 90% for ‘one of the very few times in recorded history’, Network Rail said.
However, the Telegraph has reported that ministers are ‘re-examining long-standing regulations which allow trains to run late but still be classed as running on time in official figures’.
The newspaper said that ministers are considering whether the five and ten minute punctuality margins should be reduced, which would have a big effect on performance data.
Currently, commuter trains are considered ‘on time’ if they are less than five minutes late, whilst long distance services have a ten minute margin.
It’s worth pointing out that this improvement is a lie. My TOC did it by adding 5-10 minutes to the timetabled journeys