|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
Research on Train Punctuality
by Roger Harrabin
|
|
|
|
New research by the Strategic Rail Authority for the Today Programme shows that train punctuality on the privatised railway network is worse than in the days of British Rail.
The new research applies the old measure of the Passengers' Charter to compare services now with services before privatisation.
It shows that punctuality had been steadily improving under private firms - but the wholesale speed restrictions since the Hatfield crash have put that process into reverse. Previously it has been impossible to compare services because the method of collating figures has changed.
Research for the University of Sheffield Advanced Rail Research Centre shows that the aggregate cost of fares has also gone up - but only slightly, while key fares like commuter tickets have been pegged below inflation. The SRA has told the Today Programme that it will publish an official index on fares next year.
Contrary to popular opinion, safety has continued to improve slowly since privatisation - though critics want it to improve faster.
Public subsidies for the railways are down since privatisation - but investment has nearly doubled. Industry estimates suggest that in the last year nearly £3 billion has been invested.
The research will fuel the debate on whether the railways should be re-nationalised or not … especially with new official rail figures showing that long-distance passengers have not seen their services recover significantly in the last quarter from the Hatfield crash. Commuter services
in London and the South-east are getting back to normal.
PUNCTUALITY (Trains arriving on time measured by Passengers' Charter: Source
SRA)
BR 1994: 89.6%
Pre-Hatfield 92.3%
NOW: 86.4%
INVESTMENT SRA/ Industry sources
BR 1994: £1.38 billion
1999-2000 £2.25 billion
NOW (estimate): £2.75-£3 billion
SUBSIDY (DETR/SRA)
BR 1994 £1.7 billion
1999-2000: £1.4 billion
NOW: £1.29 billion
Back to Today - 91Èȱ¬
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Aftermath of the Hatfield Crash |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
