Network Rail '£53m Fine' For Low Punctuality

Network Rail (NR) has "failed to deliver" on punctuality for major routes over the past year, according to the industry regulator.

The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) said that during 2013/14 Network Rail saw long-distance and major commuter line punctuality was 86.9%.

The ORR said the figure "fell significantly short" of the average punctuality target of 92%.

The watchdog said that as a result, NR has been ordered to return £53.1m to the Treasury.

The ORR said NR "did not deliver all of its plans to improve performance" for long-distance punctuality, in the five years to the end of March.

It added: "And, particularly in the early years of the (five-year) funding period, had insufficient knowledge of the condition of its key assets, such as earthworks, electrical equipment and drainage".

Routes around the capital were slightly better than across the country but still fell short of expectations.

London and South East England (LSE) passenger services in 2013/14 saw punctuality levels of 89.6% against a target figure of 93%.

The ORR added: "As a result of missing its funded obligations, and to address issues which have disrupted services for passengers, the company has committed extra funds to improve the resilience of the rail network in LSE.

"Plans expected to include projects costing at least £25m must be in place by December 2014."

Between 2009 and 2014, the ORR said around 73,100 additional late trains over and above funded obligations, while for the LSE area there were some 265,500 additional late trains.

However, the ORR said NR did achieve infrastructure targets, bringing in rail enhancement plans on time and within budget.

NR chief executive Mark Carne, who joined in February, said: "We accept that we have fallen short of the regulatory targets for train punctuality and that this is, in part, down to our failure to reduce infrastructure faults quickly enough.

"At the same time, the sharp increase in passenger demand has led us to run more trains at peak times, even when we know this will lead to a more congested railway and punctuality targets may suffer."

Meanwhile, there has been a pledge to spend up to £90m to improve free railway internet wifi access across England and Wales, in part funded by the fine imposed on NR over punctuality failures.

Passengers on busy routes will be able get wifi connections said to be at least 10 times faster than those currently available.

Commuters on routes into London from Bedford, Brighton, Kent and Portsmouth are expected to benefit, along with those using services into Leeds, Sheffield and Manchester.

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