SOME train companies are running fewer than 60% of services on time, according to “real” punctuality figures.

Figures from Network Rail, which is responsible for track and signals, showed that train operators achieved an average of 69.2% of services on time during the past year – where trains are considered late if they arrive more than 59 seconds after the timetabled time.

The information is being supplied this month in addition to the normal monthly punctuality figures in which trains are considered to have arrived on time if they are no more than five minutes late on short routes and no more than 10 minutes late on long-distance journeys.

Under the “real” time rule, First TransPennine Express, which links Huddersfield with cities including Leeds, Hull, Newcastle, Manchester and Liverpool, ran 67.8% of services on time while Northern Rail, which links Huddersfield with Penistone, Barnsley, Sheffield, Brighouse, Halifax, Bradford, Mirfield and Wakefield achieved 74% of services on time.

CrossCountry, whose services include those running from Scotland and the North East through Yorkshire and the Midlands to South West England, managed a punctuality rate of just 48.8% under the 59-second rule.

Among other operators, Virgin Trains ran only 54.1% of trains on time in the 12 months to December 8 while Southern managed 56.9%, First ScotRail 59.7%, London Midland 65.7% and Southeastern 65.8%.

Among the top performers were London Overground, running 88.4% of trains on time, Arriva Trains Wales on 86.1%, Chiltern on 84.7% and c2c on 84.3%.

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