RAIL firms running services through Huddersfield improved punctuality during December – despite disruption by snow.
First TransPennine Express ran 83.7% of trains on time in December, 2010, compared with just 75.7% during the same month in 2009.
That was the best year-on-year improvement of any UK train operator in figures released by Network Rail.
And Northern Rail, which runs the Huddersfield-Barnsley-Sheffield service and “stopping” trains over the Pennines, improved punctuality to 84.9% from 82.1%.
Throughout December, many trains were disrupted, particularly on the Penistone Line which suspends services for days.
Nationally, the severe weather before Christmas meant only 81% of trains ran on time during December. However, that was 1% higher than the same month in 2009, when the rail network was also hit by heavy snow.
The figures for December 12, 2010, to January 8, 2011, showed that Scotland was the region worst-hit by the wintry weather.
East Coast and Virgin West Coast – the two main London-to-Scotland train operators – ran fewer than two-thirds of trains on time in December, 2010.
East Coast, which links London King’s Cross with Wakefield, Leeds and Edinburgh, ran just 63.3% of trains on time while Virgin managed ran only 65.6% of trains on time. ScotRail achieved a punctuality figure of 73.9%.
Across the UK, nine of the 19 passenger train companies managed to improve their figures in December, 2010, compared with December, 2009.
NR operations and customer services director Robin Gisby said: “During the recent tough weather, many passengers saw disruption to their journeys.
“While most trains ran and we kept all the major routes open, passengers and freight users did not receive the high levels of service they have come to expect and rightly demand.
“We endeavoured to run as many trains as possible and sometimes put capacity ahead of punctuality.
“Working closely with train operators, we are looking at what we can do to further reduce the impact of extreme weather on passenger journeys and improve the flow of information to passengers.”
A spokesperson for the Association of Train Operating Companies said: “Train company staff worked around the clock to keep as many services running as possible during the coldest December on record and it is testament to their hard work that over the period more than four out of five trains got to their destination on time.
“But we know that passengers did experience disruption during the snow and we apologise to everyone who had problems getting to where they wanted to go.
“Train companies and NR are now examining closely what can be learnt from the cold snap so that action can be taken now and in the future to keep on improving punctuality.”
Bob Crow, general secretary of the RMT union, said: “These figures show yet again that the fragmented, profit-driven system under rail privatisation is failing to deliver the quality of service that passengers both deserve and pay for.”
