Virgin delivers best ever train performance

Virgin Trains’ West Coast rail franchise has just recorded its best ever train performance. In the four weeks ending 17 October 93.4 percent of trains arrived on time at their destination, beating the previous record of 91.3 percent in May 2006.

The latest performance figure is the highest since Virgin took over running the West Coast franchise in March 1997 and represents a 8.4 percent increase from the 85.0 percent performance recorded in the same period a year ago. An improved service has been consistently delivered over the last three months with nine out of every ten trains on time between August and October.

Since taking over the West Coast rail franchise, Virgin has increased the number of passengers from 13.6 million to 22.5 million a year; replaced the entire train fleet and now runs over 50% more trains on weekdays than it did 12 years ago.

Virgin Trains’ Chief Executive Tony Collins paid tribute to all Virgin Trains’ people whose commitment to the business remains at the highest level.

"It's great news for our customers and staff that we have our best punctuality ever at 93.4 percent, “ said Tony.

“After the many infrastructure problems of recent years, our customers have the level of service they rightly expect. Network Rail staff, headed by Route Director Jo Kaye, have made significant improvements, and I would thank them all, along with the people at Virgin Trains and train maintenance firms, Alstom and Bombardier, for delivering these excellent results.

“There still remain challenges with the infrastructure and Network Rail needs to ensure performance remains good during the late autumn and winter, but these results offer a great foundation."



Ends


Notes to Editors

Performance is measured using the industry standard Public Performance Measure (PPM) trains arriving within nine minutes of booked arrival time at destination.

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Virgin Trains is the brand name of Virgin Rail Group. We have operated the West Coast passenger train franchise since 1997; the current franchise runs to March 2012.

Virgin Rail Group is owned 51 percent by Virgin Group and 49 percent by Stagecoach.

Virgin Trains has been recognised in numerous industry awards. In 2009 the company was awarded the Globe Travel Awards 2009 ‘Best Rail Operator’ Category as voted by Evening Standard readers; voted Best UK Domestic Train Service by Business Traveller magazine for the second year running; and named Best Rail Operator in the 2009 Group Leisure Awards, run by Group Leisure, the magazine for group travel organisers.