Portsmouth train commuters seeing fewer delays than expected, claims ORR report

A study published by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) today shows that of Network Rail's five operating regions, the south was the best performing of the past 12 months.

In the rail regulator’s assessment, the number of train delays were lower than expected with 2.68 minutes of delay for every 100km of train travel, against the forecast level of 2.90 minutes per 100k.

But ORR also noted that train performance was slightly weaker from South Western Railway.

John Larkinson, chief executive of ORR, said: ‘The region has also made good progress in reducing delays to passenger services.

‘However, Network Rail must now bring performance in its Wessex route up to the required level and focus on reducing cancellations, which are frustrating for passengers.

‘We set Network Rail nationally a £3.5bn efficiency improvement challenge over five years.

‘The southern region has made a good start in contributing to these savings by meeting its target to deliver more efficiently this past year.’

The high level of cancellations on the Wessex routes have been put down to trespassing, fatalities and industrial action, and Network Rail vows it will be taking action.

In the southern region, safety has also significantly improved, the study found.

Over the past year improvements were made in both workforce safety and on plans to make safety improvements to level crossings.

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