More trains are on time

Rochdale residents may find it hard to believe, but their trains are actually breaking records for reliability.

For despite massive overcrowding problems caused by the closure of the Oldham Loop, track operator Network Rail says it has just recorded the best autumn figures ever for punctuality.

The first month of the difficult autumn period when train drivers have to cope with the infamous “leaves on the line” saw 90.2% of trains arriving on time nationally — and both local operators improved their performance.

Between October 18 and November 14, Northern Rail — which runs services through Rochdale and Mills Hill to Manchester — saw 87.4% of its trains arriving on time — up 3.7% on the same period last year, while TransPennine Express did even better, moving up more than 8% to 91.3% — the biggest improvement of any operator.

And those who travelled further afield enjoyed better performance by Virgin — up more than 3% to 87.8%.

Train service punctuality traditionally falls by up to 5% as the leaves begin to fall at this time year and Network Rail has been working to reduce the effect.

Robin Gisby, director of operations and customer service, said: “To deliver an even better service for passengers we have to deliver consistently across the year. Today’s results are encouraging and are the result of the industry investing heavily in technology and techniques to lessen the impact of autumn.”

TransPennine Express (TPE), which runs from Yorkshire to Manchester and the airport, has even more good news.

It is freezing its fares and selling a million advance purchase tickets as part of a major campaign in the New Year.

TPE will forego the usual January fares hike and is to keep ticket prices at June 2009 levels.