Thames Trains and Chiltern Railways are steaming ahead after improved performance figures, writes Rebecca Smith.

In April, Thames Trains hit punctuality figures of 93.3 per cent, higher than the target of 92 per cent, and reliability of 99.4 per cent.

Terry Worrall, the company's director and general manager, said: "Our performance has been steadily improving since Christmas, but this is the first month where Thames has been above charter standards for many, many months." He said the improvement was achieved after reorganisation, new rigorous maintenance and backing from Railtrack to reduce delays.

Chiltern Railways services had a 95.5 per cent punctuality rate and 99.96 per cent reliability.

Managing director Adrian Shooter said: "Improving the punctuality of our services is our top priority." Thames Trains runs services from Paddington to stations in Oxfordshire, while Chiltern Railways operates from Marylebone to Haddenham and Thame Parkway, Bicester North, Banbury and Birmingham.

Opraf, the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising, calculates punctuality on the number of trains arriving no more than five minutes late and reliability on the number of scheduled trains running.

Story date: Tuesday 18 May

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