More than 35% of trains at Ipswich and Colchester stations were late or cancelled last week, figures reveal
Ipswich Station (stock image). Picture: PAUL GEATER - Credit: Archant
More than 35% of trains passing through Ipswich and Colchester stations were delayed or cancelled last week, new figures have revealed.
Network Rail statistics obtained by The Times newspaper – a tally of trains that were a minute or more late to their destination last week – reveal more than 35% of all trains across the UK were late or cancelled.
This contradicts the official national punctuality figure of 10.2% which counts a train as delayed if it is more than five minutes late into a station.
According to the new figures, last week 37.7% of trains arriving at Ipswich station were delayed or cancelled.
At Colchester station it was 38.9%.
At Bury St Edmunds 32.1% were late or cancelled, at Felixstowe station the figure was 24.8%.
Stations at Stowmarket, Needham Market and Woodbridge also saw delays, although a Greater Anglia spokeswoman said this was due to speed restrictions on the tracks that were imposed by Network Rail.
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Greater Anglia uses a Moving Annual Average to calculate its train delays but again this only counts a train as late if it five minutes or more behind schedule.
A Greater Anglia spokeswoman said: “At 89% our Moving Annual Average punctuality figure is above the national average, with some individual routes at between 93% and 95%.
“However, we are not complacent and know there is more to do, so we are investing in train reliability upgrades, working closely with Network Rail on infrastructure upgrades and have brand new trains arriving in 2019/2020 as part of our commitment to transform rail services in the region.”
A spokesman for the Rail Delivery Group, which brings together train companies and Network Rail to improve the service on the UK’s railways, added: “We know every minute counts for our customers and that’s why Britain’s railway working together has adopted the most transparent measure in Europe – showing punctuality to the minute at every station on a train’s journey.
“National figures are already online for all to see and individual train operators’ information will follow by next April, helping rail companies’ drive for better punctuality and a more reliable railway as they invest to improve services for the long-term.”
