Current performance statistics are being displayed at National Rail stations for the first time, after the previous transport secretary Louise Haigh promised in November that the public would be soon be able to ‘hold us to account’.

The data streams went live at more than 1,700 stations this morning. The figures, which cover the 14 operators in England with National Rail Contracts or those which have already been renationalised, are being displayed on screens at larger stations. Other operators are included if they have agreed.

The figures can also be retrieved on line if passengers scan a QR code, or visit the Office of Rail and Road data portal.

The statistics show the percentage of trains cancelled and how punctual trains are at each station. A train is officially ‘on time’ if it is no more than three minutes late.

The displays also include brief information about any work being carried out by the operators and Network Rail to improve performance in the area, with the aim of ‘informing and assuring passengers’ about what is being done.

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander is visiting Reading station today. She said: ‘Today marks the beginning of a new era of rail accountability.

‘These displays are a step towards rebuilding trust with passengers using our railways, as we continue to tackle the root causes of frustrating delays and cancellations.

‘Through fundamental rail reform, we’re sweeping away decades of dysfunctionality – putting passengers first, driving growth through connectivity as part of this government’s Plan for Change.’

Rail Delivery Group chair and chief executive Jacqueline Starr added: ‘We know how frustrating it is for customers when their train is cancelled or delayed. By being transparent with this data and the positive actions we’re taking, it shows how serious the industry is in putting this right by continuing to strive for improvements.

‘This send a clear message to customers the rail sector is committed to improving punctuality and to find solutions to make train services more reliable.’

Watchdog Transport Focus is urging operators to use the data to analyse where problems are occurring and take appropriate action.

Transport Focus director Natasha Grice said: ‘Passengers tell us they want a reliable, on-time train service and will welcome improvements to information about the punctuality of their service and cancellations being shared more transparently. It’s important that the industry uses this information to drive up performance.’

Readers’ comments

Displaying performance data is hardly a new idea although in our digital age the format & immediacy of access to current data has to be appreciated. The wider debate on performance management however is important. Going back to John Major's citizens charter, through to the architecture of the privatised railway, financialisation of the process has led to the current perception of it being costly and corrupt. On the brink of privatisation the full introduction of TRUST had enabled BR to automate the laborious process of performance data collection. Controllers freed from this task and with the wealth of current train running data available they were able to focus on the proactive task of managing the live railway. The wealth of data collected also informed functional managers where action was required to mitigate failure occurring. The literal disintegration of the control system following privatisation created a regressive structure more interested in blame attribution in turn leading to squabbling over financial compensation. Consequently considerable resource has been devoted managing this process between the different contracts rather than managing actual performance. While ideally performance payments between business partners should have been cost neutral let it be recalled that past franchises have built a business case on positive cash flow payments for poor performance from Railtrack/NR. Going forward within its own operation GBR can refocus performance management to managing the live railway. Yes for freight and open access a mechanism for financial compensation will be required. Separately there should also be scope to reduce the costs associated with engineering where considerable sums are paid in compensation to operators in lieu of operating contracted services.

Chris Jones-Bridger 
Buckley, Flintshire 

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