Network Rail to improve Western train reliability following regulator’s investigation

Network Rail has successfully addressed issues around poor train reliability and punctuality in Western England and Wales, the regulator has said.

The routes includes trains in and out of London Paddington into the south west of England and Wales.

The detailed improvement plan was submitted by Network Rail in response to the regulator’s investigation into performance on Wales & Western, which began in autumn 2023.

Network Rail said the plan sees more than 50 practical activities, most of which will be delivered this year and next, which will “deliver tangible improvements for passengers and freight users”.

It includes improvements to the timetable, the forecasting of extreme weather events and investing in staff.

Rob Cairns, regional managing director for Network Rail Wales & Western, said: “We are determined to do everything we can to provide a more reliable railway for passengers and freight and are already underway with delivering our far-reaching performance improvement plan. There are encouraging signs that that this is having a positive impact across the region, but there is much more to do. Working closely with our industry partners, we will not rest until we consistently deliver train performance at the levels that passengers rightly expect.

“We’ve engaged openly and transparently with the ORR throughout their investigation and are pleased that they have now accepted our performance improvement plan.”

Network Rail’s Wales and Western region includes the routes out of London Paddington towards Heathrow, Oxford, Bristol and on towards Devon and Cornwall. It also includes the rail network in Wales.