ATOC comments on NAO Report and announces new train delay information service for passengers
14th March 2008
ATOC
The Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) supports the main recommendations of the NAO’s report “Reducing passenger rail delays by better management of incidents”. ATOC also today announces a new text alert service to provide information and travel alternatives to passengers when their journeys are disrupted.
Delay minutes continue to decline and train operators are working closely with Network Rail and other industry partners to deliver even better punctuality and journey information. Punctuality currently runs at nearly 90%.
George Muir, Director General of the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC), said:
“The railways have done a number of things to help reduce passenger delays. We have made great strides to improve punctuality, to minimise train delays and to improve journey information. Rail punctuality currently stands at nearly 90% - and continues to improve. Almost eight out of ten passengers are satisfied with railway punctuality.”*
Train operators are also improving the quality of passenger information in times of delay. In December 2007, ATOC published a comprehensive Good Practice Guide for Train Operating Companies to provide improved information, including announcements on stations and on trains within set time periods following a train delay incident. The guidelines include the recommendations made by Passenger Focus for providing good quality information to passengers.
This week, National Rail Enquiries has launched a special ‘text alerting’ information service which sends passengers a text to their mobile phone should their planned journey become delayed or disrupted. It also advises them to contact the special National Rail Enquiries automated travel planning information service (Tel. 0871 200 49 50) to re-plan their journey, for instance, using alternative routes where possible.
For further information, please contact the ATOC press office on 020 7841 8020.
Notes to Editors:
1. * National Passenger Survey: results taken from latest National Passenger Survey of more than 28,000 rail passengers published by Passenger Focus in January 2008.
2. Train services and passenger numbers: there are around 20,000 passenger train services on Britain’s network every weekday or around 130,000 every week. Around 3½ million journeys are made daily.
Delay minutes continue to decline and train operators are working closely with Network Rail and other industry partners to deliver even better punctuality and journey information. Punctuality currently runs at nearly 90%.
George Muir, Director General of the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC), said:
“The railways have done a number of things to help reduce passenger delays. We have made great strides to improve punctuality, to minimise train delays and to improve journey information. Rail punctuality currently stands at nearly 90% - and continues to improve. Almost eight out of ten passengers are satisfied with railway punctuality.”*
Train operators are also improving the quality of passenger information in times of delay. In December 2007, ATOC published a comprehensive Good Practice Guide for Train Operating Companies to provide improved information, including announcements on stations and on trains within set time periods following a train delay incident. The guidelines include the recommendations made by Passenger Focus for providing good quality information to passengers.
This week, National Rail Enquiries has launched a special ‘text alerting’ information service which sends passengers a text to their mobile phone should their planned journey become delayed or disrupted. It also advises them to contact the special National Rail Enquiries automated travel planning information service (Tel. 0871 200 49 50) to re-plan their journey, for instance, using alternative routes where possible.
For further information, please contact the ATOC press office on 020 7841 8020.
Notes to Editors:
1. * National Passenger Survey: results taken from latest National Passenger Survey of more than 28,000 rail passengers published by Passenger Focus in January 2008.
2. Train services and passenger numbers: there are around 20,000 passenger train services on Britain’s network every weekday or around 130,000 every week. Around 3½ million journeys are made daily.
