Train punctuality: Tougher targets set by regulators
Dangerous level crossings to close, says rail regulator
(about 1 hour later)
Network Rail has been set tough new punctuality targets for the next five years by rail regulators.
Around 500 level crossings will be closed and safety improved at hundreds more after rail regulators increased funding to Network Rail.
In its final draft of 2014-2019 rail funding, the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) confirmed 90% of local trains must run on time.
In its final draft of 2014-2019 rail funding, the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) increased funding for level crossings by £32m to a total of £109m.
Network Rail must also improve reliability for long-distance services, while making savings of £1.7bn.
Nine people died on level crossings last year, more than double the year before.
The ORR also increased funding by £32m to close around 500 level crossings and improve safety at hundreds more.
Network Rail's overall funding was cut by £1.7bn by the ORR.
The 90% punctuality target includes trains in London, south-east England and Scottish services.
The extra funding for level crossings comes a short time after the House of Commons Transport Committee heard about concerns over level crossing safety from the parents of Olivia Bazlinton, 14, who, with her friend Charlotte Thompson, was killed at a crossing at Elsenham in Essex in December 2005.
On long-distance routes, First Great Western must run 90% of trains on time while a target of 88% has been set for the two main London to Scotland routes - the East Coast and West Coast main lines.
Savings of 20%
'Higher-performing' railway
Network Rail was fined £1m over the girls' deaths in 2012 after admitting health and safety breaches associated with the level crossing.
In total, Network Rail will receive more than £21bn over the next five years to fund the day-to-day running of the rail network.
Olivia's mother Tina Hughes told BBC Breakfast the changes being made to level crossings would save lives.
She said "many of the crossings in this country have got little protection on them" adding that such crossings represented the most danger to the public.
In the ORR's final determination on funding, Network Rail will receive more than £21bn over the next five years to fund the day-to-day running of the network.
The savings require Network Rail to bring down the cost of running the network by around 20%,
The savings require Network Rail to bring down the cost of running the network by around 20%,
Rail companies have also been set tougher punctuality targets, under which 90% of local trains must run on time.
On long-distance services, First Great Western must run 90% of trains on time while a target of 88% has been set for the two main London to Scotland routes - the East Coast and West Coast main lines.
Network Rail has until 7 February 2014 to respond in detail and accept or reject the ORR's determination.
Network Rail has until 7 February 2014 to respond in detail and accept or reject the ORR's determination.
Many of the targets were included in the ORR's draft determination in June.
But in the final draft there is a greater focus on late running trains and cancellations on the East and West Coast main lines.
The ORR said that, on long-distance journeys, passengers were less concerned about services being a few minutes late than trains being severely late or cancelled.
On East and West Coast main lines there are normally around 9,000 trains a year more than 30 minutes late or cancelled and the ORR wants that figure cut by half.
Another difference from June's draft is the increased funding to improve level crossing safety, bringing it up to a total of £109m.
The extra funding comes a short time after the House of Commons Transport Committee heard about concerns over level crossing safety from the parents of Olivia Bazlinton, 14, who, with her friend Charlotte Thompson, was killed at a crossing at Elsenham in Essex in December 2005.
ORR chief executive Richard Price said it expected Network Rail to "build on past successes" to meet the new challenges it had set.
"This plan for Britain's railways between 2014 and 2019 - informed by the public, consumer groups, governments and the industry - requires a safer, higher-performing and more efficient railway.
"More level crossings will be upgraded or closed; passengers will enjoy better punctuality and suffer fewer cancellations; customers should have a say in shaping billions of pounds of new investment on the network; and the company will continue to bring down the day-to-day costs of running the railways."
