NATIONAL Express train operator c2c has again been named the UK’s most punctual rail company, according to the latest figures released by Network Rail.

In the four weeks to Saturday, November 8 – the last day of c2c’s old franchise – 96.9 per cent of c2c trains arrived on time.

This was more than any other UK train operator, and compares to the UK average of 84.5 per cent punctuality. Over the past year, c2c’s overall punctuality stands at 96.3 per cent, again the best performance in the country.

Last week c2c started its new 15-year franchise under National Express. In addition to new passenger improvements like wifi and smart ticketing, c2c has included tough new punctuality targets and increased compensation when passengers are delayed. From 2016, c2c will become the UK’s first rail company to offer automatic compensation to registered passengers who are delayed for as little as two minutes.

Julian Drury, c2c’s managing director said: “We finished the old c2c franchise exactly where we wanted to be: as the UK’s number one rail company for punctuality. We’re now aiming to retain that reputation for punctuality, while adding other improvements like extra capacity, new ways to pay for travel, and more compensation when passengers are delayed.”

Today’s punctuality figures for the Public Performance Measure, the official rail industry measure of performance, are published by Network Rail.