RAIL passengers are benefiting from the most punctual train services since records began, new figures reveal.

The two rail operators serving the eastern region are celebrating some of their best ever results when it comes to getting passengers from A to B, on time.

National Express East Anglia, which serves rail users on the Colchester line and c2c, which ferries passengers into London from Basildon, Southend and Thurrock, have both performed well, according to the figures released by Network Rail More than 19 out of every 20 National Express East Anglia services arrived at their destinations on time while c2c recorded the highest annual performance of any train operator at 95.3 per cent.

These are the best results both companies have had since punctuality records began almost 20 years ago.

However, under the figures, “on time” actually means within five minutes of the scheduled time for commuter services and within ten minutes for other services.

Robin Gisby, director of operations and customer service at Network Rail, said: “Passengers are today experiencing the most punctual train service ever provided on Britain’s railways.

“This has been accomplished through the sheer hard work and determination of tens of thousands of rail staff across the country working for both Network Rail and the train operators.”

Alec McTavish, director of policy and operations at the Association of Train Operating Companies, said: “Delivering the best ever level of punctuality is a significant achievement by all parts of the rail industry, particularly as we ran an additional one million more timetabled trains last year than British Rail did before privatisation.”