Media centre

Friday 5 Mar 2004

IMPROVED PERFORMANCE BENEFITS REGION’S RAILWAY

Region & Route:

| Southern

In August 2003 Network Rail made a resolution to improve the performance and reliability of its infrastructure in and around Liverpool Street Station.  Unlike many people who make resolutions – we have stuck to them - and the results have been overwhelmingly positive.  Over the last nine months, delays due to faulty infrastructure at Liverpool Street Station have reduced by 4,903 minutes.  That’s a 21 percent reduction on last year!!  Component failures have fallen from 152 to 107 – a reduction of 30%.  Trains to and from Norwich, Ipswich, Colchester, Clacton and Chelmsford to name but a few, will all benefit from these improvements. Mark Phillips, Network Rail Regional Director said:  “The performance of the infrastructure in and around Liverpool Street Station is essential to the region’s railway.  1,500 trains run in and out of the station each day and with 18 platforms reducing to six tracks, 550 yards outside of the station, we need all tracks and all platforms open at all times. “We are committed to rebuilding the railway and improving services for passengers.  These vast improvements highlight the impact good planning, resourcing and good management can have on our railway.” Liverpool Street Station is London’s busiest with 339,000 people travelling through it every day. The tracks and surrounding railway components are subjected to heavy use seven-days-a- week.  Therefore maintenance work is essential for keeping the trains on time and getting passengers to their destinations. - more - Performance - 2 Tim Clarke, Managing Director Anglia Railways said: “The Anglia Railways’ performance team works closely with Network Rail in the development and delivery of schemes to improve the punctuality and reliability of train services in the region. This particular project at Liverpool Street has reduced delays and promises further benefits for passengers in the future.” Network Rail’s resolution was to carry out a regular programme of weekend work every three months at the station, with different platforms closed each weekend. The plan ensures that train services are not affected and the maximum amount of work can take place in and around the station throat.  Three sets of this work have taken place, in August, December and February showing reductions in delays of over 20%.  Keeping up this cyclical work will undoubtedly continue to improve the infrastructure’s performance and reliability.