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Notes to editors

Latest figures to 26 May 2012

^Number of incidents which caused delay to the operational network. It does not include thefts from depots, engineering sites or redundant cable.

¹ Delay minutes show the inconvenience experienced by the passenger and vary with each incident. If the theft is on a busy mainline then they rack up much quicker than on quieter suburban lines. It is also true that delay per incident is decreasing as Network Rail teams get more efficient at locating and fixing the problem.

* Compensation costs (known as schedule 8 costs) are paid to train and freight operators for the disruption caused by the delay. This payment is to reimburse the operators who pay in advance for access to the track which the theft has prevented; to cover additional staff and other costs and to reimburse passengers who have been affected. This is a substantial part of the cost to the industry of cable theft but does not include the cost of staff time to repair and replace the cable, replacement cable itself and the cost of mitigation measures such as security patrols and investment in new technology. The amount of compensation paid depends on the type of services delayed.

** Total Cost comprises schedule 8 (compensation to train operators), as well as the average cost of replacement cable; average maintenance cost of attending to the fault and average opportunity cost of diverting this labour from elsewhere. This figure is only available as a national figure as it is an estimation based on averages.

For further information about the bill please contact Mr Ottaway's Office - 020 7219 2842 or 07786 077 991.