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Notes to editors

1) Arrived on time - the measure of train punctuality also know as PPM (public performance measure) means trains arriving at their destinations within 5 minutes for commuter services and within 10 for long distance services. This measure of punctuality is common and used throughout Europe 2) The previous record was set at the financial year end, 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009, when 90.6% of trains arrived on time across Britain's as an average over the course of the 12 months 3) National train punctuality measured for all trains across every day did not start to be recorded until 1997. Before then Railtrack & BR before it measured most services - those during peak periods (and variations) and the percentages from 1992 to 1997 are extrapolations of the best figures available. No comparable numbers exist before this date 4) Network Rail and the train operators run more trains across Great Britain than are run in France and 60% more than operate in Italy. The UK's 24,000 trains per-day is also more than Spain, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Portugal and Norway combined 5) While punctuality on Virgin services (300 trains per day [tpd], about 15% of total services on the route) saw a marked improvement compared to last year at 84.6%, it is still below expectations. The other main operators on the route (London Midland 400 tpd, Northern 400 tpd and Transpennine Express 250 tpd) saw performance levels above 90% 6) Network Rail is injecting £50m to improve train punctuality along the West Coast Main Line. The extra millions will be invested in more people, more equipment and the accelerated renewal of the less reliable pieces of equipment along the route. Some of the main actions include: • Dozens of specialist engineers and trouble-shooters will be deployed during the busiest times of day at around 20 key locations between London, Milton Keynes, Birmingham and Crewe • An entirely new maintenance organisation is being set-up to give more specific attention to the most heavily used part of the west coast, London to Rugby • The accelerated replacement of the most unreliable equipment including points, power and signalling cables, track and overhead line equipment • A crack-down on cable theft is underway with more patrols, installation of trembler alarms, locking down and burying cable and working with the police Crimestoppers to offer rewards of up to £1,000 • Closer management of all faults and incidents on the route to accelerate reaction times and reduce delays to trains including daily performance reviews with train operators