Rail operators still need to improve their track records.

That's the message from passengers as new figures show there has been little change in the standard of services offered to passengers in the Bradford district.

Performance figures for the last quarter of 1998 show Northern Spirit improved reliability on its Transpennine Express services - used by passengers in the Bradford district - by 0.1 to 99.3 per cent.

And although punctuality of its Transpennine services for the same period rose by four per cent on the previous three months, that figure was still one per cent below the Charter Standard of 91 per cent.

The report, released by rail watchdog OPRAF, noted that since the last customer survey Northern Spirit had begun the introduction of its new Premier Service on its Transpennine Network.

Great North Eastern Railway, which operates services through Bradford and Skipton, had a 98.7 per cent reliability rating, but only 85.7 per cent of services were on time.

Derrick Joanes, secretary of the Wharfedale Rail Users Group, said: "While the figures are encouraging - services have been reasonably reliable and more reliable than during some periods in the past - there are still problems which need to be addressed.

"Time keeping has been fairly good although there have been days such as last Thursday - when it was very windy and something blew on to the overheard powerlines - when services are completely disrupted throughout the evening rush hour. ''

Tim Calow, chairman of the Aire Valley Rail Users Group said: "No real improvement has been made since privatisation. But there are other issues which are of concern to us, which aren't mentioned in this report, such as the problem of overcrowding.''

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