Have our train services really gone downhill?

At first glance, the evidence is unequivocal.

Regional Railways North East's performance on short journeys in West and North Yorkshire ranked among the worst in the country according to the first league table of its kind produced by the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising.

RRNE achieved 97.8 per cent reliability compared with a 99 per cent target during 1997. Only Anglia fared worse, managing 95.9 per cent against a 99 per cent target.

Passengers have complained of standing room only at peak times, a 12per cent increase in monthly and annual Metro Card pass prices, and having to put up with old trains.

It was enough to prompt Councillor Mick Lyons, chairman of the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority, to call for national help to improve the situation.

Now, if you're one of the scores of commuters periodically stranded at Leeds station waiting for a driver/conductor/train to turn up, you could be forgiven for not caring two hoots about the slight margin of difference between what's reliable and what isn't.

But in actual fact the best national performances demonstrate the narrow line between what's perceived as good and bad. They came from West Coast Trains' Scottish services and Wales & West's South Cotswold line which both achieved 99.8 per cent reliability against a 99 per cent target.

And, on its West and North Yorkshire long routes, RRNE beat its 99 per cent target by 0.1 per cent and was bang on target for Northern short journeys.

An RRNE spokesman, who pointed out that it also improved punctuality on most routes, said: "There is only a small margin of difference on reliability between us and other operators but it's a gap we're determined to close.

"We did have a difficult period particularly on commuter services into Leeds. We acknowledged and apologised for that. We have a plan in action and that is achieving results in improved services and recruitment of drivers.

"It's also true that on many services punctuality has improved, including short-distance journeys in West Yorkshire. And parts of the network are at record levels of reliability and performance."

He added: "We suffered a high level of sickness at the peak of our difficulties and had a higher-than-expected turnover of staff with a number of drivers leaving for other jobs.

"Some drivers took voluntary severance in March last year but the number who left didn't really have any bearing on the situation. The vacancies we are now trying to fill occurred after that.

"We've launched a recruiting campaign and are looking for 35 drivers in addition to the 700 we already employ. Some of those will be on standby to cater for normal turnover."

Perhaps most telling is the response to all this from rail-users' groups. Derrick Joanes, secretary of the Wharfedale Rail Users' Group, said: "I don't think the service is as bad now as it was three months ago. The OPRAF figures reflect a period when things were really awful and it will take a while before that drops out of the statistics. But there's still room for improvement."

And a spokesman for the Aire Valley Rail Users' Group added: "There have been problems but we do believe RRNE is addressing them. We can see some improvements although it is taking some time."

In conclusion, the RRNE spokesman said: "Our passenger figures are up ten per cent on the same time last year. It's clear we are doing something right because more and more people are choosing to travel by train."

To see what daily commuters have to face, we asked T&A deputy sports editor Clive Pratt to keep a week-long diary of his train journeys between Keighley and Bradford...

Mon, Jan 19: One week after being delayed two hours when the train broke down it's a case of deja vu as 'mechanical problems' mean late arrival of train at Keighley and further delay at Saltaire while Bradford train comes through. Altogether half an hour late, but regular announcements are made. Threat of snowfalls in the afternoon means earlier trains are busy and there is standing room only on 16.31 from Frizinghall when schoolchildren join train, many of them avoiding collection of fares before getting off at Bingley.

PUNCTUALITY: 2

CLEANLINESS: 6

CUSTOMER CARE: 4

Tue, Jan 20: Trains generally on time and the 18.01 return train has four carriages - unusual for Keighley line. Pity it wasn't used for the busier peak-time trains. No announcements at stations.

PUNCTUALITY: 10

CLEANLINESS: 9

CUSTOMER CARE: 8

Wed, Jan 21: After promising start to day, another nightmare return on the 17.31 when points seize up at Shipley and after ten-minute delay, it is announced train will be returning to Bradford and all passengers should join Leeds-Skipton train on another platform. Needless to say this train is already full and it is 'sardine-style' crush when train eventually gets going to arrive half an hour late at Keighley. Frequent apologies from guard and good humour of passengers make it more bearable.

PUNCTUALITY: 2

CLEANLINESS: 7

CUSTOMER CARE: 3

Thurs, Jan 22: Rare luxury with Super Sprinter train arriving in the morning, so chance to use table for reading! Trains on time and obviously cleaned overnight.

PUNCTUALITY: 9

CLEANLINESS: 9

CUSTOMER CARE: 8

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.