Delayed trains can be caused by problems with the railway infrastructure or the trains or third-party events (e.g. a
vehicle on the tracks). Network Rail is responsible for keeping the tracks, signals, bridges, tunnels and level crossings working properly
so that the trains can use them safely.
Train Performance
There are two measures relating to train performance – Train Delay Minutes being the number of minutes of delay to revenue earning trains
(e.g. passenger and freight trains in service) attributable to Network Rail responsible causes, and the Public Performance Measure (PPM) being
the percentage of franchised passenger trains arriving on time at their final destination.
Reducing delays
In 2003 the ORR set a target for the Company to improve the reliability of the network by more than 30 per cent by 2008/09. Over the
last five years, reliability has improved significantly and total delays caused by Network Rail in 2008/09 reduced to less than nine
million minutes for the first time since 1999/2000 and this is reflected by PPM which has improved to 90.6 per cent. There are also widely
differing performances between areas directly in Network Rail’s control which has been consistently improving in many areas and the impact of
external events which has remained more even over recent years.