Great Western Trains: Standards

Mrs. James
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment his Department has made of the performance of First Great Western train services; and if he will place in the Library the most recent performance statistics available.

Mr. Tom Harris
Improving rail performance is a key objective for the Department for Transport. Joint action plans are in place between Network Rail and FGW to address performance issues. Additionally, FGW has implemented a 40-point Recovery Plan. These are monitored monthly.

In the year to 31 March 2007 FGW achieved an average punctuality of 83.2 per cent. across the franchise as a whole and 85.6 per cent. during the preceding four week period.