Rail service on track nine out of 10 times

Arriva Trains Wales recorded a 85.8 per cent right-time punctuality figure with Network Rail, one of the best scores from train operators in the country and well above the national average right-time figure of 67.6 per cent.

The company, which holds the Wales and Borders rail franchise, which includes the service from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth via Welshpool and Newtown, until 2018, came third best in the table, behind only Chiltern on 87.5 per cent and London Overground on 86.2 per cent.

However, across the country, more than half the trains running on some rail routes were found to be running late, including Virgin Trains, which has some services running through Shrewsbury.

Only 47.4 per cent of services operated by Virgin Trains on the West Coast were on time in the 12 months ending August 17, 2013.

The figures for this 12-month period also showed that only 45.2 per cent of trains on the serpentine CrossCountry service were on time.

Within the right-time performance, a train is only considered to be on time if it arrives early or within 59 seconds of schedule.

On this basis, 67.6 per cent of trains nationally were on time during the 12-month period. London and south east England train operators' punctuality reached 68.5 per cent but the figure for long-distance services was only 53.2 per cent.

Network Rail publishes the right-time performance alongside the public performance measure figures under which the company's punctuality record is assessed by the Office of Rail Regulation.

Under PPM, a short-distance train is only deemed to be late if it arrives five minutes or more after the scheduled time, while a long-distance train has to arrive 10 minutes or more behind schedule to be considered late.

Under PPM, 90.8 per cent of trains were on time nationally for the 12 months ending August 18, 2013. Virgin Trains had the poorest punctuality figure – 83.1 per cent.

Nationally, about 60 per cent of delays to train services are attributed to Network Rail, which has been repeatedly warned by the ORR about its punctuality performance.

Mike Bagshaw, commercial director for Arriva Trains Wales, said: "We are proud to be one of the top performing right-time train operating companies in the UK for the most punctual rail service which has been achieved through hard work and the continued commitment of the staff to offer an excellent service to our customers.

"Over the past couple of years we have focused on improving the reliability of the fleet and creating robust, customer focused timetables to improve our services, It's pleasing to see we are achieving results."

Nobody was available for comment from Virgin Trains.