REGIONAL train operator National Express East Anglia has reported its best annual performance for punctuality since the start of its franchise nearly five years ago.

REGIONAL train operator National Express East Anglia has reported its best annual performance for punctuality since the start of its franchise nearly five years ago.

During the four weeks to January 3, 91.9% of NXEA trains ran to time - defined as up to five minutes late for most services, or up to 10 minutes in the case of the Liverpool Street-Norwich main line.

The figure meant that NXEA's rolling annual average performance improved to 90.6%, putting it within touching distance of the 91% target set under its latest performance partnership agreement with Network Rail.

NXEA's Rural services, including the routes from Ipswich to Cambridge, Peterborough, Lowestoft and Felixstowe, scored highest over the Christmas and New Year period with a punctuality record of 94.2%.

West Anglia services, between London and Cambridge, were close behind on 93.0%, with local Metro services between London and Southend on 92.2%.

However, Mainline services from Liverpool Street to Colchester, Ipswich and Norwich, plus the Harwich, Clacton and Braintree branch lines, saw punctuality of 89.6% and the Stansted Express service, from London to Stansted Airport, came in at 89.8%.

The “Joint Performance Improvement Plan” agreed between NXEA and infrastructure operator Network Rail last year involves a 10-point plan to address the most frequent causes of delay and to improve the availability of information in the event of disruption.

Its target of 91% annual average punctuality builds on a previous target of 90% which was set under a previous agreement in 2007 and was achieved early last year.

Andrew Chivers, managing director of NXEA, said: “The good punctuality achieved in December and over the Christmas and New Year period reflects the joint work we are taking forward with Network Rail.

“We recognise that there is still more work to do, to deliver these improved levels of punctuality on a consistent and regular basis. However, we are continuing to make progress towards meeting our customers' expectations for sustained delivery of higher performance standards.”