RAIL operator Greater Anglia carried nearly 20% more passengers during the Paralympics than the same period last year.

And new figures showed that during the games, 94.3% of Greater Anglia train services were on-time.

Between August 29 and September 9 the company recorded almost 4.2m passenger journeys into London, a rise of 665,000 on the equivalent period for last year – a 19% increase on last year.

Greater Anglia had more than 100 additional staff on duty at stations with a key focus on London Liverpool Street and Stratford.

There were also extra customer service staff at other Norwich, Ipswich, Colchester, Chelmsford, and Shenfield.

Easily identifiable in their magenta tabards, with their Olympic handbooks at the ready, they offered information about train services and the Games arrangements.

Feedback from customers during the Paralympics was again very positive. The team at Stratford station were pleased to assist almost 1,700 passengers with disabilities who were travelling to a Paralympic event and for the entire Games period, over 3,600 passengers were provided with special assistance at Stratford.

Over the entire Olympics and Paralympics period, Greater Anglia welcomed almost 1.3m extra passengers on their London-bound services and for the 28 days of the games, 94.9% of trains arrived on-time.

During this period, Greater Anglia operated an average of 150,000 extra seats per day, an increase in capacity of more than 25% and with over 600 trains a day calling at Stratford.

A spokesman for Greater Anglia said it was now aiming to ensure a lasting legacy by continuing to work with Network Rail to deliver consistently good train service performance.

Greater Anglia managing director Ruud Haket said: “Once again, the Greater Anglia team has delivered excellent levels of train service performance and a dedicated and fully-committed approach to customer service, this time for the Paralympics.

“I am extremely proud of the entire team for their efforts throughout the Olympics and Paralympics and I pay tribute to each and every one of our 3,000 employees who have contributed.

“Our customers, both existing and the many new visitors we were pleased to welcome, also played their part in creating a wonderful atmosphere, helping to ensure the Games will remain a cherished memory for everyone.

“Our challenge now is to continue all our efforts in further improving service standards, building on the wonderful legacy of London 2012.”