Domestic freight moved by rail continued its recent upward trend, up 9% on last year. Passenger kilometres travelled were also up, by 2% on 2000-2001 figures. Results from the bi-annual National Passenger Survey (NPS) indicate that passenger satisfaction remains constant compared with six months ago. Passenger complaints fell by more than 20% compared with the same period last year.

The results are contained in two publications, On Track and National Rail Trends , issued today by the Authority. In addition to the regular operational performance figures, both publications now incorporate further performance measures.

In On Track, information on overcrowding, known as PIXC (Passengers in Excess of Capacity), is recorded for the London and South East operators and for Edinburgh commuter services. Figures for London show an improved position compared to last year, despite an overall increase in passenger numbers.

National Rail Trends contains a new fares price index which tracks the average change in rail fares and provides year on year comparisons from January 1999 to January 2002. For Standard Class tickets, the average increase in price was 1.5%, while the average increase for First Class tickets was 6.0%. Inflation during this period was 1.3%.

SRA Chief Operating Officer, Nick Newton said:

"These figures are good news, and much credit must be given to those in the industry who have co-operated to make improvements. There is still much to be done to consistently achieve the levels of performance passengers have a right to expect."

Some of the key findings contained in the two reports are:

On Track

On Track covers the period October 2001 to March 2002. It includes a range of performance measures relating to individual train operating companies and the national picture.

Public Performance Measure (PPM)

Performance improved across the rail network from 71.3% in the period October to December 2001 to 80.9% in the period January 2002 to March 2002. 23 out of the 25 operators improved performance during the same period. Connex South Eastern (up 16%), Thameslink (up 15%), South Central (up 14%), Virgin CrossCountry (up 14%) and c2c (up 14%) showed the biggest improvements.

National Passenger Survey

The results of the Spring 2002 survey largely maintained the figures from last Autumn but show greater levels of satisfaction than in Spring 2001. Levels of national overall satisfaction (very or fairly satisfied with the day's journey) have increased to 73% from 69% in Spring 2001. Satisfaction with punctuality/reliability has also risen to 65%, up from 59% in Spring 2001 and 64% in Autumn 2001.

At an individual operator level, the highest levels of overall satisfaction were recorded for Island Line (92%), Anglia Railways (90%), Chiltern and Gatwick Express (both 87%) and GNER (84%). Significant year on year improvements were achieved by First Great Eastern, Silverlink, Virgin CrossCountry, First Great Western, Arriva Trains Northern, Virgin West Coast, Thames Trains and c2c.

Complaints Data

The industry as a whole saw more than a 20% reduction in the level of complaints per 100,000 journeys compared to the same period last year (October 2000 - March 2001). All but three operators have seen a fall in the number of complaints received per 100,000 journeys during this period. However, it must be noted that the same period last year fell in the immediate aftermath of the Hatfield accident.

Passengers in Excess of Capacity (PIXC)

The number of passengers travelling into London during peak hours grew marginally last year, according to the SRA's annual survey. The total number of peak passengers travelling into London was 471,388, up on the previous year's figure of 466,920.

There was nevertheless a reduction on the previous year's overcrowding levels, with eight of the ten London commuter train operators recording a decrease in overcrowding during the morning peak. The number of London commuter operators exceeding the SRA overcrowding thresholds has fallen from five to four. They are South Central, Silverlink, South West Trains and Thameslink.

Incentive Regimes

The SRA received net incentive payments from operators of £84 million in the year ending 31 March 2002. This compares with a net figure of £102 million received in the previous year ending 31 March 2001.

National Rail Trends

National Rail Trends covers the period 1 January 2002 to 31 March 2002 and provides data on a range of industry-wide indictors including key figures on rail and freight usage and for the first time, a fares price index.

Rail usage

Passenger kilometres over the year as a whole were up by 2% and increased by 6% between January-March 2001 and January-March 2002. Passenger journeys for the year remained virtually unchanged on 2000-2001, but fell by 2% in the quarter January to March compared with 2001.

Over the year as a whole, freight moved increased by 9% and between the January -March quarter of 2001 and January -March 2002 it increased by 5%.

National Fares Price Index

A new fares price index is published for the first time in National Rail Trends. It tracks the average change in rail fares and provides year on year comparisons from January 1999 to January 2002. The index covers around 90% of all fares - necessarily excluding some special promotions and tickets, which include other transport modes or entrance to tourist attractions.

Results for the year to January 2002 show that on average, ticket prices rose by 2.0%. For standard class tickets, the average change increase was 1.5%, while the average rise for First Class tickets was 6.0%.

In the year to January 2002 fares in London and the South East fell by 0.1%. On regional networks there was an increase of 2% and on the Long Distance/high speed routes a rise of 5.1%.

Around 40% of the revenue covered by the index is generated by regulated fares, for which maximum price increases are controlled by the SRA. For the year to January 2002, these fares showed an increase of 0.1%.

The inflation rate during the period January 2001 to January 2002 was 1.3%.

Passenger Rail Performance by Train Operating Company

Percentage of trains arriving on time 2000-01 Q4 to 2001-02 Q4

		2000-01 Q4	2001-02 Q1	2001-02 Q2	2001-02 Q3	2001-02 Q4		Moving Annual Average 2001-02 Q4
Long Distance operators
Anglia (InterCity)		70.6	75.4	77.8	73.9	82.3		77.3
First Great Western		73.3	67.3	69.1	72.8	76.8		71.6
Great North Eastern Railway		66.5	68.5	73.5	68.7	69.2		70.0
Midland Mainline		69.4	75.1	73.4	70.8	77.6		74.2
Vigin West Coast		51.7	59.2	71.7	65.8	78.1		68.7
Virgin Cross Country		28.5	55.1	63.3	58.3	72.4		62.5
Sector Level		59.9	65.8	70.8	68.1	75.9		70.2
London and SE operators All day
c2c		89.1	83.9	79.1	74.5	88.9		82.1
Chiltern Railways		78.2	86.8	90.6	90.6	89.6		89.4
Connex South Eastern		79.0	86.3	82.6	67.8	84.0		80.2
First Great Eastern		74.9	82.8	85.9	80.7	91.3		85.2
Silverlink		75.5	83.0	81.5	80.7	86.5		82.9
South Central		73.7	82.6	79.5	67.3	81.1		77.6
South West Trains		70.2	76.0	72.4	59.9	71.2		69.9
Thames Trains		83.1	81.9	77.5	76.9	84.5		80.2
Thameslink		67.9	76.6	74.1	60.4	75.7		71.8
West Anglia Great Northern		74.4	79.3	78.4	65.4	75.9		74.8
Sector Level		75.5	81.6	79.2	69.3	81.1		77.8
London and SE operators Peak
c2c		87.5	85.0	78.6	68.0	88.1		80.1
Chiltern Railways		82.9	88.7	89.4	87.8	85.3		87.8
Connex South Eastern		73.0	85.2	82.9	59.8	80.2		77.0
First Great Eastern		75.1	79.2	81.3	70.7	88.3		79.9
Silverlink		64.8	76.5	75.5	74.2	82.4		77.2
South Central		67.1	81.1	78.6	56.7	75.4		73.0
South West Trains		64.7	75.1	73.9	54.4	66.7		67.5
Thames Trains		84.1	81.0	75.0	72.9	79.7		77.1
Thameslink		69.7	74.8	73.8	54.6	69.6		68.3
West Anglia Great Northern		63.4	71.1	69.3	52.2	69.4		65.5
Sector Level		70.8	79.4	77.5	60.8	76.6		73.6
Regional operators
Anglia Locals		84.6	88.4	85.5	83.6	85.4		85.7
Arriva Trains Merseyside		82.4	86.8	85.4	73.3	79.4		81.3
Arriva Trains Northern		70.8	76.6	74.3	71.1	81.2		75.7
Central Trains		76.7	77.1	75.1	67.3	77.2		74.2
First North Western		79.9	78.9	78.7	72.5	84.1		78.6
Gatwick Express		68.2	83.3	79.6	77.8	84.1		81.1
Island Line		97.7	97.6	94.8	98.3	96.0		96.7
Scotrail		83.3	86.5	83.3	78.4	79.4		82.2
Wessex Trains		-	-	-	78.4	83.8		-
Wales and Borders Trains		-	-	-	73.2	83.2		-
Sector Level		78.9	81.6	79.7	74.1	81.2		79.1
National Level		76.3	80.9	79.0	71.3	80.9		78.0

For further information call 020 7654 6000 or visit the www.sra.gov.uk