Today's data, covering the period April-June 2002, shows that passenger train performance improved by two percentage points on the previous quarter, to 83% trains on time. This marks the highest level of performance since Hatfield in October 2000, but is still significantly lower than beforehand.

Freight moved, in tonne-kilometres, fell by 5% compared to the previous quarter, following significant post-privatisation growth. Freight lifted decreased by 8%. The decline over the quarter reflects downward trends in UK demand for energy and construction products, and to a lesser extent the problems at the channel tunnel. Domestic intermodal freight increased slightly compared to the corresponding quarter last year, alongside a rise of 24% in metals moved.

Chief Operating Officer Nick Newton said:

"Performance is better than at any time since Hatfield but the rate of improvement is slow. This is a reminder of the challenge the industry faces.

"An increase in investment - particularly in rolling stock - and our review of capacity utilisation, will reap dividends going forward. But delivering for passengers and freight customers needs hard work and commitment from the whole industry."

Some of the key results in National Rail Trends follow:

Public Performance Measure (PPM) - Network performance increased to 83.0% from 80.9% trains on time in the previous quarter. London & SE operators increased from 81.1% to 83.1% and Regional operators increased from 81.2% to 83.6% from the previous quarter. Long Distance operators showed a slight increase from 75.9% to 76.3%. (Detailed operator by operator figures are provided in an Appendix to this release).

Complaints (per 100,000 passengers) - Complaints decreased by 15% in comparison with the previous quarter and by 5% on the corresponding quarter last year.

Timetabled Train Kilometres - This measure increased by 1% compared to the previous quarter and by the same amount compared with the corresponding quarter last year.

Passenger Kilometres - Seasonally adjusted passenger kilometres were virtually unchanged on the previous quarter, though seasonally adjusted passenger journeys increased by 2%. Compared with the same quarter last year, seasonally adjusted passenger kilometres increased by 0.6%, while seasonally adjusted passenger journeys decreased by 1%.

Freight - Freight moved has decreased by 5% from the previous quarter and by the same amount compared with the corresponding quarter last year. Total freight lifted decreased by 8% from the previous quarter and by 11% on the same quarter last year.