Reliability and punctuality on trains serving West Yorkshire dipped over the past two years, according to latest figures.

A rail watchdog says both Great North Eastern and Northern Spirit saw more delays in train times in the year up to March 31, 1998.

The figures, in the North Eastern England Rail Users Consultative Committee annual report, show 92.2 per cent of Northern Spirit's West and North Yorkshire long haul services were punctual - a drop of 0.7 per cent on the previous year.

The figure for short haul trains dropped 1.7 per cent to 94.4 per cent in the same period. Great North Eastern's East Coast punctuality record dropped by 1.9 per cent to 87.9 per cent. But Great North Eastern trains were 99.3 per cent reliable - 0.2 per cent more than the previous year. The comparative figures for Northern Spirit were 99 per cent (down 0.5 per cent) on long haul services and 97.8 per cent ( a drop of 1.5 per cent) on short haul trips.

Both companies were quick to point out the figures were nine months out of date.

A Northern Spirit spokesman said the reductions had been caused by "an unprecedented" train crew shortage - which has since been solved - and long-lasting problems on some of the lines.

Great North Eastern said performance has improved considerably on its services, with punctuality currently running at 88.2 per cent. "We are making strenuous efforts to improve our punctuality even further", a spokesman said.

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