Train services branded 'pathetic'

In its annual report published today, the Railway Development Society says that after two years of improved time-keeping, punctuality on Yorkshire's trains took a tumble in 1997 - largely due to the poor performance of Regional Railways North East.

The attack comes less than two weeks after a league table produced by the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising showed that RRNE's performance on short journeys in West and North Yorkshire last year ranked among the worst in the country.

In the review, chairman of the Railway Development Society James Towler praised other rail companies such as Midland Main Line for making a positive impact.

But, he said: "This has been completely overshadowed by Regional Railways North East whose performance, as measured by the vast increase in cancellations, can be summarised in one word: Pathetic."

"Excuses of trains being cancelled owing to staff shortages cut little ice with passengers aware that these were due to RRNE's driver restructuring programme," he added.

"It is imperative that RRNE acts quickly to restore public confidence in local rail services."

But Tony Pilling, station manager for the Bradford area and spokesman for RRNE, said that the vacancy gap which existed among drivers last year had now been addressed.

"Many of the vacancies were down to sickness and we have now taken on 35 drivers for this area," he said.

"If we are so pathetic, why are more and more passengers using our services?

"We are now looking to the future and have plans to improve services even more over the next six months."

Derrick Joanes, secretary of the Wharfedale Rail Users Group, added: "RRNE went through a particularly bad patch last summer but fortunately, things have improved since then.

"We're just hoping that they will continue to improve."

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