Network Rail Improvements Deliver Better Train Performance Across Wales and Western Region

Train reliability across Wales and the West of England has improved following a programme of infrastructure upgrades and operational changes introduced by Network Rail, according to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).

The regulator has been overseeing the implementation of a long-term performance improvement strategy aimed at reducing delays and cancellations linked to Network Rail's management of the railway network. The initiative followed an ORR investigation completed in 2024, which found that both infrastructure issues and operational practices were contributing to poor performance across the Wales & Western region.

The region covers more than 4,300 kilometres of railway, includes 453 stations and employs approximately 5,500 people.

Since the introduction of the improvement programme in August 2024, passenger cancellations attributed to Network Rail have fallen by more than 20 per cent. Performance has also improved, with the proportion of trains arriving within three minutes of schedule increasing from 77.6 per cent to 79.4 per cent by the end of the 2025-26 reporting year.

ORR Director of Planning and Performance Graham Richards welcomed the progress, noting that passengers are now experiencing more reliable services as a result of sustained efforts by Network Rail and continued regulatory oversight.

He acknowledged that while performance has improved, many passengers still expect higher standards of reliability and punctuality, adding that the regulator will continue working with both Network Rail and train operators to drive further improvements across the network.

A significant proportion of the work has focused on the Thames Valley area, where Network Rail has undertaken targeted interventions involving track infrastructure, overhead line equipment, signalling systems, axle counters and points.

Additional measures have included the deployment of welfare officers at key stations to reduce trespass incidents and investment in flood resilience works at Chipping Sodbury on the Great Western Main Line.

Network Rail has also introduced a series of organisational changes across the region, including enhanced leadership development, improvements to train control operations, dedicated timetable planning teams and strengthened processes for incident management and responding to stranded trains.

Mark Killick, Managing Director for Network Rail's Wales & Western region, said customers are already seeing the benefits of the improvements delivered over the past two years. He added that while progress has been made, the organisation remains focused on reducing disruption further and delivering an increasingly dependable railway.

Following its review, the ORR has concluded that Network Rail has successfully delivered the commitments contained within its performance improvement plan. As a result, the regulator has formally closed its enforcement action relating to train performance in the Wales & Western region.

The decision marks a significant milestone for Network Rail, although both the company and the regulator have acknowledged that further work is needed to continue improving punctuality and reliability for passengers.