Lilian Greenwood MP, Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary, commenting on new figures which show rail punctuality has fallen to its lowest level in a decade, said:

“It’s clear that punctuality on the rail network is in free fall under the Tories. Passengers are paying ever higher prices to travel on increasingly unreliable and overcrowded carriages. Ministers must stop making excuses and act.

“Network Rail is struggling with cuts and a maintenance backlog, and it is extremely concerning that delays due to track faults such as broken rails has risen by 37 per cent in London and the South East. Out of touch Ministers say that passengers are paying ‘fair fares for comfortable commuting,’ but this is a world away from the unacceptable conditions facing millions of people every day.”