FEWER than half the trains on the west coast main line ran on time in the past 12 months, according to official figures.
Virgin Trains was only able to operate 48.9% of trains on time on the west coast main line in the year ending April 27, 2013.
The CrossCountry company only ran 46.1% of trains to schedule.
The statistics from Network Rail (NR) were based on "right time" performances in which trains are only regarded as being punctual if they arrive within 59 seconds of the timetabled time.
Under the 59-second rule, the NR table showed 68% of trains across the country were on time in the 12-month period.
Train companies below the average figure included Southern (55.5% punctuality), First ScotRail (59.8%), East Coast (60.9%) and First TransPennine Express (63.8%).
The best-performing company was London Overground (86.8%).
NR also announced yesterday the latest monthly punctuality figures based on commuter trains arriving within five minutes of the scheduled time and long-distance services arriving within 10 minutes of the scheduled time.
These are figures on which rail regulators judge NR's performance. They showed that nationally, from April 28 to May 25 this year, 93.5% of trains were on time. This compared with a figure of 92.3% for the same period last year. Virgin Trains (85.7%), London Midland (89.2%) and East Coast (89.4%), were the only companies to fall below 90%.
NR said infrastructure, overhead line and signalling equipment problems caused the majority of delays on the West Coast Main Line.
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