Rail passengers have welcomed improvements in punctuality on Thameslink services since Christmas.

Thameslink, which runs services on the busy Brighton to London line, said punctuality had risen from 52.6 per cent in December to more than 80 per cent this month.

Figures published yesterday showed 80.6 per cent of trains arrived within five minutes of their scheduled time in the four weeks up to March 2.

A company spokesman described the figure as "stunning".

Improvements resulted from Thameslink being able to operate a full fleet again following a spate of mechanical failures last year.

Better performance of Railtrack in responding to infrastructure problems and more reliable services by South Central, which operates on the same track had also helped.

Mark Causebrook, director and general manager for Thameslink, said: "There is still much to be done but there is little doubt we have seen a dramatic improvement in the punctuality of our services in the last few weeks.

"Our passengers and ourselves suffered badly at the end of last year because we incurred a number of operating difficulties that badly affected our performance.

"The improvement is great news. We are all working to continue it."

Shelley Atlas, of Brighton Line Commuters, warmly welcomed the latest figures.

She said: "Any improvement has is better than nothing and they are trying to get things right.

"We know they are trying hard and they have had some problems but these figures show a marked improvement."