DELAY times for trains have reduced in the last year, according to a new report by the rail regulator.

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) annual assessment of Network Rail found that delays to passenger trains attributed to its Southern region were lower than expected, with 2.68 minutes of delay per 100km of train travel, against the forecast level of 2.90 minutes delay per 100km of train travel.

Passenger train performance was strong in Sussex and Kent, and the region also delivered planned renewals work while meeting a target to deliver £76 million of efficiency savings, the report found.

John Larkinson, Chief Executive of ORR, said: “Network Rail’s Southern region has delivered strongly in the first year of its five-year plan, delivering its renewals work while making efficiency savings – good news for taxpayers and passengers.

“The region has also made good progress in reducing delays to passenger services.

“We set Network Rail nationally a £3.5 billion efficiency improvement challenge over five years.

“The Southern region has made a good start in contributing to these savings by meeting its target to deliver more efficiently this past year.”