EAST Coast main line operator GNER was revealed as having the worst record for train punctuality in the country in figures released yesterday.

Quarterly figures from the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) revealed that only 69.2 per cent of GNER trains were on time in the first three months of this year, compared with the last three months of 2001.

Nationally, the figures showed the rail industry was still recovering from the aftermath of the Hatfield and Selby crashes, with an average punctuality figure of 80.9 per cent - well down on pre-Hatfield figures of 89.8 per cent.

But North-East passenger groups said the figures did not compare like for like.

Ernie Preston, secretary of the North-East Rail Passengers' Committee, said: "If GNER have to meet times within ten minutes that's far harder if you're going from Glasgow to London than if you're going from Leeds to Manchester."

A spokesman for GNER said that in the first three months of the year there had been a series of freak weather conditions which had led to the closure of the station in York and prevented trains running north of Newcastle.

Plans to address punctuality include rebuilding the engines of both electrical and diesel trains to improve reliability.

The spokesman said the operator, which last summer was given just a two-year extension to its existing franchise rather than the hoped-for 20 years, would be in a better position to get new rolling stock if they were given a longer franchise.

But GNER can take solace in the fact that, with 84 per cent, it was near the top for customer satisfaction.

Meanwhile, Virgin Trains had one of the biggest improvements for punctuality - up 14.1 per cent to 72.4 per cent.

A spokesman said the £1bn investment in Voyager trains had vastly improved punctuality.

"It's a dramatic improvement, but at the same time we're still fully aware that we've got some way to go."

He added that the company was expecting to achieve a score above 90 per cent.

Arriva Trains Northern managing director Ray Price said the improved performance of ten per cent was also welcome news.

The operator, which was hit by a shortage of drivers, has recently restored its full timetable across the region.

Mr Price said: "We have worked very hard to turn the business around and tackle the inherited driver shortage, which previously affected our ability to deliver robust services, and we are now starting to see the benefits.