Some 68 per cent of commuters reported being satisfied with the punctuality of services and just 31 per cent satisfied by how well train companies deal with delays.
The quality of service provided by HSR systems can be expressed by the attributes such as schedule delay, trip time in combination with the reliability and punctuality of services, the comfort on board HS trains, and accessibility of the HSR stations [27].
The root cause of this problem lies in its intransigent and self-interested attitude towards small but important reforms we're making to working practices that will improve the punctuality of our services and enhance customer service on trains.
This means to identify a configuration of the infrastructure components (e.g. number of rail tracks, type and layout of the signalling system, layout of station tracks) and the operational schedule (e.g. train headways, scheduled dwell times) that improves given measures of performance such as the level of capacity, the punctuality of the service and the energy saving.
Knock-on delay, which is the key factor in punctuality of railway service, is mainly related to two factors including the quality of timetable in the planning phase and disturbances which may result in unscheduled trains' waiting or meeting in operation phase.
Delay propagation is a key factor in punctuality of rail services.
Set against this background, and taking also into account the forecasts of rail traffic across the whole Europe from 2010 to 2030 or even to 2050 (see for example [2]), some relevant policy questions are inevitable: Is the actual rail infrastructure really able to absorb the forecasted traffic, without significant impacts on the punctuality of the services?
Reasonable partition plan is essential to improve the punctuality and level of service.
Punctuality of the HSR services can be expressed by two attributes: (i) the ratio of the number of transport services carried out on time, i.e., according to the timetable, or with the specified maximum or average delays, and the total number of services carried out, and (ii) the average delay per delayed service.
Anna Walker, from the Office of Rail Regulation, said: "To see satisfaction dip to 83% partly due to declining punctuality and reliability of services is disheartening, and reinforces our decision to bring in tough new punctuality targets for the railways".
