PERFORMANCE figures from York and North Yorkshire train operators were among the few bright spots in a gloomy national rail review.

York-based GNER received a major boost after passengers rated it Britain's best long-distance train operator.

New Strategic Rail Authority figures show that 84 per cent of passengers were satisfied with their GNER journey between April and October this year, with just six per cent dissatisfied.

The Station Rise company fell down on timing, with fewer than three-quarters of GNER trains running on time.

But despite the figures, 79 per cent were satisfied with GNER's time record against 13 per cent dissatisfied.

Arriva Trains Northern, which runs services on the busy York to Leeds commuter route and has been heavily criticised by passengers' groups, saw a "significant improvement in overall passenger satisfaction".

Virgin, which runs trains through York to the Midlands, was the worst for its timing with less than 67 per cent of its cross country services on time.

Nationally, the SRA said the rail industry faced a "massive challenge" to improve performance.

The figures showed Britain's trains were becoming less punctual and passenger complaints were soaring.

Meanwhile, a GNER spokesman today defended the company's discounted fares policy.

Long-distance operators were criticised by the Rail Passengers' Council for a lack of transparency over numbers of discount tickets available.

"The airlines do exactly the same thing, high street retailers carry offers that say, while stocks last, I do not see why we should be criticised just because we are a train operator," the spokesman said.

Updated: 11:53 Friday, December 13, 2002