Performances by York-based rail operators have improved, according to watchdogs.

The Shadow Strategic Rail Authority said recent studies showed improvements in services during the past six months.

The authority started a grading system to monitor performances by Britain's 25 companies in February. Latest findings showed all had improved.

Chief executive Mike Grant said: "It is too early to say that there has been a turnaround in performance, but these are the first encouraging signs.

"I look to operators and Railtrack to follow through with sustained improvement, particularly during the crucial autumn and winter months ahead."

Despite improvements, both York-based companies, GNER and Northern Spirit, failed to change their gradings and remained in band C.

Northern Spirit's Transpennine Express service, which runs through York, was graded B.

David Mallender, GNER's spokesman, said: "This is good news for our passengers. We have certainly invested a lot of time and money to keep delays to a minimum and improve punctuality, and it seems to be paying off."

A Northern Spirit spokesman said: "We understand punctuality and reliability are what is important to our customers. The authority's findings are very encouraging."

The Shadow Strategic Rail Authority's chairman, Sir Alastair Morton, was in York yesterday to speak to hundreds of people from the rail industry at the National Railway Museum.

He announced imminent plans to invite train operators to negotiate new franchises which would give them a longer time to operate before needing to reapply.

He said: "We are inviting them to approach us to negotiate longer replacements of all the franchises expiring within five years.

"Let us be clear - our invitation is a call to arms for the operators."

In return for longer franchises Sir Alastair said he expected "solid commitments to invest in core developments in the franchises and to raise service levels in both quality and quantity."

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