FRUSTRATED passengers were today given the grim news that the performance of GNER trains is getting worse - with fewer than seven out of ten services on time.

The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) said only 69 per cent of the York-based train operator's services arrived punctually in the last three months of 2001 - down from 73.5 per cent in the previous quarter.

The number of Arriva Trains Northern services running on time also slumped from 74.4 per cent to 71 per cent.

And Virgin Cross Country were also affected by poor punctuality, with only 58.4 per cent of trains running to timetable.

The figures cover the period immediately after Transport Secretary Stephen Byers forced Railtrack into administration.

Today he said they painted a grim picture of delays. "It is clear the performance last autumn was simply not good enough," Mr Byers said.

"It is vital that the rail industry, working with the Government, acts with determination to drive up punctuality and improve reliability."

A GNER spokesman said: "In that particular period there was some overhead line damage, which caused severe disruption to trains from London."

He added that two line-side fatalities and problems with ageing rolling stock also contributed to delays.

The national average performance was 71.2 per cent of trains running on time, down from 79 per cent.

SRA chairman Richard Bowker described the figures as "disappointing overall and said there was no miracle cure.

Ray Price, managing director at Arriva Trains Northern, said: "These figures cover a period when the problems inherited by Arriva, in particular a driver shortage, came to a head.

"With the implementation of the temporary timetable our performance improved and we have since reintroduced the vast majority of services."

A Virgin Cross Country spokesman said: "These figures are three months out of date. What you have got to remember is there was a hell of a lot of bad weather during that period."

Updated: 11:23 Monday, March 18, 2002