Mid-Essex commuter railway Great Eastern is second best for on-time trains in the country according to a new report.

The Shadow Strategic Rail Authority put 89.5 per cent of the 115,377 trains run by the Kelvedon Witham, Hatfield Peverel, Chelmsford, Ingatestone, Shenfield, Brentwood and Harold Wood to Liverpool Street line last year within five minutes of their timetabled arrivals.

It was also the First most punctual line when compared with the London region of 11 other operators. In another test 94.9 per cent of the trains were at their destinations within 10 minutes of timetable - again best in the southeast and third nationally.

Just half of one per cent of trains had to be cancelled - second best in the London region and third best UK wide.

First GER managing director Bob Breakwell says the result is encouraging but says there are still areas of improvement.

"We can all take heart from this excellent report. Credit is due to all our staff."

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