Report Damns UK Rail

Faulty railway tracks are on the increase and improvement work is 'stalling' on the UK's rail network, according to a new report.

The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) says failures from track faults were 19.7% higher than the last quarter 2007. The failures are generally believed to be caused by a new generation of heavier rolling stock stressing tracks.

Performance on Network Rail's western route "continues to disappoint" according to the ORR. The report says: "If we conclude that Network Rail could and should have been doing more than they have been, we will take enforcement action."

But for the period Q1 2007-2008, the report found improved punctuality, higher levels of investment and a growth in freight – an increase of 1.9% over 2005-2006.

Reported by Ozge Ibrahim