EAST Coast Mainline operator GNER has admitted it has more work to do after recording only a small improvement in the number of its trains running on time.

The York-based company saw 78.4 per cent of trains run on time between April and June this year compared to 78.3 per cent for the same period last year, according to figures from the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA).

Richard Allan, GNER's public affairs manager, said: "We are getting better but recognise that there is still significant work to do to make sure we are as reliable as possible for passengers.

"As a train company, our fleet of diesel trains is already among the most reliable in the country, thanks to the tens of millions of pounds we have spent on upgrading it."

Rival Virgin Cross Country, which operates between the North-East, Yorkshire, Midlands and the South-West, was the big winner.

According to the SRA figures, 80.2 per cent of its trains ran on time - up 10.1 per cent from 70.1 per cent on the same period last year.

Virgin said that more passengers were satisfied with its services than any other long distance operator.

Virgin Trains chief executive Chris Green said: "The heartening improvement with our CrossCountry service shows what can be achieved with well designed, reliable and comfortable trains."

The overall punctuality of Britain's trains improved by only 0.2 per cent over the past year, the figures showed, with a total of 84.5 per cent of trains running on time between April and June.