Latest findings from Network Rail reveal Virgin Trains, which operates on the West Coast Main Line through Lancashire, was punctual 84.6% of the time between May 3 and 30 this year.

That compares to just 80.8% of the time in May last year - but despite the improvement, Virgin are still easily the worst performers in the country. They say that is largely down to Network Rail, with 75% of delays on the West Coast caused by "infrastructure failure".

Across the country, 90.8% of services have arrived on time between January and May 30, according to the organisation - the highest figure since records were first kept 20 years ago.
But Robin Gisby, director of operations and customer service at Network Rail, admitted: "We accept that particular focus is needed to improve performance for Virgin trains where only four out of five services arrive on time.

"Working together with all the train operators on the West Coast route we have embarked upon a £50m package of improvements aimed at raising train punctuality to acceptable levels."
A spokesman for Virgin Trains said: "The jury is still out on Network Rail's performance. We will work with them and we are pleased they are putting money and people towards sorting out the performance of the infrastructure.
"Around 75% of our delays are caused by infrastructure failure. Around 10-15% is caused by us and the balance is other train operators delaying us.
"The vast majority of delays have been caused by infrastructure failures."

Roger Bell, of campaign group the Ormskirk, Preston and Southport Travellers Association (OPSTA), said: "It is getting better but there is still a major problem with Virgin.
"What I don't know is how much of it is down to Virgin and how much of it is down to Network Rail.
"They have had some major problems recently with signalling and overhead lines and I don't think Network Rail has totally got it together.
"There is one service in particular - the Birmingham to Scotland route - and if I'm ever passing through Preston station and there's a train that is late, you know it is going to be that service.
"I'm in Preston three times a week and I always look at the departure and arrival boards to see whose late. Eight times out of 10 it is Virgin."

According to the figures for May 3 to 30 2009,93.4% (compared to 91.7% last year) of services across the country arrived on time.
Other companies which run trains in Lancashire also posted improvements.
First TransPennine Express went from 92.1% in May 3-30 2008 to 94.7% this year. Northern went from 91.4% to 94.2%.
The Virgin figures come following a nightmare 12 months for passengers on the West Coast line last year - thanks to Network Rail's £9bn upgrade of the line.

It meant passengers were subjected to delays and replacement bus services every weekend in 2008.
But the upgrade has meant faster and more frequent train services on the line this year.
It also comes after union bosses at the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) claimed at the start of this month that punctuality had dropped as low as 39.4% on the West Coast Main Line during April.