NEW figures released by Great Western Railway show customer satisfaction has risen to an all-time high, thanks to their new bullet-style trains.

Customer satisfaction has risen to 87 per cent, which is a nine per cent improvement on last autumn’s statistics.

These latest figures were recorded using the National Rail Passenger Survey, carried out by independent watchdog, Passenger Focus.

In the last 18 months, the company has introduced two new fleets of trains in the last 18 months, including its Intercity Express Trains on long distance services and Electrostar trains in the Thames Valley.

GWR have said the ‘continued hard work of colleagues’ is responsible for this landmark improvement in customer satisfaction.

Managing director Mark Hopwood said GWR ‘promised the biggest upgrade in a generation’ on the Great Western route and believes they have delivered it with ‘new fleets of trains, more staff, and more modern and improved track infrastructure.’

He said: “I am delighted this hard work is starting to pay off.

“Not only are our customers enjoying the benefit the new trains are bringing, but their experience has become the norm, reflected today in our record overall satisfaction scores.

“In December this year we will launch a new timetable and the biggest change on our network in 40 years, making the most of our new fleets to bring even more frequent services, offering more seats and quicker journeys.”

Customers of the train service not only reported a nine per cent increase in overall satisfaction, but a 12 per cent improvement in reliability, an eight per cent increase in seating and a four per cent increase in the comfort of seating.