PPM (Public Performance Measure) Query

[dmacw]

According to Network Rail.

PPM measures the performance of individual trains advertised as passenger services against their planned timetable as agreed between the operator and Network Rail at 22:00 the night before. PPM is therefore the percentage of trains 'on time' compared to the total number of trains planned.

Where a train fails to run its entire planned route calling at all timetabled stations it will count as a PPM failure.

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/about/performance/

Here's my question,

If a station/platform is closed for reasons beyond the TOC/NR control, e.g. Police have requested the station/platform to be closed. Would this still count against PPM?

Example: Ash Vale Platform 1 was closed until 10am (ish) this morning at the request of the police. I can't find a link, but it's all over the SWT Twitter page.

https://twitter.com/SW_Trains

 

[Muzer]

Not knowing much about this, I would expect so - since delays/cancellations caused by other factors outside of the TOCs' control are also counted.

 

[Cherry_Picker]

As far as I am aware, everything counts towards PPM. I guess the clue is in the title, the public don't care why a train is late or has been cancelled they just care that they have been disrupted.
You might argue that PPM can be a bit unfair towards TOCS, and in truth it often is, but they all know about it when they are bidding for a franchise.

 

[Tiny Tim]

PPM might as well stand for Pointless Performance Measure. Like various 'league tables' before, it's inaccurate and misleading.

 

[Cherry_Picker]

You would be shocked at how seriously TOC's take it though. On days where we achieve 100% PPM the company is very quick to tell us!

 

[quarella]

You would be shocked at how seriously TOC's take it though. On days where we achieve 100% PPM the company is very quick to tell us!

I expect it is taken seriously by senior management at TOCs as it can affect their bonuses. Slightly less cynically it is used as a measure for penalty clauses in franchise agreements and may affect franchise renewal and the potential award of any new franchise bid for.