Rail operator First Great Western has transformed its performance – just 13 months after it was threatened with losing its franchise.

Figures released yesterday show that 90.5 per cent of its trains arrived on time last month, compared to 83 per cent in February 2008, thanks to improved maintenance of rolling stock and an extra 250 staff.

It is now striving to have 92 per cent of trains arriving on time by April 2010.

Last year's poor figures led Ruth Kelly, the then Transport Secretary, to order First to improve its ways or lose its franchise.

At the time, First was struggling to integrate the former Thames Trains and Wessex Trains operations it took over as part of the 10-year franchise which began in April 2006.

It also contributed to a fare strike in January 2007, when around 500 passengers led by the More Trains Less Strain pressure group refused to pay their fares in protest at poor services.

Measures brought in by FGW to improve reliability include improvements to servicing of its diesel Super Sprinter trains, which operate across suburban areas in the West.

Before the improvements, the trains would have casualties – failures causing a delay of more than five minutes – every 6,000 miles – compared to one every 20,000 miles now.

The operator has also taken on an extra 250 staff on top of its existing 5,000-string workforce, to reduce problems of train crew shortages.

A First Great Western spokesman said: "Since the beginning of April this year, we have averaged out at 92 per cent performance across the whole First Great Western network.

"This is now the target figure we have set ourselves for the next year.

"This improvement in our services is no more than our passengers deserve and there is still more to do."