20 July 2026 •
- c2c has delivered better performance for passengers, while continuing to roll-out initiatives to drive a better customer experience, including contactless travel across its entire network
- c2c achieved an industry‑leading 91.9% Time to 3 (T‑3) score between April 2025 and March 2026
- c2c has also driven revenue growth with a 10.6% increase on the previous financial year
Rail operator c2c Railway has today published a summary of its key achievements and service performance during its first year in public ownership.
Today marks one year since c2c rail operations transferred into public ownership under the Department for Transport Operator. The operator – now part of GBR Anglia, which brings together the leadership of c2c, Greater Anglia and Network Rail Anglia under a single, unified structure – has highlighted the significant progress and key achievements it has delivered over the past 12 months.
A new short film released today confirms that c2c was the number one train operating company for reliability and punctuality between April 2025 and March 2026, achieving an industry‑leading 91.9% Time to 3 (T‑3) score. With Greater Anglia also recording strong performance, the results underline the strength of rail operations across the region, with the Anglia route the most punctual in the country.
c2c has also recorded a strong commercial performance, with passenger numbers rising, ticket sales increasing, and revenue up 10.6% on the previous financial year.
The operator remains the only fully contactless National Rail network in the UK. Since launching last year, the pay as you go initiative has enabled more than five million contactless journeys to and from c2c’s Essex stations – another industry milestone.
Jamie Burles, Managing Director of GBR Anglia, said:
“I would like to thank colleagues across c2c and the wider Anglia route whose ongoing dedication, professionalism and commitment has ensured that c2c continues to be one of the industry’s leading operators, with the railway in Anglia being one that our customers can trust and rely on.
“Our strong service performance and revenue growth in 2025/26 reflects our continued momentum under public ownership as we build back stronger and move towards Great British Railways.
“Now part of GBR Anglia, we remain fully committed to continuing to provide high-quality, accessible and reliable service for all our customers.”
Rob Mullen, Chief Customer and Commercial Officer at GBR Anglia (former c2c Managing Director), said:
“Over the last year we have continued to deliver for those who matter most – our customers, colleagues and the communities we serve.
“Our Kick4Kindness and Essex Ultra Marathon events have raised more than £30k for local mental health and children’s cancer charities, and our partnership with Southend United Football Club continues to bring people together while inspiring the next generation of supporters.
“We have also delivered a wide range of improvements across our estate, including platform renewal works at Basildon, Limehouse and Rainham, redevelopment of the main concourse, ticket offices and gatelines at Barking, and upgraded lighting at multiple locations across the route.
“It has been exciting to see over the last few days the first GBR Anglia-branded trains enter service, carrying the distinctive red, white and blue Great British Railways livery across c2c and the wider Anglia route.
“This is just the beginning. In the weeks and months ahead, more GBR Anglia trains will be coming into service across the region, providing a visible symbol of the progress we are making together as we move towards the introduction of Great British Railways.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Anglia’s journey towards Great British Railways
Anglia’s integrated railway brings together the leadership of c2c, Greater Anglia and Network Rail Anglia under a single, unified structure.
This new structure is part of wider plans to create Great British Railways (GBR), bringing track and train closer together to deliver a better, more joined-up railway for customers and communities in Anglia.
The structure is designed to support closer operational coordination across infrastructure, train services and customer delivery.
Existing ticketing and customer arrangements remain unchanged, and customers will continue to see the current company identities as the railway transitions towards GBR.
The Anglia route serves a fast-growing region, connecting commuters, leisure travellers, ports, power stations and more, as well as Stansted and Southend airports.
About c2c
- c2c is the award-winning train operator running services between Fenchurch Street and Shoeburyness, serving 26 stations in East London and South Essex.
- c2c is one of the UK’s most punctual and popular train operators and nearly 37.3 million journeys are made on its services every year.
- The operation of all c2c services transferred into public ownership on Sunday 20 July 2025 and is managed by DFTO (DfT Operator Ltd).
- For more information email mediaenquiries@c2crail.net
About DFTO
- DFTO is the government’s public sector rail owning group. Its purpose is to bring all currently privately-owned train operators into public ownership in advance of the creation of Great British Railways in 2027.
- The group’s current train operating companies are: c2c, Greater Anglia, LNER, Northern, Southeastern, South Western Railway, TransPennine Express and WM Trains (London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway).
- DFTO runs more than 8,500 services each weekday and delivers more than 660 million customer journeys across its networks every year.
Images
Featured Image: First Great British Railways trains for Anglia unveiled as integrated railway delivers early benefits (credit: GBR Anglia)
Second Image: GBR Anglia Managing Director, Jamie Burles
Third Image: Chief Customer and Commercial Officer, GBR Anglia, Rob Mullen