THE operator of trains serving Knutsford and its surrounding villages has received its 'best ever' customer satisfaction score in the latest national passenger survey.

Northern Rail, a Serco and Abellio joint venture, has achieved an overall customer satisfaction score of 84per cent, compared to a national score of 83 per cent.

The company runs trains on the Mid Cheshire line as well as the Crewe to Manchester 'local stopping' service.

Of the 26 train operators surveyed, Northern is one of only five to significantly improve overall.

The survey was carried out in autumn 2015, with Northern’s score a six per cent point increase on the equivalent 2014 survey.

It is Northern’s best ever score in the 12 years of its current franchise operation.

A spokesperson for Northern, which operates trains serving Knutsford, Mobberley, Plumley and Ashley, as well as Goostrey, Chelford and Holmes Chapel, said: "Over the last year Northern has targeted a series of measures to improve customer satisfaction.

"Importantly, improvements to the information provided to customers during delays and the trains in service have been a particular focus.

"As a result the score for dealing with delays has risen by 12 per cent points, provision of information during a journey by six per cent points and overall satisfaction with the train, which includes cleanliness, by six per cent points.

"These are the areas our customers told us we needed to improve.

To target future service improvements, Northern has already started developing retail technologies for ticket buying.

"Work ranges from the introduction of new payment options such as Apple Pay and on station ticket machines."

Natalie Loughborough, customer service director for Northern Rail, added: "The National Rail Passenger Survey is an independent verification of the hard work put in by everyone at Northern to improve customer service.

“There were almost 100 million customer journeys on Northern’s network in 2015.

"Therefore we are delighted to be one of the few train operators to significantly improve customer satisfaction scores; this is our best result in 12 years and a major step up from our bottom of league table position just two years ago.

"Our National Rail Passenger Survey performance follows improvements across the Northern network; from how we present trains and new customer information screens to the service on our trains and at stations.

“We’d like to thank customers for taking the time to give us such valuable feedback. It ensures we tackle the issues that matter most on their daily journeys.”

The Northern franchise will be continued by Arriva from April following the franchise announcement in December 2015.

Do you agree with the survey results? Email knutsford@guardiangrp.co.uk or leave a comment below.