BOSSES at South West Trains have set up a task force in an attempt to tackle constant delays.

The company's record of delays between October and December last year, which has just been published by the Strategic Rail Authority, were among the worst of all the main rail companies.

Delays to services from October to December prompted SWT to set up a group to liaise with other train operators and rail infrastructure contractors.

SWT spokeswoman Simone Walsh said: "The task force has been looking at a variety of issues including retraining staff and making sure trains arrive on time. We also want to deal with incidents more quickly."

More than 40 per cent of SWT's trains were delayed in the three months up to Christmas last year.

Only 59.7 per cent of trains ran on time, the rest being at least 10 minutes late for long-distance journeys and at least five minutes late for short-distance journeys.

The company described the figures as "very disappointing" but claims improvements have been made.

Ms Walsh said: "Performances are now moving in the right direction. Between January and February this year, 70.56 per cent of trains ran on time."

Mike Hewitson, a spokesman for the Rail Passengers Committee for southern England, said: "October to December is always a bad time for delays because of the leaves falling on the track, but the significant thing is that, year-on-year, it seems to be getting worse."

"There is no single body which we can point the finger at but it is partly down to the infrastructure, including points and signal failure and broken rails, and partly to operators, for example, maintenance of trains and guards who don't turn up for work."