A report released recently ranks Eurostar as the worst-performing rail operator among 27 companies in Europe, citing expensive and unreliable service, while Italy’s Trenitalia claims the top spot. “Our analysis shows that ticket prices do not correlate with higher service quality,” the report by Transport and Environment concluded.

While Austria’s “OBB and Trenitalia offer a strong price-to-quality ratio, operators like Eurostar charge nearly twice the European average price per kilometre, yet fail to deliver better services,” the sustainable transport NGO said.

Eurostar – which links France, Britain, Belgium and the Netherlands ranked only 14th on reliability.

The research group looked at eight criteria on medium and long-distance routes. While comparing prices was important, the study also considered reliability, discount programmes, compensation policies in the event of delays, passenger experience and the existence of night trains or bicycle spaces. Trenitalia was followed by Switzerland’s SBB with the Czech Republic’s RegioJet in third in the overall ranking.

The study however said that all companies could improve their on-time performance. “The reliability of major rail operators in Europe remains disappointing. Of the 25 operators with punctuality data, only 11 achieve a rate above 80 percent,” it said.

Germany’s Deutsche Bahn – the largest train operator in Europe and which is struggling with an aging network – was 25th in reliability and 16th overall.

T&E said the opening up of competition has improved service on several lines such as Madrid-Barcelona and Milan-Rome, but noted that privatisation did not improve train services in Britain.

Transport and Environment also called on governments to invest in track networks to improve reliability and reduce fees on train operators in order to reduce ticket prices.