The number of train breakdowns in the Netherlands was down by 10% in 2018, railway operator ProRail said on Wednesday.

The number of major disruptions – with a knock-on effect on over 25 train services – went down from 627 to 558, the operator said. In total, 91.4% of services reached their destination on time.

This means the operator won’t have to pay the conditional fine of €1.3m it was handed by the transport minister last year.

According to ProRail boss Pier Eringa, train services have never before been so punctual. ‘There are not many countries that can do what we are doing,’ he said, claiming the Netherlands is in the top three of most punctual countries behind Switzerland and Japan.

ProRail says breakdown figures are down because the company is using new techniques and innovations . The operator also has special teams in place on busy services that can cope with breakdowns more quickly on the ground.