Yeah, I've never had any reason to grumble, even out here in zone 4 and it seems to get better.
Last time I went to Manchester from Bolton we were on some sort of train bus with bench seats, and despite giving ourselves loads of time, almost missed the train to London due to one cancellation and then the train just stopping between deansgate for nearly half an hour.
If that was down here there would be a national media outcry.