BTS | Table 1-67: Amtrak On-Time Performance Trends and Hours of Delay by Cause

Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) - Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) - United States Department of Transportation (USDOT, US DOT or DOT)

ABOUT RITA | CONTACT US | PRESS ROOM | CAREERS | SITE MAP

Data and Statistics

Bookstore

Programs

About BTS

Upcoming Press Releases

External Links

BTS Home > Publications > National Transportation Statistics

Table 1-67: Amtrak On-Time Performance Trends and Hours of Delay by Cause

Excel | CSV

	1980	1985	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006
On-time performance, total percent (weighted)	69%	81%	76%	77%	77%	72%	72%	76%	71%	74%	79%	79%	78%	75%	76%	74%	71%	70%	68%
Short distance (<400 miles), percent	71%	82%	82%	82%	82%	79%	78%	81%	76%	79%	81%	80%	(R) 82%	79%	80%	77%	75%	74%	73%
Long distance (>=400 miles), percent	64%	78%	53%	59%	61%	47%	49%	57%	49%	53%	59%	55%	(R) 55%	52%	52%	53%	41%	40%	30%
Hours of delay by cause, total^a	N	N	12,126	21,084	22,847	32,991	34,729	25,248	25,056	25,825	27,289	29,252	(R) 70,396	83,837	85,932	88,413	95,162	95,259	101,522
Amtrak^,b	N	N	3,565	5,915	6,433	8,488	8,538	5,527	5,193	5,310	4,796	4,891	(R) 23,337	27,822	26,575	25,711	28,328	25,549	23,968
Host railroad^c	N	N	4,244	7,743	8,229	12,827	14,319	11,224	11,438	12,904	14,202	16,158	(R) 43,881	52,273	55,090	57,346	61,256	64,097	71,387
Other^d	N	N	4,316	7,426	8,185	11,675	11,871	8,497	8,425	7,611	8,291	8,203	(R) 3,176	3,741	4,266	5,355	5,577	5,613	6,166

KEY: N = data do not exist; R = revised.

^aAmtrak changed its method for reporting delays in 2000. Therefore, the data for 2000 and following years are not comparable with prior years.

^bIncludes all delays that occur when operating on Amtrak owned tracks and all delays for equipment or engine failure, passenger handling, holding for connections, train servicing, and mail/baggage handling when on tracks of a host railroad.

^cIncludes all operating delays not attributable to Amtrak when operating on tracks of a host railroad, such as track and signal related delays, power failures, freight and commuter train interference, routing delays, etc.

^dIncludes delays not attributable to Amtrak or other host railroads, such as customs and immigrations, law enforcement action, weather, or waiting for scheduled departure time.

NOTES

Host railroad is a freight or commuter railroad over which Amtrak trains operate for all or part of their trip.

Numbers may not add to totals due to rounding.

All percentages are based on Amtrak's fiscal year (October 1–September 30).

Amtrak trips are considered delayed based on the following chart:

Trip length (miles)	Delayed departure time (minutes)
0-250	10
251-350	15
351-450	20
451-550	25
>551	30

SOURCES:

1980: Amtrak, National Railroad Passenger Corporation Annual Report (Washington, DC: 1981).

1985–99: Ibid., Amtrak Annual Report, Statistical Appendix (Washington, DC: Annual issues).

2000–03: Amtrak, personal communication, October 2003.

2004-06: Amtrak Annnual Report.