Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS)
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Table 16
Amtrak On-Time Performance Trends and Hours of Delay by Cause

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  1980 1985 1990 1995 2000
On-time performance          
Total system 69% 81% 76% 76% 78%
Short distance (<400 miles) 71% 82% 82% 81% 81%
Long distance (>=400 miles) 64% 78% 53% 57% 56%
Hours of delay by causea          
Amtrakb N N 3,565 5,527 20,187
Freightc N N 4,244 11,224 33,718
Otherd N N 4,316 8,497 14,718
Totale N N 12,126 25,248 68,623

a Amtrak changed its method for reporting delays in 2000. Therefore, 2000 data are not comparable to prior years.

b Includes equipment malfunctions, train servicing in stations, and passenger-related delays.

c Includes maintenance of way/slow orders, freight train interference, signal delays.

d Includes passenger train interference, waiting for connections, running time, weather-related delays, and miscellaneous.

e Numbers may not add to totals due to rounding.

Key: N = data do not exist.

Notes: All percentages are based on Amtrak's fiscal year (Oct. 1-Sept. 30).

Amtrak trips are considered delayed based on the following chart:

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

Source: Various sources, as cited in USDOT, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, National Transportation Statistics 2002 (Washington, DC: 2002), table 1-66.