Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS)
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Table 1-63 . Amtrak On-Time Performance Trends and Hours of Delay by Cause

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  1980 1985 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
On-time performance, total % (weighted) 69 81 76 77 77 72 72 76 71 74 79 79
Short distance (<400 miles) 71 82 82 82 82 79 78 81 76 79 81 80
Long distance (>=400 miles) 64 78 53 59 61 a47 49 57 49 53 59 61
Hours of delay by cause                        
Amtraka N N 3,565 5,915 6,433 8,488 8,538 5,527 5,193 5,310 4,796 4,891
Freightb N N 4,244 7,743 8,229 12,827 14,319 11,224 11,438 12,904 14,202 16,158
Otherc N N 4,316 7,426 8,185 11,675 11,871 8,497 8,425 7,611 8,291 8,203
Totald N N 12,126 21,084 22,847 32,991 34,729 25,248 25,056 25,825 27,289 29,252

a Amtrak delays include equipment malfunctions, train servicing in stations, and passenger-related delays.
b Freight delays include maintenance of way/slow orders, freight train interference, and signal delays.
c Other delays include passenger train interference, waiting for connections, running time, weather-related delays, and miscellaneous.
d 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 (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).



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