Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS)
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Table 20
Amtrak On-Time Performance Trends and Hours of Delay by Cause

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  2002 2003 2004 2005
On-time performance        
Total (weighted) 76% 74% 71% 70%
Short distance (<400 miles)a 87% 82% 76% 78%
Long distance (>400 miles) 70% 70% 68% 66%
Hours of delay by cause        
Amtrakb 26,575 25,711 28,323 25,549
Host railroadc 55,090 57,346 61,256 64,097
Otherd 4,266 5,355 5,582 5,613
Totale 85,932 88,413 95,162 95,260

a Includes all Amtrak Northeast Corridor and Empire Service (New York State) trains. b Includes all delays when operating on Amtrak-owned tracks and delays for equipment or engine failure, passenger handling, holding for connections, train servicing, and mail/baggage handling when on tracks of a host railroad. c Includes all operating delays not attributable to Amtrak when operating on tracks of a host railroad (e.g., track- and signal-related delays, power failures, freight and commuter train interference, routing delays). d Includes delays not attributable to Amtrak or host railroads (e.g., customs and immigration, law enforcement action, weather, or waiting for scheduled departure time). e Numbers may not add to totals due to rounding.

Notes: All percentages are based on Amtrak's fiscal year (Oct. 1-Sept. 30). Host railroad is a freight or commuter railroad over which many Amtrak trains operate for all or part of their trips.

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: Amtrak, personal communication, October 2005.



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