Amtrak's Long-Distance Train Performance
March 2016
For the month of March 2016, the Bull Sheet has calculated that 44 percent of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their final destination on time or earlier. (In the corresponding month in 2015, it was 34 percent.)
The average arrival of all long-distance trains in the survey period was 40 minutes late. (In the corresponding month in 2015, it was one hour late.)
The average arrival only of those trains that arrived behind schedule was one hour and 12 minutes late. (In the corresponding month in 2015, it was one hour and 30 minutes late.)
A train is considered late whenever it arrives at its final destination behind schedule, even if it arrives late by just one minute. Sufficient padding is incorporated into long-distance train schedules to eliminate the need for grace allowances by showing a train arriving on time when it is actually nominally late.
Trains arriving ahead of schedule are shown 'on time,' with no extra credit given to offset late arrivals in other instances.
Survey was compiled by the Bull Sheet's statistical department comprehending actual performance as reported for each affected train on Amtrak's website.
Individual train performance over the course of the month of March 2016 was as follows:
Train
Pct on-time arrival
Overall avg arrival
Avg arrival if late
Auto Train 21 %
1 hour, 15 mins late
1 hour, 36 mins late
California Zephyr 68 %
18 mins late
57 mins late
Capitol Limited 44 %
23 mins late
40 mins late
Cardinal 42 %
26 mins late
45 mins late
Carolinian 24 %
38 mins late
50 mins late
City of New Orleans 71 %
29 mins late
1 hour, 42 mins late
Coast Starlight 75 %
24 mins late
1 hour, 36 mins late
Crescent 27 %
37 mins late
1 hour, 5 mins late
Empire Builder 82 %
7 mins late
38 mins late
Lake Shore Limited 34 %
36 mins late
55 mins late
Maple Leaf 71 %
8 mins late
27 mins late
Palmetto 26 %
44 mins late
1 hour late
Silver Meteor 16 %
1 hour, 28 mins late
1 hour, 45 mins late
Silver Star 11 %
1 hour, 38 mins late
1 hour, 50 mins late
Southwest Chief 62 %
27 mins late
1 hour, 11 mins late
Sunset Limited 70 %
28 mins late
1 hour, 32 mins late
Texas Eagle 27 %
1 hour, 29 mins late
2 hours, 3 mins late
Vermonter 26 %
19 mins late
26 mins late