Amtrak's Long-Distance Train Performance
May 2018
For the month of May 2018, the Bull Sheet has calculated that 26 percent of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their final destination on time or earlier. [In the same month last year it was 28 percent.]
The average arrival of all long-distance trains in the survey period was one hour and seven minutes late. [In the same month last year it was one hour and six minutes late.]
The average arrival of the 74 percent of trains that were behind schedule was one hour and 30 minutes late. [In the same month last year it was one hour and 31 minutes late.]
A train is considered late whenever it arrives at its final destination behind schedule, even if only by a minute. Sufficient padding is incorporated into long-distance train schedules to eliminate the need for grace allowances in 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 other arrivals that are late. Trains that are canceled, truncated, referred by Amtrak as 'service disrupted,' or provided unreliable data are typically excluded.
This survey was compiled by the Bull Sheet's statistical department comprehending actual performance as reported for each affected train on Amtrak's website. Data only apply to arrival at final destination; average arrivals at intermediate stations may differ.
Individual train performance over the course of May 2018 was as follows:
Train
Pct on-time arrival
Overall avg arrival
Avg arrival if late
Auto Train 38 %
1 hour, 27 mins late
2 hours, 20 mins late
California Zephyr 40 %
59 mins late
1 hour, 38 min late
Capitol Limited 12 %
1 hour, 37 mins late
1 hour, 49 mins late
Cardinal 31 %
1 hour late
1 hour, 26 mins late
Carolinian 17 %
57 mins late
1 hour, 9 mins late
City of New Orleans 69 %
11 mins late
35 mins late
Coast Starlight 61 %
30 mins late
1 hour, 17 mins late
Crescent 0 %
3 hours, 33 mins late
3 hours, 33 mins late
Empire Builder 31 %
48 mins late
1 hour, 10 mins late
Lake Shore Limited 7 %
58 mins late
1 hour, 2 mins late
Maple Leaf 20 %
23 mins late
29 mins late
Palmetto 7 %
1 hour, 3 mins late
1 hour, 7 mins late
Silver Meteor 25 %
1 hour, 17 mins late
1 hour, 42 mins late
Silver Star 10 %
1 hour, 27 mins late
1 hour, 37 mins late
Southwest Chief 37 %
1 hour, 18 mins late
2 hours, 3 mins late
Sunset Limited 38 %
1 hour, 3 mins late
1 hour, 42 mins late
Texas Eagle 27 %
1 hour, 7 mins late
1 hour, 31 mins late
Vermonter 16 %
27 mins late
33 mins late