Amtrak Long-Distance Train Performance
January 2016
For the month of January, 55 percent of Amtrak's long-distance trains arrived at their final destination on time or earlier. (In the corresponding month in 2015, it was 52 percent.)
The average arrival of all long-distance trains in the survey period was 31 minutes late. (In the corresponding month in 2015, it was 37 minutes late.)
The average arrival only of those trains that arrived behind schedule was one hour and eight minutes late. (In the corresponding month in 2015, it was one hour and 18 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 minimally late.
Trains arriving ahead of schedule are shown 'on time,' with no extra credit given to offset late arrivals in other instances.
This data was compiled by the Bull Sheet's statistical department comprehending actual performance as reported for each train on Amtrak's website.
Individual train performance over the course of the month of January 2016 was as follows:
Train
Pct on-time arrival
Overall avg arrival
Avg arrival if late
Auto Train 35 %
39 mins late
1 hour, 1 min late
California Zephyr 58 %
37 mins late
1 hour, 28 mins late
Capitol Limited 72 %
8 mins late
27 mins late
Cardinal 54 %
43 mins late
1 hour, 34 mins late
Carolinian 33 %
40 mins late
59 mins late
City of New Orleans 57 %
14 mins late
32 mins late
Coast Starlight 70 %
24 mins late
1 hour, 21 mins late
Crescent 62 %
30 mins late
1 hour, 20 mins late
Empire Builder 75 %
29 mins late
1 hour, 58 mins late
Lake Shore Limited 53 %
30 mins late
1 hour, 3 mins late
Maple Leaf 74 %
8 mins late
30 mins late
Palmetto 22 %
55 mins late
1 hour, 10 mins late
Silver Meteor 43 %
1 hour, 10 mins late
2 hours, 2 mins late
Silver Star 23 %
55 mins late
1 hour, 12 mins late
Southwest Chief 90 %
5 mins late
48 mins late
Sunset Limited 56 %
22 mins late
50 mins late
Texas Eagle 37 %
48 mins late
1 hour, 16 mins late
Vermonter 48 %
12 mins late
23 mins late