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Amtrak Long-Distance Trains

Performance for first six months of 2024

Forty-three percent of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their scheduled final destination on time or earlier in the six-month period January through June, 2024...

The average arrival of all trains during the six-month period was 47 minutes late.

The average arrival of only those trains that arrived behind schedule was one hour and 22 minutes late.

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January-June 2024 - Percentage On-Time Arrival

Train	Pct on-time arrival
City of New Orleans	80 %
Lake Shore Limited	61 %
Capitol Limited	59 %
Sunset Limited	58 %
Empire Builder	50 %
Texas Eagle	50 %
Coast Starlight	48 %
Auto Train	43 %
California Zephyr	41 %
Maple Leaf	39 %
Vermonter	37 %
Palmetto	35 %
Cardinal	32 %
Crescent	32 %
.Silver Meteor	29 %
Silver Star	25 %
Carolinian	23 %
Southwest Chief	20 %

January-June 2024 - Overall Average Arrival

Train	Overall avg arrival
Maple Leaf	16 mins late
Lake Shore Limited	19 mins late
Capitol Limited	21 mins late
Vermonter	22 mins late
City of New Orleans	23 mins late
Palmetto	33 mins late
Auto Train	45 mins late
Empire Builder	47 mins late
Coast Starlight	47 mins late
Carolinian	48 mins late
Cardinal	54 mins late
Crescent	54 mins late
Texas Eagle	1 hour, 1 min late
Sunset Limited	1 hour, 2 mins late
Silver Meteor	1 hour, 4 mins late
Silver Star	1 hour, 13 mins late
California Zephyr	1 hour, 19 mins late
Southwest Chief	1 hour, 50 mins late

January-June 2024 - Average Arrival When Late

Train	Avg arrival when late
Maple Leaf	27 mins late
Vermonter	34 mins late
Lake Shore Limited	47 mins late
Palmetto	50 mins late
Capitol Limited	52 mins late
Carolinian	1 hour, 2 mins late
Cardinal	1 hour, 19 mins late
Auto Train	1 hour, 20 mins late
Crescent	1 hour, 20 mins late
Silver Meteor	1 hour, 29 mins late
Coast Starlight	1 hour, 32 mins late
.Empire Builder	1 hour, 34 mins late
Silver Star	1 hour, 36 mins late
City of New Orleans	1 hour, 58 mins late
Texas Eagle	2 hours late
California Zephyr	2 hours, 14 mins late
Southwest Chief	2 hours, 18 mins late
Sunset Limited	2 hours, 29 mins late

 

Eight-Year Comparison

Six-Month Period	Pct on-time arrival	Overall Avg Arrival	Avg Arrival When Late
January-June 2017	30 %	1 hour, 2 mins late	1 hour, 29 mins late
January-June 2018	32 %	1 hour, 3 mins late	1 hour, 33 mins late
January-June 2019	34 %	1 hour, 7 mins late	1 hour, 41 mins late
January-June 2020	58 %	31 mins late	1 hour, 13 mins late
January-June 2021	42 %	53 mins late	1 hour, 32 mins late
January-June 2022	33 %	1 hour, 7 mins late	1 hour, 41 mins late
January-June 2023	42 %	52 mins late	1 hour, 29 mins late
January-June 2024	43 %	47 mins late	1 hour, 22 mins late

 

 

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Eight-Year January-June Performance of Trains . . .

 

Auto Train 52-53

Survey Period	Pct On-Time Arrival	Avg Arrival All Runs	Avg Arrival When Late
January-June 2017	38 %	1 hour, 3 mins late	1 hour, 42 mins late
January-June 2018	51 %	55 mins late	1 hour, 52 mins late
January-June 2019	59 %	33 mins late	1 hour, 20 mins late
January-June 2020	61 %	30 mins late	1 hour, 18 mins late
January-June 2021	47 %	58 mins late	1 hour, 48 mins late
January-June 2022	29 %	1 hour, 9 mins late	1 hour, 37 mins late
January-June 2023	53 %	43 mins late	1 hour, 31 mins late
January-June 2024	43 %	45 mins late	1 hour, 20 mins late

 

California Zephyr 5-6

Survey Period	Pct On-Time Arrival	Avg Arrival All Runs	Avg Arrival When Late
January-June 2017	23 %	2 hours, 1 min late	2 hours, 37 mins late
January-June 2018	47 %	1 hour, 2 mins late	1 hour, 58 mins late
January-June 2019	17 %	3 hours, 15 mins late	3 hours, 55 mins late
January-June 2020	65 %	43 mins late	2 hours, 5 mins late
January-June 2021	41 %	1 hour, 24 mins late	2 hours, 23 mins late
January-June 2022	15 %	2 hours, 46 mins late	3 hours, 15 mins late
January-June 2023	8 %	3 hours, 15 mins late	3 hours, 33 mins late
January-June 2024	41 %	1 hour, 19 mins late	2 hours, 14 mins late

 

Capitol Limited 29-30

Survey Period	Pct On-Time Arrival	Avg Arrival All Runs	Avg Arrival When Late
January-June 2017	21 %	55 mins late	1 hour, 9 mins late
January-June 2018	17 %	1 hour, 20 mins late	1 hour, 37 mins late
January-June 2019	18 %	1 hour, 9 mins late	1 hour, 24 mins late
January-June 2020	44 %	25 mins late	45 mins late
January-June 2021	15 %	1 hour late	1 hour, 11 mins late
January-June 2022	17 %	1 hour, 16 mins late	1 hour, 32 mins late
January-June 2023	57 %	20 mins late	47 mins late
January-June 2024	59 %	21 mins late	52 mins late

 

Cardinal 50-51

Survey Period	Pct On-Time Arrival	Avg Arrival All Runs	Avg Arrival When Late
January-June 2017	45 %	47 mins late	1 hour, 26 mins late
January-June 2018	40 %	1 hour, 7 mins late	1 hour, 52 mins late
January-June 2019	31 %	56 mins late	1 hour, 21 mins late
January-June 2020	55 %	37 mins late	1 hour, 23 mins late
January-June 2021	39 %	43 mins late	1 hour, 11 mins late
January-June 2022	25 %	55 mins late	1 hour, 14 mins late
January-June 2023	32 %	51 mins late	1 hour, 15 mins late
January-June 2024	32 %	54 mins late	1 hour, 19 mins late

 

Carolinian 79-80

Survey Period	Pct On-Time Arrival	Avg Arrival All Runs	Avg Arrival When Late
January-June 2017	21 %	50 mins late	1 hour, 4 mins late
January-June 2018	27 %	43 mins late	58 mins late
January-June 2019	36 %	31 mins late	48 mins late
January-June 2020	60 %	18 mins late	46 mins late
January-June 2021	57 %	20 mins late	46 mins late
January-June 2022	44 %	23 mins late	41 mins late
January-June 2023	36 %	31 mins late	48 mins late
January-June 2024	23 %	48 mins late	1 hour, 2 mins late

 

City of New Orleans 58-59

Survey Period	Pct On-Time Arrival	Avg Arrival All Runs	Avg Arrival When Late
January-June 2017	40 %	39 mins late	1 hour, 4 mins late
January-June 2018	42 %	38 mins late	1 hour, 7 mins late
January-June 2019	70 %	26 mins late	1 hour, 25 mins late
January-June 2020	89 %	9 mins late	1 hour, 23 mins late
January-June 2021	85 %	10 mins late	1 hour, 8 mins late
January-June 2022	55 %	35 mins late	1 hour, 19 mins late
January-June 2023	77 %	22 mins late	1 hour, 38 mins late
January-June 2024	80 %	23 mins late	1 hour, 58 mins late

 

Coast Starlight 11-14

Survey Period	Pct On-Time Arrival	Avg Arrival All Runs	Avg Arrival When Late
January-June 2017	39 %	1 hour, 15 mins late	2 hours, 3 mins late
January-June 2018	60 %	34 mins late	1 hour, 24 mins late
January-June 2019	37 %	55 mins late	1 hour, 27 mins late
January-June 2020	68 %	20 mins late	1 hour, 3 mins late
January-June 2021	45 %	52 mins late	1 hour, 33 mins late
January-June 2022	52 %	43 mins late	1 hour, 29 mins late
January-June 2023	42 %	1 hour, 2 mins late	1 hour, 47 mins late
January-June 2024	48 %	47 mins late	1 hour, 32 mins late

 

Crescent 19-20

Survey Period	Pct On-Time Arrival	Avg Arrival All Runs	Avg Arrival When Late
January-June 2017	13 %	1 hour, 34 mins late	1 hour, 48 mins late
January-June 2018	2 %	2 hours, 48 mins late	2 hours, 51 mins late
January-June 2019	3 %	2 hours, 12 mins late	2 hours, 17 mins late
January-June 2020	25 %	1 hour, 18 mins late	1 hour, 44 mins late
January-June 2021	25 %	1 hour, 25 mins late	1 hour, 54 mins late
January-June 2022	17 %	1 hour, 40 mins late	2 hours, 1 min late
January-June 2023	24 %	1 hour, 5 mins late	1 hour, 25 mins late
January-June 2024	32 %	54 mins late	1 hour, 20 mins late

 

Empire Builder 7-8-27

Survey Period	Pct On-Time Arrival	Avg Arrival All Runs	Avg Arrival When Late
January-June 2017	36 %	1 hour, 22 mins late	2 hours, 8 mins late
January-June 2018	43 %	1 hour, 7 mins late	1 hour, 57 mins late
January-June 2019	40 %	1 hour, 31 mins late	2 hours, 31 mins late
January-June 2020	69 %	30 mins late	1 hour, 37 mins late
January-June 2021	60 %	39 mins late	1 hour, 36 mins late
January-June 2022	46 %	1 hour, 10 mins late	2 hours, 10 mins late
January-June 2023	35 %	1 hour, 28 mins late	2 hours, 15 mins late
January-June 2024	50 %	47 mins late	1 hour, 34 mins late

 

Lake Shore Limited 48-49-448

Survey Period	Pct On-Time Arrival	Avg Arrival All Runs	Avg Arrival When Late
January-June 2017	19 %	1 hour, 3 mins late	1 hour, 17 mins late
January-June 2018	16 %	1 hour, 16 mins late	1 hour, 31 mins late
January-June 2019	31 %	49 mins late	1 hour, 12 mins late
January-June 2020	56 %	17 mins late	39 mins late
January-June 2021	37 %	37 mins late	1 hour late
January-June 2022	34 %	41 mins late	1 hour, 2 mins late
January-June 2023	53 %	16 mins late	34 mins late
January-June 2024	61 %	19 mins late	47 mins late

 

Maple Leaf 63-64

Survey Period	Pct On-Time Arrival	Avg Arrival All Runs	Avg Arrival When Late
January-June 2017	51 %	17 mins late	34 mins late
January-June 2018	39 %	18 mins late	30 mins late
January-June 2019	68 %	8 mins late	24 mins late
January-June 2020	78 %	3 mins late	14 mins late
January-June 2021	[canceled]	[canceled]	[canceled]
January-June 2022	14 %	4 mins late	5 mins late
January-June 2023	42 %	16 mins late	28 mins late
January-June 2024	39 %	16 mins late	27 mins late

 

Palmetto 89-90

Survey Period	Pct On-Time Arrival	Avg Arrival All Runs	Avg Arrival When Late
January-June 2017	14 %	51 mins late	59 mins late
January-June 2018	19 %	48 mins late	1 hour late
January-June 2019	33 %	34 mins late	50 mins late
January-June 2020	42 %	23 mins late	40 mins late
January-June 2021	30 %	45 mins late	1 hour, 5 mins late
January-June 2022	35 %	29 mins late	44 mins late
January-June 2023	39 %	31 mins late	51 mins late
January-June 2024	35 %	33 mins late	50 mins late

 

Silver Meteor 97-98

Survey Period	Pct On-Time Arrival	Avg Arrival All Runs	Avg Arrival When Late
January-June 2017	25 %	1 hour late	1 hour, 20 mins late
January-June 2018	28 %	1 hour, 9 mins late	1 hour, 36 mins late
January-June 2019	34 %	47 mins late	1 hour, 12 mins late
January-June 2020	60 %	27 mins late	1 hour, 8 mins late
January-June 2021	40 %	47 mins late	1 hour, 17 mins late
January-June 2022	59 %	58 mins late	2 hours, 21 mins late
January-June 2023	38 %	42 mins late	1 hour, 7 mins late
January-June 2024	29 %	1 hour, 4 mins late	1 hour, 29 mins late

 

Silver Star 91-92

Survey Period	Pct On-Time Arrival	Avg Arrival All Runs	Avg Arrival When Late
January-June 2017	18 %	1 hour, 10 mins late	1 hour, 25 mins late
January-June 2018	11 %	1 hour, 40 mins late	1 hour, 53 mins late
January-June 2019	14 %	1 hour, 15 mins late	1 hour, 27 mins late
January-June 2020	60 %	28 mins late	1 hour, 10 mins late
January-June 2021	26 %	1 hour, 22 mins late	1 hour, 51 mins late
January-June 2022	14 %	1 hour, 43 mins late	2 hours late
January-June 2023	34 %	54 mins late	1 hour, 22 mins late
January-June 2024	25 %	1 hour, 13 mins late	1 hour, 36 mins late

 

Southwest Chief 3-4

Survey Period	Pct On-Time Arrival	Avg Arrival All Runs	Avg Arrival When Late
January-June 2017	39 %	1 hour, 22 mins late	2 hours, 15 mins late
January-June 2018	49 %	52 mins late	1 hour, 42 mins late
January-June 2019	30 %	1 hour, 18 mins late	1 hour, 51 mins late
January-June 2020	68 %	28 mins late	1 hour, 27 mins late
January-June 2021	25 %	1 hour, 41 mins late	2 hours, 14 mins late
January-June 2022	21 %	2 hours late	2 hours, 33 mins late
January-June 2023	29 %	1 hour, 36 mins late	2 hours, 16 mins late
January-June 2024	20 %	1 hour, 50 mins late	2 hours, 18 mins late

 

Sunset Limited 1-2

Survey Period	Pct On-Time Arrival	Avg Arrival All Runs	Avg Arrival When Late
January-June 2017	54 %	34 mins late	1 hour, 14 mins late
January-June 2018	41 %	55 mins late	1 hour, 35 mins late
January-June 2019	13 %	2 hours, 59 mins late	2 hours, 51 mins late
January-June 2020	30 %	1 hour, 37 mins late	2 hours, 17 mins late
January-June 2021	17 %	1 hour, 37 mins late	1 hour, 58 mins late
January-June 2022	19 %	2 hours, 42 mins late	3 hours, 21 mins late
January-June 2023	33 %	1 hour, 6 mins late	1 hour, 37 mins late
January-June 2024	58 %	1 hour, 2 mins late	2 hours, 29 mins late

 

Texas Eagle 21-22

Survey Period	Pct On-Time Arrival	Avg Arrival All Runs	Avg Arrival When Late
January-June 2017	45 %	1 hour, 1 min late	1 hour, 51 mins late
January-June 2018	33 %	1 hour, 2 mins late	1 hour, 32 mins late
January-June 2019	15 %	1 hour, 46 mins late	2 hours, 5 mins late
January-June 2020	44 %	45 mins late	1 hour, 21 mins late
January-June 2021	60 %	34 mins late	1 hour, 26 mins late
January-June 2022	42 %	56 mins late	1 hour, 36 mins late
January-June 2023	49 %	57 mins late	1 hour, 51 mins late
January-June 2024	50 %	1 hour, 1 min late	2 hours late

 

Vermonter 54-55-56-57

Survey Period	Pct On-Time Arrival	Avg Arrival All Runs	Avg Arrival When Late
January-June 2017	27 %	25 mins late	35 mins late
January-June 2018	28 %	27 mins late	37 mins late
January-June 2019	52 %	12 mins late	25 mins late
January-June 2020	67 %	4 mins late	12 mins late
January-June 2021	[canceled]	[canceled]	[canceled]
January-June 2022	45 %	11 mins late	20 mins late
January-June 2023	55 %	11 mins late	25 mins late
January-June 2024	37 %	22 mins late	34 mins late

 

 

ABOUT THESE REPORTS:

The Bull Sheet calculates arrival performance at final destination of Amtrak's named long-distance trains. The data are based upon the reported arrival times of each of the affected trains, and there is no grace allowance for minimal lateness. If a train arrives at its final terminal behind schedule, even by a minute, it is considered 'late.' The Bull Sheet considers that long-distance Amtrak trains have sufficient padding in their schedule to offset typical en route delays, and it is not necessary to adopt a grace allowance on top of that padding to bolster on-time reporting. Accordingly, these reports offer a more realistic analysis than what is reported by Amtrak. Moreover, no consideration is given to the impact of late departures from originating points impacting subsequent late arrivals at destination, or for any time advanced during that run. Again, calculations refer solely to arrival at final terminal.

Data apply only to final destination, not to intermediate stops. Moreover, it does not identify causes for delay, or apply responsibility to any of the host carriers involved en route.

Trains that are truncated, annulled, originated or terminated en route, or reported with incomplete or ambiguous data are excluded from the survey.

 

 

 

 

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