FRA reports Amtrak performance metrics for Q1

The Federal Railroad Administration yesterday published a report on performance metrics for Amtrak's intercity passenger train operations, covering the first quarter of fiscal-year 2022.

The report is the first to use all metrics and standards under the FRA's November 2020 final rule, which set minimum standards for measuring the performance and service quality of intercity passenger-rail operations across four categories: on-time performance and train delays, customer service, financial performance and public benefits.

The Q1 FY2022 report builds on the previous quarter's report by including customer on-time performance for all train schedules and routes, as well as public benefits metrics. The rule sets a minimum standard for Amtrak intercity passenger rail on-time performance: At least 80% of a train’s riders must arrive on time — defined as no later than 15 minutes after the scheduled arrival time — for any two consecutive calendar quarters.

The largest single category of delays is those attributed to freight train interference, at 22% of total delay minutes.

"Customers deserve high-quality, reliable passenger-rail service without interference from freight trains that can cause substantial delay," said FRA Administrator Amit Bose in a press release. "This report provides a meaningful tool for everyone — including customers, communities and other stakeholders — to review comprehensive data on passenger rail performance."

The report also includes ridership data, which shows quarterly growth as travel demand recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Amtrak ridership rose 48% between the third and fourth quarters of FY2021, and climbed again by 7% in FY2022 for a total of 5,530,225 riders.

Public benefits metrics, included for the first time in the FY2022 first-quarter report, show that in FY2021 Amtrak served 67,835 riders in areas not well-served by other modes of intercity transportation, such as air or intercity buses.