FRA publishes Amtrak performance report

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) yesterday published a report and supporting data that measure the  performance and service quality of Amtrak train operations during fourth-quarter fiscal-year 2021.

The report uses performance measurement and service quality metrics across four categories: on-time performance and train delays, customer service, financial performance and public benefits.

The large majority of Amtrak routes operate over track owned by other railroads, who have a role in sustaining Amtrak’s performance and who can be held responsible for causing delays if Amtrak’s on-time service falls below established thresholds, FRA officials said in a press release.

The data provides comprehensive information on passenger rail performance that can be used by a wide array of stakeholders, according to FRA Administrator Amit Bose.

The report includes ridership data, which shows positive quarterly growth as travel demand recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, Amtrak ridership grew by 48% from third-quarter FY2021 to the fourth quarter for a total of 5,164,708 passengers in the fourth quarter.

"As the country returns to travel, customers deserve to have access to high quality, reliable passenger rail service. Amtrak and the host railroads have made remarkable progress in reviewing and, in some cases, updating train schedules, which are critical steps to improving passenger rail service," said Bose.