The Travels with Kev Weekly Newsletter

Hello Reader,

Today, we’re examining Amtrak’s long-distance on-time performance for April and May. The June numbers are not out yet.

For a while, the numbers were trending in the right direction, but that has changed. In this newsletter, I’ll share what the latest numbers show and why they matter for planning an Amtrak trip.

I use these on-time performance numbers to set realistic expectations. They do not tell the whole story, but they can help you plan better, especially when making a connection, choosing between trains, or deciding how much flexibility to build into your trip.

Plus, I’ll share a bit of what I’ve been up to lately.

Amtrak’s Long-Distance On-Time Numbers Dropped — Here’s What That Means For You

If you're booking a long-distance trip this summer, you should know that May was a rough month for on-time performance. (June numbers have not yet been released.)

Amtrak's long-distance Customer On-Time Performance fell to 50.1%, down from 58.9% in April. That's well below the federal 80% standard, and most routes moved in the wrong direction.

The quick numbers:

• Best performers: California Zephyr (71.5%), Lake Shore Limited (70.1%), City of New Orleans (66.9%)
• Struggling most: Floridian (15.9%), Southwest Chief (31.1%), Empire Builder (43.8%)
• Average delay for late passengers jumped from 75 to 92 minutes

Why does this keep happening?

Most delays aren't Amtrak's fault; some are. Host railroads (the freight and commuter companies that own the tracks) were responsible for 65.4% of delay minutes in the latest 12-month data — Amtrak accounted for only 23.4%. I've experienced this myself more than once: stuck on a siding waiting for a freight train to pass, or stuck behind a Metra commuter train — you know, the one that makes ALL THE STOPS.

Most of the time, when it's Amtrak's fault, it's due to mechanical issues or crews not getting the train ready in time — more on that later. I had one trip where a late crew timed out, and we waited about 10 minutes in Chicago before we could go — but we made up that time along the way.

Summer heat adds to that: once air temps top 95°F or rail temps hit 128°F, speed restrictions kick in to keep the tracks and catenary wires safe. Those slower speeds compound the challenges already affecting on-time performance this time of year. Host railroads can dictate speeds to Amtrak.

Late trains can also cascade. At the end of a run, a train must be turned, inspected, cleaned, loaded, and fueled before heading back out. Arriving too late makes that turn much harder, especially in a place like Chicago, where dozens of trains turn every day. This is where something that was not Amtrak's fault becomes Amtrak's fault. If you are waiting for your train in Chicago or at another endpoint, check whether the train arrived late the day before. While it does not make things better, it gives you a better grasp of reality.

Kev's Tip: If you're connecting between trains, always book your entire itinerary on a single reservation, not separate tickets. If a delay causes you to miss your connection, Amtrak may rebook you only if everything's on one ticket. You can also track trains to see how they're running before your trip and set realistic expectations.

In the full article, I break down exactly how each route performed, what changed month over month, and how to set realistic expectations (plus a few stories from my own delayed trips).

​👉 Read the Full On-Time Performance Breakdown​

What Is Kev Up To?

This week turned out well!

The theater organ club I'm part of was given a 5-manual (keyboard) 2005 Allen Theatre organ, the largest Allen builds! On Friday, we drove to a northern Chicago suburb to pick it up. It was a serious team effort, but we pulled it off in under 2 hours — moving the huge console (which, luckily, was disassembled in a climate-controlled storage unit), around 30 speakers, and about 50 boxes of music and mementos.

By the way, Allen still makes a similar organ with updated internals, just in case you want one for your home. I would not mind a smaller size...just saying.

We managed to beat the extreme heat down and back — though not the storm. A pop-up storm tore through parts of Wisconsin and Illinois that afternoon; we ended up watching it while we ate lunch, which beats dealing with storms when one of the vehicles is a 26-foot box truck.

My hometown was hit hard, and the storm took out several old-growth trees. A block over from me didn't get power back until Monday. Thankfully, we didn't find any damage on our end, and my family was fine, though Mack was a little shaken by the experience.

On Saturday, I learned that admission to the Milwaukee County Zoo was only $4 per person, so Mack and I took a last-minute trip. It still costs about $75 with parking, food, and a Mold-A-Rama, but I digress. Her paternal grandmother met us there, and Mack ended up going home with her. The next day, the duo visited the (free!) Madison Zoo. That lucky goose hit two zoos in one weekend. Oh, and we rode the Zoo train twice, once by ourselves and once with her grandmother.

This week has been one of those summer weeks — aside from the storm damage — that I truly enjoy.

Thank You!

If you'd like to help keep Travels with Kev going, click the green button at the bottom of the email or visit my support page.

Anyone who supports $5 or more receives a postcard if they want one. If you support via PayPal, I am often able to send one. If you use the button below, reply to the thank-you email, and I’ll send one your way, too. If you don't reply, I cannot send you one.

Until Next Week!

Safe travels & Happy Planning,
Kev Monteith

Help Travels With Kev If you appreciate my work and would like to show your support, this is a fantastic way to do so! Your contribution... Read more Support Travels with Kev

​