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Amtrak Long-Distance Trains

Performance for week ending January 18, 2026

Sixty-one percent of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their scheduled final destination on time or earlier in the week ending January 18, 2026... The remaining trains, on average, arrived one hour and three minutes late.

Ninety-five percent of surveyed trains this week operated their full origin-to-destination run. Trains that were annulled or truncated are not included in this week's data.

_ _ _ _

This Week's Performance of Individual Trains . . . .

Auto Train .

• On-time arrival at final destination: 64 %. . . (
• Average arrival, all trains: 16 mins late . . .(
• Average arrival, trains arriving late: 45 mins late .

California Zephyr .

• On-time arrival at final destination: 71 %. . . (
• Average arrival, all trains: 32 mins late . . .(
• Average arrival, trains arriving late: 1 hour, 51 mins late .

Cardinal ,

• On-time arrival at final destination: 67 %. . . (
• Average arrival, all trains: 12 mins late . . .(
• Average arrival, trains arriving late: 37 mins late .

Carolinian .

• On-time arrival at final destination: 43 %. . . (
• Average arrival, all trains: 12 mins late . . .(
• Average arrival, trains arriving late: 21 mins late .

City of New Orleans .

• On-time arrival at final destination: 93 %. . . (
• Average arrival, all trains: 3 mins late . . .(
• Average arrival, trains arriving late: 45 mins late .

Coast Starlight (3 of 14 runs truncated)

• On-time arrival at final destination: 73 %. . . (
• Average arrival, all trains: 36 mins late . . .(
• Average arrival, trains arriving late: 2 hours, 12 mins late .

Crescent (6 of 14 runs truncated)

• On-time arrival at final destination: 88 %. . . (
• Average arrival, all trains: 11 mins late . . .(
• Average arrival, trains arriving late: 1 hour, 29 mins late .

Empire Builder (2 of 21 runs truncated)

• On-time arrival at final destination: 68 %. . . (
• Average arrival, all trains: 1 hour, 22 mins late . . .(
• Average arrival, trains arriving late: 4 hours, 21 mins late .

Floridian .

• On-time arrival at final destination: 36 %. . . (
• Average arrival, all trains: 1 hour, 4 mins late . . .(
• Average arrival, trains arriving late: 1 hour, 40 mins late .

Lake Shore Limited .

• On-time arrival at final destination: 38 %. . . (
• Average arrival, all trains: 31 mins late . . .(
• Average arrival, trains arriving late: 51 mins late .

Maple Leaf .

• On-time arrival at final destination: 29 %. . . (
• Average arrival, all trains: 21 mins late . . .(
• Average arrival, trains arriving late: 29 mins late .

Palmetto ,

• On-time arrival at final destination: 71 %. . . (
• Average arrival, all trains: 6 mins late . . .(
• Average arrival, trains arriving late: 21 mins late .

Silver Meteor .

• On-time arrival at final destination: 79 %. . . (
• Average arrival, all trains: 4 mins late . . .(
• Average arrival, trains arriving late: 31 mins late .

Southwest Chief .

• On-time arrival at final destination: 36 %. . . (
• Average arrival, all trains: 18 mins late . . .(
• Average arrival, trains arriving late: 28 mins late .

Sunset Limited .

• On-time arrival at final destination: 83 %. . . (
• Average arrival, all trains: 2 mins late . . .(
• Average arrival, trains arriving late: 14 mins late .

Texas Eagle .

• On-time arrival at final destination: 86 %. . . (
• Average arrival, all trains: 8 mins late . . .(
• Average arrival, trains arriving late: 58 mins late .

Vermonter ,

• On-time arrival at final destination: 50 %. . . (
• Average arrival, all trains: 9 mins late . . .(
• Average arrival, trains arriving late: 19 mins late .

 

COMPOSITE - (Long-DistanceTrains, Week Ending January 18, 2026)

• On-time arrival at final destination: 61 % . . . . . . . (avg year-to-date = 61 %). . . . . . . . . . . . . . (
• Average arrival, all trains: 25 mins late . . . . . . . . . (avg year-to-date = 21 mins late). .. . . . .. . , , , ,(
• Average arrival, trains arriving late: 1 hour, 3 mins late . (avg year-to-date = 54 mins late).

_ _ _ _ _ _ _

 

Daily performance	Pct on-time arrival	Overall avg arrival	Avg arrival if late
Monday, January 12	81 %	3 mins late	16 mins late
Tuesday, January 13	65 %	35 mins late	1 hour, 40 mins late
Wednesday, January 14	47 %	37 mins late	1 hour, 10 mins late
Thursday, January 15	68 %	7 mins late	22 mins late
Friday, January 16	50 %	35 mins late	1 hour, 9 mins late
Saturday, January 17	61 %	36 mins late	1 hour, 33 mins late
Sunday, January 18	56 %	19 mins late	42 mins late

 

MULTI-WEEK PERFORMANCE:

Week ending . . .	Pct on-time arrival	Overall avg arrival	Avg arrival if late
January 19, 2025	50 %	40 mins late	1 hour, 21 mins late
January 26, 2025	35 %	1 hour, 12 mins late	1 hour, 50 mins late
February 2, 2025	47 %	39 mins late	1 hour, 14 mins late
February 9, 2025	46 %	1 hour, 7 mins late	2 hours, 3 mins late
February 16, 2025	44 %	48 mins late	1 hour, 25 mins late
February 23, 2025	36 %	54 mins late	1 hour, 26 mins late
March 2, 2025	44 %	56 mins late	1 hour, 39 mins late
March 9, 2025	49 %	42 mins late	1 hour, 23 mins late
March 16, 2025	39 %	59 mins late	1 hour, 37 mins late
March 23, 2025	41 %	1 hour, 3 mins late	1 hour, 46 mins late
March 30, 2025	44 %	40 mins late	1 hour, 12 mins late
April 6, 2025	38 %	49 mins late	1 hour, 20 mins late
April 13, 2025	42 %	44 mins late	1 hour, 16 mins late
April 20, 2025	45 %	37 mins late	1 hour, 7 mins late
April 27, 2025	49 %	32 mins late	1 hour, 4 mins late
May 4, 2025	34 %	43 mins late	1 hour, 6 mins late
May 11, 2025	37 %	45 mins late	1 hour, 12 mins late
May 18, 2025	31 %	1 hour, 10 mins late	1 hour, 42 mins late
May 25, 2025	40 %	56 mins late	1 hour, 34 mins late
June 1, 2025	44 %	41 mins late	1 hour, 14 mins late
June 8, 2025	42 %	48 mins late	1 hour, 23 mins late
June 15, 2025	34 %	54 mins late	1 hour, 22 mins late
June 22, 2025	26 %	1 hour, 8 mins late	1 hour, 31 mins late
June 29, 2025	26 %	1 hour, 21 mins late	1 hour, 50 mins late
July 6, 2025	35 %	1 hour, 1 min late	1 hour, 33 mins late
July 13, 2025	24 %	1 hour, 33 mins late	2 hours, 1 min late
July 20, 2025	29 %	1 hour, 15 mins late	1 hour, 45 mins late
July 27, 2025	30 %	1 hour, 10 mins late	1 hour, 40 mins late
August 3, 2025	30 %	1 hour, 1 min late	1 hour, 27 mins late
August 10, 2025	33 %	1 hour, 18 mina late	1 hour, 57 mins late
August 17, 2025	34 %	57 mina late	1 hour, 27 mins late
August 24, 2025	33 %	1 hour, 1 min late	1 hour, 30 mins late
August 31, 2025	48 %	44 mins late	1 hour, 24 mins late
September 7, 2025	49 %	37 mins late	1 hour, 12 mins late
September 14, 2025	52 %	36 mins late	1 hour, 15 mins late
September 21, 2025	50 %	38 mins late	1 hour, 17 mins late
September 28, 2025	46 %	30 mins late	57 mins late
October 5, 2025	56 %	30 mins late	1 hour, 7 mins late
October 12, 2025	50 %	33 mins late	1 hour, 5 mins late
October 19, 2025	52 %	32 mins late	1 hour, 6 mins late
October 26, 2025	56 %	24 mins late	54 mins late
November 2, 2025	58 %	23 mins late	56 mins late
November 9, 2025	52 %	27 mins late	57 mins late
November 16, 2025	54 %	34 mins late	1 hour, 14 mins late
November 23, 2025	52 %	22 mins late	46 mins late
November 30, 2025	53 %	25 mins late	52 mins late
December 7, 2025	45 %	42 mins late	1 hour, 15 mins late
December 14, 2025	52 %	28 mins late	58 mins late
December 21, 2025	41 %	56 mins late	1 hour, 35 mins late
December 28, 2025	60 %	19 mins late	49 mins late
January 4, 2026	53 %	31 mins late	1 hour, 8 mins late
January 11, 2026	62 %	17 mins late	45 mins late
January 18, 2026	61 %	25 mins late	1 hour, 3 mins late

2026-Year-to-Date Standings - Percentage On-Time Arrival

Train	Pct on time arrival
Sunset Limited	92 %
City of New Orleans	89 %
Texas Eagle	86 %
California Zephyr	78 %
Crescent	78 %
Auto Train	72 %
Palmetto	69 %
Silver Meteor	67 %
Empire Builder	58 %
Cardinal	56 %
Coast Starlight	55 %
Lake Shore Limited	54 %
Carolinian	53 %
.Floridian	47 %
Vermonter	44 %
Southwest Chief	42 %
Maple Leaf	.22 %

2026-Year-to-Date Standings - Overall Average Arrival All Trains

Train	Overall Average Arrival
Sunset Limited	1 min late
Palmetto	5 mins late
Vermonter	6 mins late
City of New Orleans	7 mins late
Crescent	7 mins late
Carolinian	7 mins late
Auto Train	8 mins late
Silver Meteor	12 mins late
Maple Leaf	18 mins late
California Zephyr	19 mins late
Texas Eagle	21 mins late
Lake Shore Limited	22 mins late
Southwest Chief	27 mins late
Cardinal	28 mins late
Floridian	45 mins late
Empire Builder	54 mins late
Coast Starlight	1 hour, 6 mins late

2026-Year-to-Date Standings - Average Arrival Only When Late

Train	Average Arrival When Late
Vermonter	11 mins late
Sunset Limited	14 mins late
Palmetto	15 mins late
Carolinian	15 mins late
Maple Leaf	23 mins late
Auto Train	30 mins late
Crescent	32 mins late
Silver Meteor	35 mins late
Lake Shore Limited	47 mins late
Southwest Chief	47 mins late
City of New Orleans	1 hour, 1 min late
Cardinal	1 hour, 5 mins late
Floridian	1 hour, 24 mins late
California Zephyr	1 hour, 26 mins late
Empire Builder	2 hours, 9 mins late
Coast Starlight	2 hours, 26 mins late
Texas Eagle	2 hours, 29 mins late

 

ABOUT THESE REPORTS:

This is strictly a 'statistical study.' It harmonizes actual performance into an average, and is intended to evaluate operation of the respective trains over their particular route in a specified period. The performance of each train on a specific run is a single statistic within itself. Always consider traveling by Amtrak as an adventure! . . . (Anything can happen!)

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 trains have sufficient padding in their schedule to offset typical en route delays, and it is not necessary to apply a grace allowance on top of that padding to bolster the presumption of on-time reporting. Accordingly, these reports offer a more realistic analysis than what is routinely reported by Amtrak.

No consideration is given to the impact of late departures from originating points impacting subsequent late arrivals at destination, and not for any time advanced during that run following late origination. 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 to statistically apply responsibility to any of the host carriers involved en route.

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

 

 

 

 

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