The thing to remember is they can make up time, particularly because some schedules are padded. Best thing to do is call Julie at 1-800-USA-Rail and 5/6 have been detouring through Wyo recently. The thing to remember is they can make up time, particularly because some schedules are padded.

Yes, delayed trains can and do make up time, though their ability to do so depends on the "padding" in their schedule and the speed limits of the track. Most railway timetables include buffer time—extra minutes added to the actual travel time—to account for minor station delays or slow-running sections. If a train is running behind, the driver may operate at the maximum permissible speed (line speed) for longer stretches, rather than using energy-saving "coasting" techniques. Additionally, station "dwell times" can be shortened by efficient boarding, saving 30–60 seconds per stop. However, in 2026, the biggest obstacle to making up time is traffic congestion. If a train misses its "slot," it may be forced to wait for other on-time trains to pass, potentially compounding the delay. On high-speed networks like the Shinkansen or ICE, there is very little room to speed up because they already operate near the physical and safety limits of the infrastructure. In contrast, long-distance freight-heavy lines (like those in the US) have more theoretical flexibility but are often held up by lower-priority signaling, making time recovery much more difficult than on dedicated passenger lines.