Do Amtrak trains ever get delayed?

Anyone who travels by train in the United States knows that feeling. In the latest quarter, Amtrak trains were delayed 1.42 million minutes, up 9% from the previous quarter and an increase of 10% from 2022. It's particularly bad on Gore's route, the Sunset Limited.



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The vast majority of Amtrak's services run on time. It is the long distance trains where the same train is on the move for 24 hours or even several days between departure point and destination where the severe delays do sometimes occur.

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Amtrak is on-time an average of 83 percent of the time compared to commercial airlines 81.9 percent of the time. Amtrak is also very safe compared with other modes of transportation. You are 16 times more likely to die in an automobile than on Amtrak, and twice as likely to die on a transit bus than on Amtrak.

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The only high speed line Amtrak has is in the North East Corridor between Boston and Washington DC. Second: Amtrak doesn't own most of the track it operates on. Their trains run on track owned by freight companies so the freight trains get priority. This means Amtrak trains can end up very delayed.

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There are many reasons for this. There is limited service between cities (Amtrak says it runs 300 trains with about 87,000 passengers per day), freight is often prioritized over passenger service in the U.S., and trains and facilities are often outdated.

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Your ticket to world famous train routes, USA's most celebrated national parks, and a scenic coast-to-coast experience like nothing else starts with Amtrak. With private rooms, onboard meals and plenty of legroom, you can sit back and enjoy your entire vacation experience.

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Trains consume less energy and produce less harmful pollutants than either car or air travel. Hopping on an Amtrak train will save you gas and daily wear and tear on your car. It also reduces the ever-increasing traffic congestion on the roads and in the skies.

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As other posters have indicated, you should be fine riding AMTRAK solo on an overnight run. Being in a confined space with no escape route tends to deter would-be criminals.

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Longer Trip Times It's typically faster to travel by plane than by train, especially when your destination is across the country. A three-hour flight might be two nights on a train.

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Over the past year, passengers have been delayed by a total of 11 weeks and only 28% of trains are on time, according to Amtrak.

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Many of the lines don't make any money or are operated at a loss. To accommodate the money-losing routes, Amtrak uses profits from its popular lines, such as the Northeast Corridor. Since this is one of the most popular routes, Amtrak can charge higher prices and send those profits to other, less profitable lines.

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We've added free onboard WiFi to a lot of our trains and stations! You can check if your favorite train or nearest station has WiFi here. If you're reading this while on one of our trains, wait before setting off to do your surfing.

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Seating accommodations On shorter train journeys, Amtrak's Coach Class seats provide a comfortable place to relax and enjoy the view. On long-distance journeys, you will find extra-spacious Coach Class seating with leg rests designed to enhance your comfort for long or overnight trips.

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Both overnight train rides I took were constantly bumpy. As a result, I suffered from motion sickness throughout both trips. Every time I stood up to walk through the train cars, I felt like I was on an airplane trying to use the bathroom during turbulence. Sleeping was also more difficult with the constant shaking.

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The coach seats are very comfortable. Most people are ok sleeping in them for one night. I'd be weary of more than that however. I spent 15 nights sleeping in Coach during a 30 day Amtrak trip.

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Amtrak does, in fact, offer scenic, luxury rail journeys to top locations across the U.S., especially if you are looking for some vacation deals.

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We often get the question “Is Amtrak safe for single woman”, the short answer is yes. You are in a train car full of people. One of the great things about Amtrak is the space. On airplanes the seats are so close together that it's hard to avoid touching your seat mates.

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Amtrak collisions and passenger deaths are rare – despite high-profile crashes in the last year, according to industry statistics and experts. Trains remain safer for passengers than cars or buses, and nearly as safe as airliners, federal statistics show.

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It's a very bumpy ride and many times the train must change tracks because freight trains take precedence. The freight train tracks are not smooth at all. Sleeping car rooms are expensive and very small. It's hard to fit one suitcase in your room.

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Train travel is often cheaper than flying, in part because you can generally take more with you before paying extra baggage fees. It can also be more convenient and relaxing than driving, especially if you'd be driving in an unfamiliar place or driving for many hours nonstop to get to your destination.

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Their speed, however, will be limited by the complexities of the 457-mile route, which is old, curvy and carries a mix of freight, commuter and intercity trains. Most Amtrak trains travel between 110 mph to 145 mph in the corridor, depending on the track and proximity to stations.

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