Is it normal for trains to run late?

Fewer than half (46 percent) of long-distance trains arrive on time. They have an average delay of about 49 minutes, according to the analysis. Delays can be much longer on some trains, according to Amtrak's own data, which shows that one of every five long-distance trains arrives more than two hours late.



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Unscheduled delays can be caused by numerous events including: mechanical failures, Page 3 malfunctioning infrastructure, weather conditions, excessive boarding times of passengers, accidents at highway-railroad grade crossings and so on (2,3).

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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.

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Nothing's more punctual and efficient than a German train, right? Apparently not anymore, as NPR's Daniel Estrin discovered in Berlin. DANIEL ESTRIN, BYLINE: In Germany last year, one out of every four long-distance trains ran late.

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Fewer than half (46 percent) of long-distance trains arrive on time. They have an average delay of about 49 minutes, according to the analysis. Delays can be much longer on some trains, according to Amtrak's own data, which shows that one of every five long-distance trains arrives more than two hours late.

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Information is also available at 1-800-USA-RAIL, Amtrak.com and the Amtrak app. You may also check the status of your train or view its location on a map. Stay up to date on any travel advisories that may impact train travel, including track closures, service updates, and planned construction.

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Engines may be left idling to maintain important safety related functions such as maintaining engine temperature, air pressure for the brake system, the integrity of the starting systems, the electrical system and providing heating or cooling to a train's crew and/or passengers.

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If you're delayed and arrive at your destination more than half an hour late, you'll usually be able to get some money back. Some train companies will also give you compensation if your train is more than 15 minutes late. You need to keep your train tickets to get a refund.

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“No Show” Policy: After departure, all fares are non-refundable and cannot be changed. Passengers who do not show or cancel prior to departure forfeit the entire amount of the no show trip segment.

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Last year, a third of all long-distance trains operated by Germany's national railway company Deutsche Bahn ran late, the worst showing in 10 years, deepening an existential crisis in a country where failing to show up on time is verboten.

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Eating on German Trains Well, German trains have that covered, too, but you don't have to stop and you're still moving faster than by car. All ICE trains have a restaurant wagon where you can sit down and receive table service. It's not a Michelin-starred restaurant, but you can eat plenty well on the train.

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If you miss your connecting train This means you'll usually be permitted to travel on the next available train free of charge if your first train is delayed. They do not entitle you to a full refund of your order. You may need to show your tickets on later services as evidence of the delay.

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The reason that trains honk their horns so much at night is because it's dark and the trains aren't so easy to see. Even though the lights are on, we sometimes can't see them coming, especially around the many blind curves near or ahead of the train station.

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Once a train has been idle for over four hours, or if any cars were removed or added while stopped, regulations require crew to perform an air brake test prior to proceeding to the next destination, a process that can take several minutes.

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Sagging overhead wires – the heat can cause overhead wires to sag, so trains have to be slowed down so they don't damage them. Extreme cold – we use speed restrictions to reduce the risks of trains missing their stop or passing signals (for example due to ice on the tracks), risking passenger safety.

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There really isn't a reliable way to tell, especially if you come up on a train at a random crossing. It helps to know who owns the track (bigger railroads generally have longer trains while shortlines will have shorter ones).

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