SOUTHWEST CHIEF DELAYS???

[RailSpike]

I have a trip planned on the SWC in early August from CHI to LAX.  I have noticed it has arrived late (up to 4-5 hrs) into LAX more times than it has been on time lately.  Is this due to track work by the BNSF in New Mexico?  If so, does anyone know how long this work is projected to take?  Makes my connection with the CS in LA look a little "iffy".

[PJS1]

For May 2016 the Southwest Chief arrived at its end points (LAX and Chicago) on average 58.9 per cent of the time.  This was a significant improvement over the average of 43.8 per cent in May 2015.

 

Year to date 2016 the Southwest Chief arrived at its end points on average 63.9 per cent of the time, which was much better than the 2015 year to date average of 35.6 per cent of the time.

 

According to Amtrak’s on-line performance calculator, Number 3’s on-time performance into LAX in May 2016 was 71 per cent.  Year to date it is approximately 83 per cent. 

 

Amtrak was responsible for 30 per cent of the delay minutes.  The host railroads – BNSF, Kansas City Terminal, New Mexico DOT, and S.C.C.R.R.A. – were responsible for 42 per cent of the delay minutes.  The other 28 per cent was a combination of factors that cannot be attributable directly to the operator or the host railroads.

 

Locomotive failure was responsible for 33 per cent of Amtrak’s delay minutes.  Holds for connecting passengers were responsible for another 28 per cent of the delay minutes.

Slow orders were responsible for 35 per cent of the host road delays.

On-time performance arrival into LAX was down in May from the year to date.  How often Number 3 was four to five hours late is the question?  I suspect not very often.  If I had a trip to LAX planned on Number 3, I would not worry about it.  There is a reasonable probability that you will arrive on time or nearly on time.