Metra On-Time Performance Streak Hits Two Years

Metra’s streak of meeting its on-time performance goal hit the two-year mark in February, when it posted an on-time performance rate of 97 percent. Not only did that exceed the goal for the 24th consecutive month but it also exceeded the five-year average for the month of February of 94.4 percent.

Metra’s goal is to operate at least 95 percent of its trains on time. Like the rest of the U.S. commuter railroad industry, Metra considers a train to have operated on time if it reaches its final destination within five minutes and 59 seconds of its scheduled arrival.

“We are pleased to report again that we have met or exceeded our on-time performance goal,” said Metra Executive Director/CEO Don Orseno. “The Metra team remains committed to providing customers with service that is safe and reliable each and every day.”

In February, 491 of 16,122 trains were tardy by six minutes or more. The most common cause for delays was related to human error, with the majority of those delays attributable to the failure of Amtrak’s computer system at Union Station on Feb. 24. Freight interference and mechanical issues were other major causes of Metra train delays in February.