Passenger Trains > LDT's Arr. NYP 06/23

TRAIN
NOS.

20---14 mins. early

48---1 hr., 21 mins. late(#448 arrived Boston 1 hr. late)

64---1 hr., 10 mins. late

68---31 mins. late

80---19 mins. early

90---ETA 10 mins. early

92---29 mins. early

98---12 mins. early

While certainly the eastern trains have much less distance to travel than their transcontinental counterparts, it appears generally timekeeping is much better...even in today's case excellent. Is that do to better maintained equipment or less freight congestion on the lines traveled? At least this shows that on most days, long distance passenger trains can be run on time.

Whereas this day was above average for the eastern LD's, I must point out that the easterners often have their own congestion problems as well as problems with weather (and CSX still imposing the heat orders). One factor that probably has made the east/west and western trains less reliable recently is the surge of oil trains. I've heard that the Chicago terminal area still has not recovered from the backlog of traffic during the winter that caused unit trains to stack up on the BNSF, CP, CSX and NS. Am told that there continue to be outlawed trains on either side of the terminal that need to be crewed and moved - this situation has to affect the timekeeping of Amtrak and the fast freights that want to get by them.

Andy