Metra posted an on-time performance rate of 96.3 percent for the month of August, exceeding its goal for the sixth consecutive month.
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.
The August rate of 96.3 percent exceeded the five-year average for the month of August of 94.9 percent. This performance follows five months in which Metra’s on-time rate exceeded 95 percent: 97 percent in March, 97.2 percent in April and May, 95.8 percent in June, and 95.3 percent in July. For the first eight months of 2015, the systemwide on-time performance rate was 95.7 percent.
“While we are pleased with our on-time performance in the last six months, we know we can’t rest – meeting our goal takes daily vigilance and a lot of effort,” said Metra Executive Director/CEO Don Orseno. “We are committed to working as hard as we can to continue to deliver our customers to their destinations on time.”
In August, 631 of 17,231 trains were tardy by six minutes or more.
The most common cause for delays in August was train loading, which occurs when trains remain at a station longer than expected. Lollapalooza and the Air and Water Show were two major downtown Chicago events that drew larger-than-usual crowds and slowed loadings. Other factors that impact loading include the need to load a high volume of luggage, strollers or bicycles, and delayed boarding due to poor weather conditions.
The second-most common cause for delays in August was freight train interference. In fact, Chicago handles one-fourth of the nation’s freight rail traffic each day, handling 37,500 cars. In some cases, Metra and its partners have operational control over freight traffic. However, on many lines and at many crossings, Metra has no control and must coordinate closely with freight operators to keep all trains on schedule.
Signal or switch failures, track construction, mechanical problems and track obstructions were other major causes of Metra train delays in August.
