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Metra meets on-time goal for 5th consecutive month


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#1 CNJRoss

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Posted 28 August 2015 - 05:52 PM

Metra news release:

 

 

Metra meets on-time goal for 5th consecutive month

 

Severe wind warning a factor in top cause for delays in July

 

(August 26, 2015) –Metra posted an on-time performance rate of 95.3 percent for the month of July, meeting or exceeding its goal for the 5th 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 July rate of 95.3 percent exceeded the five-year average for the month of July of 93.2 percent. This performance follows four months in which Metra’s on-time performance met or exceeded 95 percent: 97 percent in March, 97.2 percent in April and May and 95.8 percent for June. For the first seven months of 2015, the systemwide on-time performance rate was 95.7 percent.

 

“We’re pleased with our performance over the past five months, but we know we can always do better and we strive to do that each and every day,” said Metra Executive Director/CEO Don Orseno.

 

A decision by Union Pacific Railroad dispatchers to halt trains due to a severe wind warning on July 13 resulted in 63 delays and contributed to the most common delay category for the month. While the dispatchers erred on the side of safety, Union Pacific has acknowledged they should have checked data from wind-speed monitors before deciding to stop train traffic.

 

“Metra has received assurances from the Union Pacific Railroad that their dispatchers will consult wind-speed monitor data in the future,” Orseno said.

 

In July, 849 of 18,059 trains were tardy by six minutes or more.

 

JulyOTP_table.png

 

The second-most common cause for delays in June was train loading, which occurs when trains remain at a station longer than expected. In summer months, especially on off-peak and weekend trains, there are more passengers and many of them are unfamiliar with the Metra system, leading to delays.

 

The third-most common cause for delays was freight train interference. 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.
 






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