AMTRAK - On time?

[kparc]

We are taking Amtrak from Washington DC Union Station. I've heard rumors that the trains alway run late by the time they arrive in Orlando. Anyone know if this is true and if it is how late is the average?

Thanks.

Leaving tomorrow for 10 nights in Disney!

 

[DC7800]

It's been a bad summer for Florida service timekeeping. The Silver Star and Silver Meteor used to be fairly reliable performers, but with CSX trackwork, traffic (freight) congestion, and now Hialeah maintenance shops seeming inability to dispatch a train on time, things haven't been so good lately. Still, these trains are most certainly NOT always late at Orlando, and the delays that do occur usually aren't too severe. I wish I could say you're unlikely to encounter delays, but you probably will right now. However, you are pretty unlikely to have any delay of more than 2-3 hours total (today's Star was 3 hours 6 minutes late at Orlando).

July On-time Performance was 7.8% for Florida trains (except Auto-Train), though that's a bit misleading. That figure only refers to trains reaching their final destination (in this case, Miami). Up at Orlando, the train could have been even later and made up time, or even early at that point only to lose time south of Central Florida. Really, there is such padding in the schedule that trains ought to nearly always be early at Orlando, but don't get me started!

 

[Dopey's twin Dippy]

to Kparc, please let us know how the trip was when you get back. we are supposed to be leaving on 8/25 arriving on 26th and staying at hotel for 7 nts. we usually end up being late on the train, almost every year we have gone. also , to Train, will they be doing the work still near the end of AUG>> so i can already see that we will arriving late...............

 

[Dopey's twin Dippy]

sorry i meant that second part of Q for DC thanks

 

[daisygarden]

In April, my husband, 1-year old DS and MIL took Amtrack from Wilmington, DE to Orlando to meet me at WDW as I was there for a conference. The train was about 3 hours late. However, we all took the trip back together and the train arrived on time to pick us up and we got home at the scheduled time.

I think a 2-3 hour delay is normal and you have to view train travel as part of the adventure. The train ride that I experienced north bound was actually pretty relaxing. I would definitely recommend a sleeping car. Our meals were included in with our sleeping car fare and we had a little TV in the compartment.

Good luck!