May 2016 Monthly Performance Report

[afigg]

The May, 2016 Monthly Performance Report (65 page PDF) has been posted. Amtrak is getting the MPRs out a bit earlier than they used to. Good month for ridership and revenue for the state supported corridors and LD trains. Ridership and revenue for the NEC show a large increase for May 2016, but the comparison is distorted because of the Regional #188 accident on May 12, 2015 which shut down the busiest part of the NEC for days.

Quick summary stats from the May 2016 monthly report by category for the month and first 8 months of the fiscal year compared to prior years below.

Ridership and Revenue summary for the month of May compared to 2015:
System: ridership +9.7%, revenue: +11.9%
Acela: ridership +17.4%, revenue: +20.7%
NE Regional: ridership +19.1%, revenue +18.7%
State supported corridors: ridership +3.7%, revenue +5.3%
LD trains: ridership +7.8%, revenue +1.4%

Ridership and Revenue summary for the YTD from October to May:
System: ridership +0.4%, revenue: -1.0%
Acela: ridership +1.2%, revenue: +0.9%
NE Regional: ridership +1.3%, revenue -1.7%
State supported corridors: ridership -0.9%, revenue -0.4%
LD trains: ridership +2.8%, revenue -3.0%

For the entire system, Food & Beverage cost recovery for YTD is 56.1% compared to 52.8% for 2015 (Page A-2.2). The efforts to reduce F&B losses are having some effect by reducing the net losses by about $12.5 million, but as a percentage of the total expenses, the reduction is modest.

System end point On-time performance for May was 80.0%, a 7% improvement over May 2015. The Heartland Flyer (88.7% OTP) and the Downeaster (81.0%) had the biggest gains in OTP over 2015. But Downeaster OTP was 0% in May 2015, so there was nowhere to go but up.

 

[WoodyinNYC]

The May, 2016 Monthly Performance Report has been posted. ... Good month for ridership and revenue for the state supported corridors and LD trains.

...

System end point On-time performance for May was 80.0%, a 7% improvement over May 2015.

Bits n pieces.

This report demonstrates that ridership goes down after disastrous crashes resulting in many cancelled trains, but generally returns to normal within a year.

May makes 6 months in a row that system On Time Performance has been above 80%.

For the Ethan Allen and Vermonter, YTD is down, but May is up 11.2% for the Ethan Allen and up 3% for the Vermonter. Was wishing that this is the beginning of a turnaround, but thinking, not yet, not until after track work is finished around Albany and New Haven-Hartford.

San Joaquins are down 6.2% in May. But the 7th frequency added last week should fix that, and generate positive results for months to come.

Michigan's Blue Water CHI-KAL-Battle Creek-E. Lansing-Flint-Port Huron up again, 4.3% in May, for reasons unknown.

Amtrak Virginia -- the Lynchburger, Norfolk, Newport News, and Richmond trains -- all show recovery from the crash on the NEC.

The Lake Shore Ltd up 11.3% over May 2015. Wonder if this train would grow if it could get more equipment?

The Silvers and the Cardinal show bounce-back from the NEC crash, but the Crescent is down nonetheless.

The Zephyr showing another month ahead of last year, by 6.6%, since another sleeper was added. Wonder if Amtrak would grow if it could get more equipment?

The Palmetto continues to be mad successful since consolidating with a Regional.