MTA LIRR sets on-time record 3rd year in a row
The 95.21 percent overall OTP is the best since modern record keeping began in 1979 and included 81 rush hour periods when on-time performance reached 100 percent.
With a best ever 95.21 percent in 2009, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) set a new On-Time Performance (OTP) record for the third year in a row.
The 95.21 percent overall OTP is the best since modern record keeping began in 1979 and included 81 rush hour periods when on-time performance reached 100 percent. The LIRR achieved this milestone last year while operating 244,937 trains.
LIRR President Helena E. Williams attributed the improvement in on-time performance to investments in the LIRR's fleet, better maintenance practices, a robust track work program, better vegetation management along the LIRR Right-of-Way and the effort of its employees.
"We couldn't achieve these new records each year without the dedication of our workforce," Williams said. "They make it all happen, in all kinds of weather, day in and day out."
The previous OTP record of 95.14 percent was set in 2008. In 2007, OTP reached 94.07 percent.
The LIRR also tied a record last year that was set in 1993 for the highest number of 100 percent rush hour periods (81). The previous record was set when the LIRR was operating six percent fewer trains than in 2009.
More Rail
The Invisible Infrastructure of Passenger Flow
What a seat reservation system on Austria’s Railjet trains reveals about the future of rider experience, and why U.S. agencies should pay attention.
Read More →
Caltrain Board Approves FY27 Budget, Endorses Efficiency Measures
The move ensures Caltrain service will continue operating as usual in the near term, but long-term financial challenges remain for the rail agency absent a new revenue source.
Read More →
Alstom Acquires Delaware Site to Support Amtrak NextGen Acela Fleet
The company is investing more than $55 million to acquire and improve the property and will employ approximately 100 people at this site once it is operational.
Read More →
When Routine Fails: How Public Transit Must Adapt for the World Cup
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will test transit agencies’ ability to manage unpredictable travel patterns, making real-time data and operational flexibility critical to moving millions of visitors efficiently.
Read More →
California Selects Team for Nation’s First True High-Speed Rail Track and Systems Contract
The board action follows completion of track installation at the 150-acre southern railhead in Kern County, which will serve as the staging and distribution hub for high-speed track and systems installation.
Read More →
Seattle's Sound Transit Launches New Sounder Railcars into Service
Alstom manufactured all the cars under a $46.5 million contract and came into service in anticipation of summer crowds for soccer and baseball.
Read More →
Alstom Partners With Universities to Build Rail Talent Pipeline
The partnerships include a new engineering scholarship fund at Alfred State College in Western New York and collaborations with transportation centers at the University of Pennsylvania and New York University.
Read More →
Chicago's NITA Act Moves Into Next Phase as Service Improvements Begin
Rider-focused improvements will begin rolling out across the system immediately as CTA, Metra, and Pace increase service this summer in the six-county region.
Read More →
Seattle’s Sound Transit Adopts Updated ST3 System Plan
The updated system plan incorporates cost savings across the agency, including new revenue sources and financial policies, to set the agency on a sustainable path for the future.
Read More →
Inside Look: EMBARK Expands Fare-Free Transit Program Through New Public-Private Partnership
The OKC transit agency says sponsorship helps subsidize the Third Friday Free initiative while reducing barriers for first-time riders and boosting ridership across buses, streetcars, and river cruises.
Read More →