Chicago’s Metra posted an on-time performance rate of 96% in August, exceeding its goal for the 30th consecutive month, and also exceeding the five-year average for the month of August of 95.6%.

Metra’s goal is to operate at least 95% 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.

“We continue to strive every day to improve our performance while keeping safety as our number one focus,” said Metra Executive Director/CEO Don Orseno. “Reliability is a key reason why our customers continue to ride Metra and we can always do more to enhance service.”

In August, 731 of 18,296 trains were tardy by six minutes or more. The most common causes for delays were related to signal/switch failure, increased passenger loadings, and track construction. Mechanical failures and freight interference were other major causes of Metra train delays in August.