MTA Metro-North: Train Delay Causes and Performance

MTA Metro-North Railroad records detail causes of train delays, cancellations, and service changes from 2012 onward. The dataset includes specific delay categories, train numbers, branch lines, and station-level arrival and departure information. It tracks performance metrics for commuter rail service in the New York region.

Use Cases

• Analyzing delay frequency by cause using Delay Category and Minutes Late columns
• Mapping service disruptions across branches using Branch and Location Name columns
• Tracking performance trends over time using Service Date and Period columns
• Investigating specific train reliability using Train, Depart Station, and Arrive Station columns
• Correlating operational status (Status) with delay minutes and categories

Strengths

• Provides a long-term record of service performance beginning in 2012
• Includes granular detail on delay causes, specific trains, and station locations
• Is available on multiple public data platforms, indicating established provenance

Limitations

• Metadata completeness is low across sources, with missing row counts, license, and author information
• A conflict exists in the 'last updated' date between platforms (2026-05-15 vs. 2026-02-21)
• The description of delay minutes as 'rounded' suggests a potential loss of precision

Provenance

Source

data.ny.gov / MTA Metro-North Railroad

Collection Method

Operational reporting of train service incidents.

Time Range

Beginning 2012

Freshness

Last updated 2026-05-15 according to the most recent platform entry.

Geography

Metro-North Railroad service area (New York State and Connecticut)