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The Office of Passenger Rail (OPR) supports the Board in its efforts to meet its responsibilities under the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008. The Office provides the Board with expertise related to passenger rail that includes legal and policy guidance, engineering, data analysis, and rail operations.
The Board has authority to investigate when an Amtrak train’s on-time performance averages less than 80% for any two consecutive calendar quarters. The “on-time performance” of Amtrak trains is a quarterly metric established and reported by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). Such an investigation is mandatory upon receipt of an eligible complaint or may be started on the Board’s own initiative. OPR performs data analysis of FRA’s quarterly metrics. The Office also plays a central role in the aforementioned investigations and any formal proceedings related to on-time performance.
