A Python tool and database of Amtrak departure and arrival times with weather information


Date

2021-10

Publication Type

Working Paper

ETH Bibliography

yes

Citations

Altmetric

Data

Abstract

This article proposes a Python-based Amtrak and Weather Underground (PAWU) tool to collect data on Amtrak (the main passenger train operator in the United States) departure and arrival times with weather information. In addition, this article offers a database, developed with PAWU, of the operating characteristics of 16 Amtrak routes from 2008 to 2019. More specifically, PAWU enables users to retrieve Amtrak departure and arrival times of any train number throughout the United States. It then automatically retrieves weather information from Weather Underground for each rail station and stores the data collected in a local MySQL database. Users can easily select any desired train number(s) and date range(s) without dealing with the code and the raw data from those sources that are in different formats. The database itself can be used, in part, to develop, apply, and benchmark models that assess the performance of rail services such as the one offered by Amtrak.

Publication status

published

Editor

Book title

Journal / series

Volume

Pages / Article No.

Publisher

Center for Open Science

Event

Edition / version

Methods

Software

Geographic location

Date collected

Date created

Subject

Amtrak departure and arrival time data; Weather information; Big data

Organisational unit

09611 - Corman, Francesco / Corman, Francesco check_circle
02655 - Netzwerk Stadt u. Landschaft ARCH u BAUG / Network City and Landscape ARCH and BAUG

Notes

Funding

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