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

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.