Railway punctuality remains a critical measure of service quality and operational efficiency. Traditional performance metrics such as on-time performance and delay increments inform about punctuality goals and guide maintenance planning but often neglect the passenger experience due to the lack/limited availability of data. This study integrates forecasted ridership data with delay evaluation models to assess passenger delays and their socio-economic impacts. By combining passenger-centric delay contributions with the Swedish framework for socio-economic evaluations, we enable a more informed prioritization of maintenance interventions. A case study on the Southern Main Line in Sweden illustrates the methodology’s potential to optimize maintenance planning, highlighting its relevance for achieving data-driven improvements in train service reliability.