Well I assumed the example in GP's case is some kind of notable breakdown or delay. If you're just late because you don't account for random 10 minute delays in

Well I assumed the example in GP's case is some kind of notable breakdown or delay. If you're just late because you don't account for random 10 minute delays in the trains and such, that's entirely your fault, as much as being late because an accident slowed down highway traffic today. But if your train is stuck in the middle of a tunnel for 3 hours because a crazy person ran onto the track and authorities are chasing them, that's a pretty fair excuse.