H.R. 5570: Rail Passenger Fairness Act
This bill, known as the Rail Passenger Fairness Act, aims to enhance the enforcement of Amtrak's rights regarding the priority of passenger trains over freight trains. Here are the main points of the bill:
Background
Amtrak, established by Congress in 1970, took over intercity passenger train operations from freight railroads. In return for providing these services, freight railroads were required to give Amtrak's passenger trains preference on the national rail network.
According to existing law (under section 24308(c) of title 49), Amtrak is meant to have priority over freight transportation when using rail lines, junctions, or crossings, except in emergencies. However, many host railroads have allegedly ignored this requirement, leading to delays for Amtrak trains and poor on-time performance.
Key Findings
- The rate of on-time performance for Amtrak has declined significantly due to freight train interference.
- Delays caused by host railroads have resulted in millions of minutes of lateness for Amtrak customers, primarily because freight trains are prioritized.
- Improving on-time performance could save substantial costs for Amtrak.
Purpose of the Bill
The bill's main purpose is to allow Amtrak to bring civil actions in federal court to enforce its statutory preference rights directly. This means that Amtrak would have the ability to take legal action against host railroads that do not comply with the requirement to prioritize passenger rail service over freight service.
Proposed Changes
- Amtrak would be authorized to take civil action for equitable relief in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to enforce its preference rights.
- There will be an amendment to existing law to clarify that Amtrak has the right to bring these enforcement actions, in conjunction with the existing authority of the Attorney General.
Impact of the Bill
If passed, this bill would empower Amtrak by giving it the right to pursue legal remedies directly, which may help in improving its on-time performance and reducing delays attributed to freight train operations. It is aimed at ensuring that Amtrak's service capabilities align with its mandated obligations as a passenger rail service.
Relevant Companies
- CSX Corp (CSX) - As a freight railroad operator, CSX may need to adjust its scheduling and operations to comply with the preferential treatment of Amtrak trains, potentially affecting efficiency and revenue.
- Union Pacific Corp (UNP) - Similarly, Union Pacific is a major freight railroad that may face operational changes or legal challenges if Amtrak enforces its preference rights more actively.
This is an AI-generated summary of the bill text. There may be mistakes.
Sponsors
3 bill sponsors
Actions
2 actions
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| Sep. 26, 2025 | Introduced in House |
| Sep. 26, 2025 | Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. |
Corporate Lobbying
0 companies lobbying
None found.
* Note that there can be significant delays in lobbying disclosures, and our data may be incomplete.
