Train EATS Act

Summary#

The Train EATS Act would change federal law to require Amtrak to provide two types of food service on its overnight routes (routes that leave and arrive on different dates): traditional dining and an alternative, more affordable food and beverage service. "Traditional dining" means a car with tables where passengers are served by wait staff. Amtrak must, to the extent practicable, offer traditional dining on covered routes and must offer an alternative, lower-cost service to all passengers.

If traditional dining is available, any dining capacity not used by First Class or Business Class passengers must be offered to Coach passengers for a fee on a first-come, first-serve basis. Traditional dining must include a healthy meal option that follows the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and Amtrak must provide meals that meet a passenger's dietary restrictions when the passenger pre-orders. The Secretary of Transportation must issue regulations needed to carry out these requirements.

What it means for you#

• Passengers on overnight Amtrak routes could have access to a staffed dining car with table service when it is practicable.
• All passengers must have access to a more affordable alternative food and drink option than traditional dining.
• Coach passengers may be able to buy unused traditional dining seats on a first-come, first-serve basis for a fee.
• Passengers can pre-order meals that meet dietary restrictions, and a healthy meal option must be available.
• The Secretary of Transportation will write rules to explain how these requirements work in practice.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on the bill's costs, funding sources, or budgetary effects is included in the bill text or metadata.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information on proponents' stated reasons or arguments is included in the bill text or metadata.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information on opponents' stated reasons or arguments is included in the bill text or metadata.