The Rail Passenger Fairness Act would let Amtrak sue in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia for equitable or other relief to enforce its legal priority over freight trains on rail lines, junctions, and crossings. The bill would keep the Attorney General’s authority to bring an enforcement action. It has been referred to a House subcommittee and is not described as enacted.
The bill would give Amtrak a direct way to ask a federal court to enforce passenger trains’ priority. It does not guarantee a particular court decision or change to train service.
The bill text does not specify costs or funding. No publicly available information.
The bill’s findings say that freight train interference has caused passenger delays and that Amtrak lacks an effective way to enforce its priority rights. They present direct access to court as a way to enforce those rights.
No publicly available information.