Rail Passenger Fairness Act

The "Rail Passenger Fairness Act" seeks to empower Amtrak to enforce its statutory right to prioritize passenger trains over freight on shared rail lines. This legislation addresses the persistent issue of host railroads failing to grant Amtrak the preference outlined in section 24308(c) of title 49, United States Code, which mandates that intercity and commuter rail passenger transportation has preference over freight transportation. The bill aims to rectify the current situation where Amtrak's on-time performance is severely hampered by freight train interference, leading to millions of minutes in passenger delays annually. Currently, the enforcement of Amtrak's preference rights is limited, with only the Attorney General authorized to initiate civil actions, a power rarely exercised. This bill proposes a crucial amendment to section 24308(c) of title 49, United States Code, explicitly granting Amtrak the right to bring a civil action for equitable or other relief in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Congress finds that historical data demonstrates a direct correlation between effective enforcement mechanisms and improved on-time performance for passenger rail. Empowering Amtrak with this enforcement tool is expected to significantly enhance its operational efficiency, reduce taxpayer costs, and enable it to better fulfill its mission of providing reliable passenger service.