Bill > HR5570

This bill allows Amtrak (the national passenger railroad service) to directly file civil lawsuits in federal district court to enforce its legal right to preference over freight trains when using rail lines, junctions, and crossings. Currently, only the U.S. Attorney General can bring such enforcement actions, and historically has done so only once since Amtrak's creation in 1971. The bill comes in response to ongoing issues where host railroads have consistently prioritized freight train traffic over passenger trains, leading to significant passenger delays: in fiscal year 2019, approximately 6.5 million Amtrak customers arrived late, with nearly 70% of delays caused by host railroads, primarily through freight train interference. The legislation aims to give Amtrak a direct legal mechanism to address these persistent scheduling disruptions, which not only inconvenience passengers but also waste taxpayer dollars—a 2019 report suggested that improving on-time performance could save Amtrak between $12.1 million and $41.9 million annually. By allowing Amtrak to bring its own civil actions, the bill seeks to provide a more immediate and effective means of enforcing the preference rights originally established by Congress in the 1970s.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5570/all-info