All Aboard Act
All Aboard Act
Plain Language Summary
# All Aboard Act Summary **What It Does** The All Aboard Act would require Amtrak to refund passengers for train trips that are cancelled or delayed by more than three hours due to Amtrak's failure. The Department of Transportation would create regulations defining what counts as an Amtrak failure and establishing the refund process. The bill covers both Amtrak-operated trains and commuter rail services that run on Amtrak-owned tracks. **Who It Affects** This bill primarily affects Amtrak passengers and commuter rail riders whose trains travel on Amtrak infrastructure.
It also impacts Amtrak itself, which would be responsible for issuing refunds according to the new rules. Rail companies operating commuter services on Amtrak tracks would also be affected by the regulations. **Current Status** The bill (HR 769) was introduced by Representative Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) in the 119th Congress and remains in committee, meaning it has not yet been voted on by the full House. It has not advanced to become law.
CRS Official Summary
All Aboard ActThis bill requires Amtrak to issue refunds to rail passengers for the purchase price of rail passenger transportation that is cancelled or delayed due to a failure of Amtrak.Specifically, the Department of Transportation (DOT) must issue regulations requiring Amtrak to issue full refunds to passengers for the purchase price of the covered rail passenger transportation if there is a cancellation or a delay of more than three hours in the journey completion time that is due to a failure of Amtrak.Under the bill, covered rail passenger transportation means (1) rail passenger transportation provided by, or on behalf of, Amtrak; or (2) commuter rail passenger transportation that travels over Amtrak-owned rails, regardless of whether it is provided by Amtrak or other rail carriers.The regulations must include procedures for (1) determining if a cancellation or delay is due to a failure of Amtrak, and (2) Amtrak to dispute that a cancellation or delay is subject to the refund requirements.The bill prohibits Amtrak from receiving federal funds for any period during which DOT determines that Amtrak is noncompliant with these requirements.Amtrak must submit a report to Congress on alternative asset maintenance strategies to replace the run-to-fail maintenance model (i.e., using passenger rail equipment and infrastructure until it no longer works or exceeds its estimated lifespan), including the cost of the strategies. Within two years of this bill's enactment, Amtrak must (1) stop using a run-to-fail maintenance model, and (2) implement a new asset maintenance strategy.
Latest Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.