U.S. lawmakers' bill would let Amtrak sue for freight-train interference

U.S. Reps. Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.), Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.) and LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.) on Monday introduced the Rail Passenger Fairness Act (H.R.5570), which would allow Amtrak to sue freight railroads for delays caused by freight train interference. 

The Amtrak Improvement Act, which was passed in 1973, mandated that freight trains provide preference to passenger trains operating on their rail lines. The bill would let Amtrak sue freight railroads in federal court when they don't allow that preference, according to a press release from Deluzio's office.

Freight train interference caused the majority of Amtrak's delays in recent years, according to Amtrak. In 2023, freight train interference resulted in 900,000 minutes of delay for Amtrak trains, according to the press release. According to the Amtrak Office of Inspector General, low on-time performance was a key factor behind Amtrak's operating loss of $171 million in fiscal-year 2018, according to a 2019 report.

The International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers, the Transportation Communications Union and the Rail Passengers Association have endorsed the bill, according to the press release. 

"Rail passengers deserve to get where they are going on time and without delays caused by illegal interference. This is basic," said McIver. "This bill is about making sure that the system works the way it was supposed to and that big corporations can’t keep taking advantage in a way that hurts people."