Amtrak Improvement Act
PL 95-421 (S.3040), enacted 10/05/1978

PUBLIC LAW 95-421—OCT. 5, 1978 
92 STAT. 923 
Public Law 95-421 
95th Congress 
An Act 
To amend the Rail Passenger Service Act to extend the authorizations of appro-
priations for an additional fiscal year, to provide for public consideration and 
implementation of a rail passenger service study, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SHORT TTTLiB 
SECTION 1. I'his Act may be cited as the "Amtrak Improvement Act 
of 1978". 
AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS 
SEC. 2. (a) Section 601(a) (1) of the Rail Passenger Service Act 
(45 U.S.C. 601 (a) (1)) is amended— 
(1) in clause (1) thereof (A) by striking out "except for" and 
all that follows through "sentence" and inserting in lieu thereof 
"including the payment of the additional operating expenses of 
the Corporation which result f 
f 
om the operation and maintenance 
of the Northeast Corridor pursuant to title VII of the Railroad 
Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 (45 U.S.C. 
851 et seq.)", (B) by striking out "and" immediately after "1977,", 
and (C) by inserting ", and not to exceed $600,000,000 for the fis-
cal year ending September 30, 1979" immediately after "1978"; 
(2) in clause (2) thereof (A) by striking out "and" immedi-
ately after "1977,", and (B) by striking out "1978;" and inserting 
in lieu thereof "1978, and not to exceed $130,000,000 for the fiscal 
year ending September 30, 1979, which shall include funds for 
expenditures for compatible equipment under section 703(5) of 
the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 
(45 U.S.C. 853(5)); and"; 
(3) by striking out clause (3) and redesignating clause (4), and 
all references thereto, as clause (3); and 
(4) in clause (3) thereof, as so redesignated, by inserting ", and 
not to exceed $25,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
1979" immediately after "1978". 
(b)(1) Section 60i (a) (2) of such Act (45 U.S.C. 601(a)(2)) is 
amended by striking out "subsection (a)(4)" and inserting in lieu 
(2) Section 602(d) of such Act (45 U.S.C. 602(d)) is amended by 
striking out "clause (4)" and inserting in lieu thereof "clause (3)" 
BUDGET ESTIMATES 
SEC. 3. Subsection (b) of section 601 of the Rail Passenger Service 
Act (45 U.S.C. 601 (b)) is repealed. 
ROUTE REEXAMINATION 
SEC. 4. (a) The Secretary of Transportation (hereinafter in this sec-
tion referred to as the "Secretary"), in cooperation with the National 
Railroad Passenger Corporation (hereinafter in this section referred 
Oct. 5.1978 
[S. 3040] 
Amtrak 
Improvement Act 
of 1978. 
45 use 501 note. 
Repeal. 
Preliminary 
recommendations 
for route system. 
45 use 521 
note. 
39-194 O—80—pt. 1 
62 : QL3 
92 STAT. 924 
PUBLIC LAW 95-421—OCT. 5, 1978 
to as the "Corporation"), shall immediately develop preliminary rec-
ommendations for a route system for the Corporation which will pro-
vide and optimal intercity railroad passenger system, based upon 
current and future market and population requirements, including 
where appropriate portions of the Corporation's existing route system. 
In developing such recommendations, the Secretary shall consider— 
(1) any unique characteristics and advantages of rail service 
as compared to other modes of transportation; 
(2) the role that rail passenger service can play in helping meet 
the Nation's transportation needs while furthering national energy 
i A 
conservation efforts; 
(3) the relationship of benefits of given intercity rail passenger 
.3i-jfj '»• •
>
*
'
. K.. 
services to the costs of providing such services, computing the 
i 
benefits in passenger per train mile and revenues earned and com-
puting the costs in loss or profit per passenger mile rather than 
total loss or profit per route; 
(4) the transportation needs of areas lacking adequate alterna-
'^' tive forms of transportation; 
(5) frequency and fare structure alternatives and the impact of 
such alternatives on ridership, revenues, and expenses of rail pas-
senger service; and 
(6) the adequacy of other transportation modes serving the 
same points to be served by the recommended route system. 
Copies of route 
(b) The Secretary shall, no later than May 1, 1978, develop and 
system 
publish the preliminary recommendations described in subsection (a) 
recommendations, of this section and submit a copy of such recommendations to the Rail 
Services Planning Office and to both Houses of the Congress. The Sec-
retary shall at that time also provide copies of the preliminary recom-
mendations to the Corporation, the Office of Rail Public Counsel, the 
Interstate Commerce Commission, the Secretary of Energy, the Gover-
nor, department of transportation, and public utilities commission 
of each State in which rail passenger service is proposed to be modified, 
the railroads affected by such recommendations, the labor organiza-
45 use 151. 
tions authorized under the Railway Labor Act to represent railroad 
employees, and the United States Postal Service. In addition, copies of 
the preliminary recommendations shall be made available by the Sec-
retary to interested persons at a reasonable cost. Such recommendations 
shall include— 
(1) a recommended route system by end points and principal 
intermediate points to be served; 
(2) quality and type of service recommended for each route, 
including frequency, speed, and classes of services offered; 
(3) ranges of projected operating expenses, ridership, and rev-
enues, by route, including a measure calculated by loss or profit 
per passenger mile and separated for non-State supported routes 
and State supported routes; 
(4) an estimate of the equipment and facilities necessary to 
support the recommended system; 
••: y- 
(5) a recommendation for coordinating passenger rail service 
at points on the system with other modes of transportation serving 
such points; and 
(6) based upon the route level projections, an estimate of oper-
ating and capital appropriations required to operate the system 
' -f-f' 
for fiscal years 1980 through 1984. 
PUBLIC LAW 95-421—OCT. 5, 1978 
92 STAT. 925 
(c) During the period beginning May 1, 1978, and ending August 
31, 1978, the Bail Services Planning Office shall conduct public hear-
ings on the preliminary recommendations developed by the Secretary 
under this section. Such public hearings shall be held in such places 
and at such times as the Office determines will afford the affected States 
and communities the greatest opportunity to participate. The Office of 
Eail Public Counsel, to the extent practicable, shall provide the serv-
ices of attorneys and such other personnel as may be required in order 
to protect the interests of those communities and usere of rail passenger 
service which the Director of the Office of Rail Public Counsel deter-
mines, for whatever reason (such as size or location), might not other-
wise be adequately represented in the course of the hearings and 
evaluations which the Rail Services Planning Office is required to con-
duct. During such period, in addition to holding public hearings, the 
Rail Services Planning Office shall invite comment on such recommen-
dations from the Corporation, the Interstate Commerce Commission, 
the Secretary of Energy, the Governor, department of transportation, 
and public utilities commission of each State in which rail passenger 
service is proposed to be modified, the railroads affected by such recom-
mendations, the labor organizations authorized under the Railway 
Labor Act to represent railroad employees, interested citizens groups, 
and the United States Postal Service. 
(d) The Rail Services Planning Office shall, no later than Septem-
ber 30, 1978, submit to the Secretary a sununary and analysis of the 
evidence received in the course of its proceedings conducted under 
subsection (c) of this section, together with its critique and evalua-
tion of the preliminary recommendations of the Secretary. The Secre-
tary shall thoroughly consider the material submitted by the Office 
with respect to such recommendations and, based on such considera-
tion (and further evaluations of the Secretary), develop final 
recommendations for a route system for the Corporation as he deems 
appropriate. In developing such final recommendations, the Secretary 
shall also consider the impact of such recommendations upon existing 
tourism markets and the potential for future tourism in areas to be 
served by the recommended route system. Such final recommenda-
tions shall include a summary of the significant recommendations 
received, together with the reasons for adopting or not adopting any 
such recommendation. 
(e) (1) The Secretary shall, no later than December 31, 1978, sub-
mit the final recommendations designating the basic route system, 
together with supporting and explanatory material, to both Houses 
of the Congress and to the Committee on Appropriations and the 
Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Appropriations and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. The 
final recommendations shall be deemed approved, and shall take effect, 
at the end of the first period of 90 calendar days of continuous session 
of the Congress after such date of submission, unless either the House 
of Representatives or the Senate adopts a resolution during such 
period stating that it does not favor such final recommendations. 
(2) If either the House of Representatives or the Senate adopts a 
resolution of disapproval under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall. 
Public hearings. 
Summary and 
analysis. 
Final 
recommendations 
to Congress and 
congressional 
committees. 
Approval, 
effective date. 
Revised plan, 
submittal to 
Congress. 
92 STAT. 926 
PUBLIC LAW 95-421—OCT. 5, 1978 
Route system, 
modified or 
restructured, 
prohibition. 
within 45 days after the date of adoption, determine and resubmit a 
revised recommendation. Each such revised plan shall be submitted 
to the Congress for review pursuant to paragraph (1) of this 
subsection. 
(3) For the purposes of this subsection— 
(A) continuity of a session of the Congress is broken only by 
an adjournment sine die; and 
(B) the days on which either House is not in session because 
of an adjournment for more than 3 days to a day certain are 
excluded in computing the 90-day period. 
(f) Notwithstanding any other provison of law, the route system 
of the Corporation in effect on January 1, 1978, shall not be modified 
or restructured prior to October 1, 1979, except with respect to those 
routes initiated by the Corporation subsequent to January 1,1978, pur-
suant to section 404(a) of the Rail Passenger Service Act (45 U.S.C. 
564(a)). Nothing in this subsection shall be construed by the Cor-
poration as precluding the rerouting of existing rail passenger service, 
or construed as requiring the Corporation to maintain service provided 
under an agreement with a State pursuant to section 403 (b) of the Rail 
Passenger Service Act (45 U.S.C. 563(b)) if such State fails to meet 
its share of the costs of such service or requests discontinuance of such 
service. 
(g) Subject to subsection (f) of this section, immediately upon 
approval of the final recommendations of the Secretary, the Corpora-
tion shall implement the basic route system designated in such recom-
mendations and shall complete such implementation as soon thereafter 
as possible, but in no event later than 12 months after the date of such 
approval. 
(h) (1) The provisions of section 404(c'i (1) of the Rail Passenger 
Service Act (45 U.S.C. 564(c) (1)), including the criteria and proce-
dures developed under such section, shall not apply to the preliminary 
or final recommendations developed by the Secretary under this sec-
tion. After the date of approval of the basic system designated in the 
final recommendations of the Secretary, any additions, deletions, or 
modifications in such basic svstem may be made by the Corporation in 
accordance with the criteria and procedures developed under such 
section 404(c) (1). 
(2) During the period beginning on the date of enactment of this 
section, and ending 12 months after the date of approval of the new 
basic route system designated by the Secretary under this section, the 
provisions of section 801(a) of the Rail Passenger Service Act (45 
U.S.C. 641 (a)) (including the regulations of the Commission promul-
gated thereunder) shall not apply to the development or implementa-
tion of the new basic route system. 
(i) Subject to subsection (f) of this section, the basic system desig-
nated in the final recommendations of the Secretary shall, after the 
date upon which such recommendations are approved, supersede any 
other system or route previously in effect. 
RAIL PASSENGER SERVICE 
REPORT 
SEC. 5. Section 703(2) of the Railroad Revitalization and Regula-
tory Reform Act of 1976 (45 U.S.C. 853 (2)) is amended— 
(1) by inserting "(A)" immediately after 
"TRANSPORTA-
TION.—' ;and 
PUBLIC LAW 95-421—OCT. 5, 1978 
92 STAT. 927 
(2) by adding at the end thereof the following new sub-
paragraph : 
"(B) Within one year after the date of the enactment of this 
subparagraph, the submission by the Secretary to the Congress of 
a report on the conflict between the needs of commuter rail pas-
senger service and the needs of intercity rail passenger service in 
the Northeast Corridor and on the allocation of access rights to 
key Northeast Corridor terminals, especially Pennsylvania Sta-
tion in New York, New York.". 
Report to 
G)ngre88. 
STUDY OF RELATIONSHIP OF AMTRAK FARE STRUCTURE TO THE INTERCITY 
BUS INDUSTRY 
SEC. 6. The Comptroller General shall, in consultation with the Sec-
retary of Transportation and the Interstate Commerce Commission, 
conduct a study of the economic relationshij) of the fare structure of 
the National Railroad Passenger Corporation to the intercity bus 
industry. The Comptroller General shall, no later than December 31, 
1978, submit a report to the Congress setting forth the results of such 
study. 
HEARINGS ON UNFAIR OR PREDATORY PRACTICES 
Report to 
G>ngre88. 
SEC. 7. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 306 of the Rail 45 USC 546a. 
Passenger Service Act (45 U.S.C. 546), the Interstate Commerce Com-
mission shall have, upon the application of any aggrieved motor car-
rier, jurisdiction under any applicable provision of part 1 of the 
Interstate Commerce Act over any rate, fare, charge, or marketing 7*05*, p. 1337. 
practice of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation with respect 
to any route or service which operates at a loss for the purpose of hear-
ing the complaint over an unfair or predatory practice. 
NORTHEAST CORRIDOR 
SEC. 8. Section 703 of the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory 
Reform Act of 1976 (45 U.S.C. 853) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (l)(A)(i) thereof, by inserting "at most" 
immediately before "a 3-hour-and-40-minute" and "a 2-hour-and-
40-minute", respectively; 
(2) in paragraph (1) (B) thereof, by inserting "or other 
responsible parties" immediately after "(or local or regional 
transportation authorities)"; and 
(3) by adding at the end thereof the following new paragraph: 
" (5) CoMPATABLE EQUIPMENT.—The Secretary shall develop eco-
nomical and reliable rolling stock and related equipment designed 
to be compatible with the track, operating, and marketing char-
acteristics of the Northeast Corridor at and after the completion 
of the Northeast Corridor improvement project, including the 
capability to reliably meet the trip times set forth in paragraph 
(1) (E) of this section in regularly scheduled revenue service in 
the Northeast Corridor. The Secretary shall consult with the 
Corporation in the development of such equipment. Before pur-
chasing such equipment with Federal financial assistance, the 
Corporation shall obtain the Secretary's concurrence that the 
equipment meets the goals specified in this paragraph. The Corpo-
ration shall submit requests for authorization of appropriations 
Requests for 
appropriation 
authorizations. 
92 STAT. 928 
PUBLIC LAW 95-421—OCT. 5, 1978 
for the production of such equipment and shall, together with the 
Secretary, include equipment planning in the reports required 
by paragraph (1) (E) of this section.". 
EXPENSES OF ELECTRIFICATION 
CONVERSION 
SEC. 9. Section 704(a) (1) of the Railroad Revitalization and Reg-
ulatory Reform Act of 1976 (45 U.S.C. 854(a)(1)) is amended by 
inserting immediately before the semicolon at the end thereof the fol-
lowing: ", of which not less than $27,000,000 shall be available to 
finance the cost of the equipment modification and replacement which 
States (or local or regional transportation authorities) will be required 
to bear as a result of the electrification conversion system of the North-
east Corridor pursuant to this title". 
'United States." 
PURCHASES o r DOMESTIC ARTICLES, MATERIALS, AND SUPPLIES 
SEC, 10. Section 305 of the Rail Passenger Service Act (45 U.S.C. 
545) is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new 
subsection: 
"(j) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) or (3) of this sub-
section, the Corporation shall purchase only— 
"(A) unmanufactured articles, materials, and supplies which 
have been mined or produced in the United States; and 
"(B) manufactured articles, materials, and supplies which have 
been manufactured in the United States substantially all from 
articles, materials, and supplies mined, produced, or manufac-
tured, as the case may be, in the United States. 
"(2) The Secretary may, upon application of the Corporation, 
exempt the Corporation from the requirements of paragraph (1) of 
this subsection with respect to the purchase of particular articles, 
materials, or supplies, if the Secretary determines that— 
"(A) imposing such requirements with respect to such articles, 
materials, or supplies is inconsistent with the public interest; 
"(B) the cost of imposing such requirements with respect to 
such articles, materials, or supplies is unreasonable; or 
"(C) such articles, materials, or supplies or the articles, mate-
rials, or supplies from which they are manufactured are not 
mined, produced, or manufactured, as the case may be, in the 
United States in sufficient and reasonably available commercial 
quantities and of a satisfactory quality. 
" (3) The provisions of this subsection shall not apply— 
"(A) in any case in which the cost of the articles, materials, or 
supplies purchased is less than $1,000,000; or 
"(B) in the case of articles, materials, or supplies purchased 
pursuant to a contract entered into before the date of enactment 
of this subsection. 
"(4) For purposes of this subsection, the term 'United States' means 
the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico, and any territory or possession of the United States.". 
FOR-PROFIT STATUS OF AMTRAK 
SEC. 11. The second sentence of section 301 of the Rail Passenger 
Service Act (45 U.S.C. 541) is amended by inserting "operated and 
managed as" immediately before "a for profit corporation". 
PUBLIC LAW 95-421—OCT. 5, 1978 
92 STAT. 929 
COMMON STOCK 
OWNERSHIP 
SEC. 12. The Secretary of Transportation shall evaluate the common Report to 
stock ownership of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation and Congress, 
shall, no later than December 31,1978, submit a report to the Congress 
setting forth his recommendations with respect to retention, retirement, 
or conversion of such common stock. In making such recommendations, 
the Secretary shall consider the best interests of the United States. 
RAILROAD SAFETY SYSTEM PROGRAM 
SEC. 13. Title VIII of the Rail Passenger Service Act (45 U.S.C. 641 
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new 
section: 
"SEC. 807. RAILROAD SAFETY SYSTEM PROGRAM 
45 USC 646. 
"(a) No later than January 1, 1979, the Corporation shall, in con-
sultation with railroad labor organizations, develop and implement a 
Rail Safety System Program for employees working on property 
owned by the Corporation. Such program shall be designed to serve as 
a model for other railroads to use in developing safety programs. 
"(b) The Railroad Safety System Program required under this 
section shall include but not be limited to— 
" (1) a periodic analysis of accident data, including primary and 
secondary causes, if known; 
" (2) a periodic evaluation of the activities undertaken under the 
Program, particularly the specific steps taken in response to acci-
dent causes; 
"(3) a periodic identification of the expenditures for occupa-
tional health and safety activities included in the Program; 
" (4) a periodic identification of the reduction of costs, fatalities, 
and casualties resulting from accident prevention under the 
Program; 
"(5) a periodic identification of direct accident costs, including 
claims arising out of such accidents; and 
"(6) an identification and evaluation of such other information 
or data as the Corporation considers necessary or appropriate.". 
C O N V E R S I O N 
O F RAILROAD TERMINALS 
"SEC. 14. Paragraphs (2), (3), and (5) of section 4(i) of the Depart-
ment of Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. 1653(i) (2), (3), and (5)) are 
amended by striking out "60 per centum" each place it appears and 
_ 
inserting in lieu thereof "80 per centum". 
' 
FACILITY AND SERVICE AGREEMENTS 
SEC. 15. The third sentence of section 402(a) of the Rail Passenger 
Service Act (45 U.S.C. 562(a)) is amended by inserting "or for the 
use of tracks and facilities" immediately after "provision of services". 
REIMBURSEMENT FOR STAFF SERVICES 
SEC. 16. Section 403(b) (1) of the Rail Passenger Service Act (45 
U.S.C. 563(b) (1)) is amended by adding at the end thereof the follow-
ing new sentence: "The State or agency shall be entitled to reimburse-
92 STAT. 930 
PUBLIC LAW 95-421—OCT. 5, 1978 
Notice and 
hearing. 
"Commuter rail 
passenger 
service." 
45 u s e 545a. 
ment for staff services in an amount equal to 3 per centum of the 
Corporation's share of operating losses and associated capital costs.". 
PETITIONS TO THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION 
SEC. 17. Section 403(b) of the Rail Passenger Service Act (45 U.S.C. 
563(b)) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3), and all refer-
ences thereto, as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting immediately after paragraph (1) the follow-
ing new paragraph: 
"(2) Whenever a State, regional, or local agency requests the Cor-
poration to institute service pursuant to this subsection, or to enter into 
a contract or other agreement or modify an existing contract or 
agreement relating to rates, fares, charges, scheduling, marketing, or 
operations of service provided pursuant to this subsection, and the 
Corporation fails to institute such service or to enter into or modify 
such contract or agreement, as the case may be, such State, regional, or 
local agency may petition the Commission for an order directing the 
Corporation to comply with its request. If the Commission determines, 
upon receipt of such a petition and after notice and an opportunity for 
a hearing, that the request which is the subject of such petition is con-
sistent with the public interest and the purposes of this subsection, 
the Commission may enter an order directing the Corporation to com-
ply with such request or to take such other action as the Commission 
considers appropriate.". 
. 
ADDITIONAL SERVICE 
SEC 18. Section 403 of the Rail Passenger Service Act (45 U.S.C. 
563) is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new 
subsection: 
"(d) The Corporation is authorized to operate commuter rail pas-
senger service under an agreement with a State (or local or regional 
transportation agency) if such State or agency agrees to reimburse the 
Corporation for the avoidable cost of operating such commuter rail 
passenger service. For purposes of this subsection, the term 'commuter 
rail passenger service' means rail passenger service operated in metro-
politan and suburban areas, usually characterized by reduced fare, 
multiple-ride, and commutation tickets and by morning and evening 
peak period operations.". 
MAIL SERVICE 
SEC. 19. The National Railroad Passenger Corporation shall utilize 
all feasible means, including taking into account the needs of the 
United States Postal Service in establishing schedules, to attract and 
service the bulk mail needs of the Postal Service. 
EFFECTIVE DATES 
45 use 541 note. 
SEC. 20. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) or (c) of this 
section, the provisions of this Act and the amendments made by this 
Act shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act. 
PUBLIC LAW 95-421—OCT. 5, 1978 
92 STAT. 931 
(b) The provisions of section 7 of this Act shall take effect on Jan-
uary 1,1979. 
(c) The amendments made by section 9 and section 16 of this Act 
shall take effect on October 1,1978. 
Approved October 5, 1978. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 95-1182 accompanying H.R. 11493 (Comm. on Interstate and 
Foreign Commerce) and No. 95-1478 (Comm. of Conference). 
SENATE REPORT No. 95-782 (Comm. on Commerce, Science and Transportation). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 124 (1978): 
May 10, considered and passed Senate. 
June 21, 23, H.R. 11493 considered and passed House; proceedings vacated; 
S. 3040, amended, passed in lieu. 
Sept. 19, House agreed to conference report. 
Sept. 23, Senate agreed to conference report. 
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 14, No. 40: 
Oct. 6, Presidential statement.