The Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is offering guidance designed to measure intercity passenger train operations performance and service.
The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) would establish a definition of Amtrak intercity passenger train on-time performance and a minimum on-time performance standard of 80 percent.
“Eighty percent is a minimum standard,” FRA Administrator Ronald L. Batory said. “We expect many routes will be much more reliable. Clarity should help all parties ensure compliance. After extensive stakeholder consultation, FRA is proposing new metrics to promote transparency for railroads and travelers alike. We expect that all parties are interested in achieving higher performance.”
The guidance was determined after consultations with a variety of stakeholders, including each of the Class I railroads that host Amtrak trains, states, Amtrak employee labor organizations, an advocacy group representing Amtrak passengers, and the Surface Transportation Board.
The proposed rule includes additional measurements for evaluating Amtrak’s ability to serve the public, as well as financial performance and customer service metrics.
Officials anticipate the NPRM will be published in the Federal Register in the near future. Written public comments on the guidance proposal may be submitted on or before 60 days from the date of the NPRM’s publication in the Federal Register.
The FRA intends to hold a public hearing and will also likely conduct a virtual public hearing to ensure consistency.