GLEN ROCK, N.J. — A New Jersey congressman wants Amtrak and NJ Transit passengers to receive full refunds for significantly late trains, as well as those that are canceled.
U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Bergen County) on Monday announced plans to introduce the “All Aboard Act.” It would include a Passenger Bill of Rights requiring automatic full refunds when trains are canceled or significantly changed by more than three hours, similar to a proposal for airline passengers.
Text of the bill was not immediately available, but it appears the refund is focused only on services on the Northeast Corridor, not elsewhere on the Amtrak’s national network. In prepared remarks for a press conference Monday at the Glen Rock NJ Transit station, Gottheimer cited extensive statistics about Amtrak delays on the corridor, and the degree to which Amtrak issues lead to NJ Transit delays.
Gottheimer said his bill would also call for Amtrak to “immediately deploy” $6 billion in federal funding for Northeast Corridor infrastructure, and be required to produce a report on new maintenance strategies within the next six months to address the company’s strategy of waiting to replace infrastructure until well after its known lifespan.
Election year blah, blah, blah. It will be forgotten (as it should be) as soon as the election is over. This guy is just another bottom feeding politician.
Refunding is a business management decision not a political one.
As for reporting on the status on how the $6 billion will be spent, transparency is always desired but doesnt federal law require it already?
I hope the Congressman will provide detailed instructions on how Amtrak and NJ Transit will process these refunds cheaply and easily. But I doubt it. They never think through the process and don’t care about practical challenges to their grand schemes. Just get the headlines.