WASHINGTON — A New Jersey congressmen has introduced a bill first announced last summer that would require Amtrak to provide passengers with ticket refunds when trains are cancelled or delayed “due to a failure of Amtrak.”
H.R. 769 was introduced by U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) on Jan. 28 and sent to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Rep. Thomas Kean (R-N.J.) is cosponsor. Gottheimer had announced the bill last August [see “Congressman wants Amtrak …,” Trains News Wire, Aug. 13, 2024] but it was not introduced during the 2023-24 term.
“It can take time to draft and negotiate the technical details,” Gottheimer spokesman Tony Wen told NJ.com, “but the ultimate outcome will be worth it.”
Text of the bill is not yet available on the Congress website. Last year, Gottheimer said it would include a “Passenger Bill of Rights” requiring automatic, full refunds when trains are cancelled or delayed by more than three hours. The bill was inspired by last year’s string of operating issues on the Northeast Corridor, which eventually led to a joint Amtrak-NJ Transit effort to address the problems [see “Amtrak, NJ Transit pledge to work together …,” News Wire, June 28, 2024].
Always remember and never forget: The fine print on an Amtrak ticket states Amtrak provides the patron “transportation” and not necessarily a seat.
I think what we’re dealing with here is automatic refunds when Amtrak decides to cancel a train. My train #3 was cancelled before we ever left Chicago. I had to call in to Customer Relations to get a refund. I believe that should have been automatic
When train #3 was cancelled enroute (terminated at KCY) the refund was automatic. So the system is a bit inconsistent. There should be an auto refund when the contract of carriage is unfulfilled by Amtrak.
Amtrak doesn’t currently refund for cancellations???? Why would anyone buy a ticket with the all too frequent cancellations?
Another Republican attempt to bankrupt Amtrak.
So, Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg are Republicans?
The Democrats are bankrupting Amtrak. I’ve been riding Amtrak almost since Day One and as recently as last November. I’d be very hesitant to buy a ticket now after four years of utter destruction by the kakistocratic Democrats.
Attempting to treat passenger rail cancellations the same way as the airlines. I would add commuter rail, too.
“Due to a failure of Amtrak” is the important set of keywords here. It means that the majority of Amtrak delays outside of the NEC owing to freight railroad interference will go without refunds. I believe that this is a mistake, passengers should indeed be refunded for these delays–but by the host railroad, and not Amtrak.
The bill also shouldn’t be specific to Amtrak. Brightline and any other private passenger operator should be beholden to the same rules.