IL SR1064

Supports passage of U.S. S.2922, the "Rail Passenger Fairness Act", which would allow Amtrak to bring civil actions in federal district courts to enforce its statutory preference rights over freight transportation on host railroads.

Cites federal law (49 U.S.C. § 24308(c)) establishing that intercity and commuter rail passenger transportation has preference over freight transportation on rail lines, junctions, or crossings.

Notes that host railroads have routinely ignored Amtrak's preference rights, resulting in poor on-time performance that affected 6.5 million customers in fiscal year 2019 alone and wastes millions in taxpayer dollars.

Demonstrates that enforcement mechanisms have historically improved performance: after PRIIA 2008 enactment, long-distance train on-time performance improved from 56 percent to 85 percent within one year; performance declined from 72 percent to 50 percent after enforcement provisions were removed in 2014.

Urges the Illinois Congressional Delegation to support S.2922 and direct copies of the resolution to each member of the Illinois Congressional Delegation.