Title 49 — TransportationRelease 119-73
§24301 Status and applicable laws
Title 49 › Subtitle SUBTITLE V— - RAIL PROGRAMS › Part PART C— - PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION › Chapter CHAPTER 243— - AMTRAK › § 24301
Summary
Amtrak must be run as a for-profit railroad company. It is not a department or agency of the U.S. government and is not covered by title 31. Its main office is in the District of Columbia, and it can do business in any State where it operates. Amtrak can be legally served by certified mail to its secretary at its main office. For original federal court jurisdiction, Amtrak is treated as a citizen of the District of Columbia only. Most of Subtitle IV does not apply to Amtrak, but sections 11123, 11301, 11322(a), 11502, and 11706 still do. Amtrak remains an employer under the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974, the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act, and the Railroad Retirement Tax Act. Safety rules and laws about employee representation, disputes, retirement, and unemployment that apply to other rail carriers also apply to Amtrak. Section 552 of title 5 and, when consistent, the District of Columbia Business Corporation Act apply. Section 552 applies in years when Amtrak gets a federal subsidy. States may not control Amtrak’s fares, routes, or service, nor force Amtrak to use specific pay periods or require it to hire a set number of people for any job. Agreements for shared facilities with Amtrak can be carried out even if some local rules would otherwise forbid them. “Additional tax” means certain taxes on property and operations, and “Amtrak” includes its rail subsidiaries and certain lessors or lessees. Amtrak does not have to pay additional taxes for money it spends to buy or improve property, equipment, facilities, or right-of-way used for passenger rail. Amtrak, its rail subsidiaries, and their passengers are exempt from many state and local taxes on intercity passenger, mail, and express service after September 30, 1981, with a narrow exception for taxes that were owed on September 10, 1982 and assessed before April 1, 1997. Federal courts can hear cases Amtrak brings to enforce these rules. Passenger cars built after October 14, 1990 must only empty human waste at servicing facilities. Amtrak must retrofit cars made between May 1, 1971 and October 14, 1990, and finish the retrofit program by October 15, 2001 (subject to funding); cars not retrofitted had to be removed after that date. Public health laws do not apply to waste from intercity rail vehicles, and federal courts can enforce that. When federal agencies authorize travel, they must treat rail the same as other modes. The GSA must include Amtrak in certain contract programs where it competes. New leases or contracts between Amtrak and the State of Maryland are governed by District of Columbia law.
Full Legal Text
Title 49, §24301
Transportation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Amtrak—
(1)is a railroad carrier under section 20102(2) 11 See References in Text note below. and chapters 261 and 281 of this title;
(2)shall be operated and managed as a for-profit corporation; and
(3)is not a department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States Government, and shall not be subject to title 31.
(b)The principal office and place of business of Amtrak are in the District of Columbia. Amtrak is qualified to do business in each State in which Amtrak carries out an activity authorized under this part. Amtrak shall accept service of process by certified mail addressed to the secretary of Amtrak at its principal office and place of business. Amtrak is a citizen only of the District of Columbia when deciding original jurisdiction of the district courts of the United States in a civil action.
(c)Subtitle IV of this title shall not apply to Amtrak, except for section 11123, 11301, 11322(a), 11502, and 11706. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, Amtrak shall continue to be considered an employer under the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974, the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act, and the Railroad Retirement Tax Act.
(d)Laws and regulations governing safety, employee representation for collective bargaining purposes, the handling of disputes between carriers and employees, employee retirement, annuity, and unemployment systems, and other dealings with employees that apply to a rail carrier subject to part A of subtitle IV of this title apply to Amtrak.
(e)Section 552 of title 5, this part, and, to the extent consistent with this part, the District of Columbia Business Corporation Act (D.C. Code § 29–301 et seq.) apply to Amtrak. Section 552 of title 5, United States Code, applies to Amtrak for any fiscal year in which Amtrak receives a Federal subsidy.
(f)A commuter authority that was eligible to make a contract with Amtrak Commuter to provide commuter rail passenger transportation but which decided to provide its own rail passenger transportation beginning January 1, 1983, is exempt, effective October 1, 1981, from paying a tax or fee to the same extent Amtrak is exempt.
(g)A State or other law related to rates, routes, or service does not apply to Amtrak in connection with rail passenger transportation.
(h)A State or local law related to pay periods or days for payment of employees does not apply to Amtrak. Except when otherwise provided under a collective bargaining agreement, an employee of Amtrak shall be paid at least as frequently as the employee was paid on October 1, 1979.
(i)A State may not adopt or continue in force a law, rule, regulation, order, or standard requiring Amtrak to employ a specified number of individuals to perform a particular task, function, or operation.
(j)Prohibitions of law applicable to an agreement for the joint use or operation of facilities and equipment necessary to provide quick and efficient rail passenger transportation do not apply to a person making an agreement with Amtrak to the extent necessary to allow the person to make and carry out obligations under the agreement.
(k)(1)In this subsection—
(A)“additional tax” means a tax or fee—
(i)on the acquisition, improvement, ownership, or operation of personal property by Amtrak; and
(ii)on real property, except a tax or fee on the acquisition of real property or on the value of real property not attributable to improvements made, or the operation of those improvements, by Amtrak.
(B)“Amtrak” includes a rail carrier subsidiary of Amtrak and a lessor or lessee of Amtrak or one of its rail carrier subsidiaries.
(2)Amtrak is not required to pay an additional tax because of an expenditure to acquire or improve real property, equipment, a facility, or right-of-way material or structures used in providing rail passenger transportation, even if that use is indirect.
(l)(1)Amtrak, a rail carrier subsidiary of Amtrak, and any passenger or other customer of Amtrak or such subsidiary, are exempt from a tax, fee, head charge, or other charge, imposed or levied by a State, political subdivision, or local taxing authority on Amtrak, a rail carrier subsidiary of Amtrak, or on persons traveling in intercity rail passenger transportation or on mail or express transportation provided by Amtrak or such a subsidiary, or on the carriage of such persons, mail, or express, or on the sale of any such transportation, or on the gross receipts derived therefrom after September 30, 1981. In the case of a tax or fee that Amtrak was required to pay as of September 10, 1982, Amtrak is not exempt from such tax or fee if it was assessed before April 1, 1997.
(2)The district courts of the United States have original jurisdiction over a civil action Amtrak brings to enforce this subsection and may grant equitable or declaratory relief requested by Amtrak.
(m)(1)An intercity rail passenger car manufactured after October 14, 1990, shall be built to provide for the discharge of human waste only at a servicing facility. Amtrak shall retrofit each of its intercity rail passenger cars that was manufactured after May 1, 1971, and before October 15, 1990, with a human waste disposal system that provides for the discharge of human waste only at a servicing facility. Subject to appropriations—
(A)the retrofit program shall be completed not later than October 15, 2001; and
(B)a car that does not provide for the discharge of human waste only at a servicing facility shall be removed from service after that date.
(2)section 361 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 264) and other laws of the United States, States, and local governments do not apply to waste disposal from rail carrier vehicles operated in intercity rail passenger transportation. The district courts of the United States have original jurisdiction over a civil action Amtrak brings to enforce this paragraph and may grant equitable or declaratory relief requested by Amtrak.
(n)When authorizing transportation in the continental United States for an officer, employee, or member of the uniformed services of a department, agency, or instrumentality of the Government, the head of that department, agency, or instrumentality shall consider rail transportation (including transportation by extra-fare trains) the same as transportation by another authorized mode. The Administrator of General Services shall include Amtrak in the contract air program of the Administrator in markets in which transportation provided by Amtrak is competitive with other carriers on fares and total trip times.
(o)Any lease or contract entered into between Amtrak and the State of Maryland, or any department or agency of the State of Maryland, after the date of the enactment of this subsection shall be governed by the laws of the District of Columbia.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 24301(a)45:541 (1st sentence).Oct. 30, 1970, Pub. L. 91–518, § 301 (1st, 4th, last sentences), 84 Stat. 1330. 45:541 (2d sentence words before 1st comma).Oct. 30, 1970, Pub. L. 91–518, § 301 (2d sentence words before 1st comma), 84 Stat. 1330; Oct. 5, 1978, Pub. L. 95–421, § 11, 92 Stat. 928. 45:541 (3d sentence).Oct. 30, 1970, Pub. L. 91–518, § 301 (3d sentence), 84 Stat. 1330; June 22, 1988, Pub. L. 100–342, § 18(a), 102 Stat. 636. 45:541 (last sentence). 45:546(a) (words after “The Corporation” and before “and shall be subject to”).Oct. 30, 1970, Pub. L. 91–518, § 306(a), 84 Stat. 1332; June 22, 1972, Pub. L. 92–316, § 3(a), 86 Stat. 228; Sept. 29, 1979, Pub. L. 96–73, § 112(a), 93 Stat. 541; Apr. 7, 1986, Pub. L. 99–272, § 4015, 100 Stat. 110. 24301(b)45:546(m).Oct. 30, 1970, Pub. L. 91–518, 84 Stat. 1327, § 306(m); added Sept. 29, 1979, Pub. L. 96–73, § 112(c), 93 Stat. 541; Apr. 7, 1986, Pub. L. 99–272, § 4013, 100 Stat. 109. 24301(c)(1), (2)(A)45:546(a) (less words after “The Corporation” and before “and shall be subject to”). 24301(c) (2)(B)45:546a.Oct. 5, 1978, Pub. L. 95–421, § 7, 92 Stat. 927. 24301(d)45:546(b).Oct. 30, 1970, Pub. L. 91–518, §§ 305(a) (last sentence), 306(b)–(e), 84 Stat. 1332, 1333. 24301(e)45:541 (4th sentence). 45:545(a) (last sentence). 45:545(e)(8).Oct. 30, 1970, Pub. L. 91–518, 84 Stat. 1327, § 305(e)(8); added Nov. 3, 1973, Pub. L. 93–146, § 6, 87 Stat. 551. 45:546(g).Oct. 30, 1970, Pub. L. 91–518, 84 Stat. 1327, § 306(g); added June 22, 1972, Pub. L. 92–316, § 3(b), 86 Stat. 228. 24301(f)45:546(d). 24301(g)45:546(c). 24301(h)45:546(l).Oct. 30, 1970, Pub. L. 91–518, 84 Stat. 1327, § 306(l); added Sept. 29, 1979, Pub. L. 96–73, § 112(c), 93 Stat. 541. 24301(i)45:797j (words “, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation,”).Jan. 2, 1974, Pub. L. 93–236, 87 Stat. 985, § 711 (words “, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation,”); added Aug. 13, 1981, Pub. L. 97–35, § 1143(a), 95 Stat. 667. 24301(j)45:546(e). 24301(k)45:546(n).Oct. 30, 1970, Pub. L. 91–518, 84 Stat. 1327, § 306(n); added Aug. 13, 1981, Pub. L. 97–35, § 1178, 95 Stat. 692; restated Oct. 27, 1992, Pub. L. 102–533, § 6, 106 Stat. 3517. 24301(l)45:546b.Sept. 10, 1982, Pub. L. 97–257, § 107 (par. under heading “Grants to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation”), 96 Stat. 852. 24301(m)45:546(i).Oct. 30, 1970, Pub. L. 91–518, 84 Stat. 1327, § 306(i); added Feb. 5, 1976, Pub. L. 94–210, § 706(e), 90 Stat. 124; Oct. 19, 1976, Pub. L. 94–555, § 105, 90 Stat. 2615; May 30, 1980, Pub. L. 96–254, § 206(a), 94 Stat. 412; Nov. 16, 1990, Pub. L. 101–610, § 601(a), 104 Stat. 3185. 24301(n)45:546(f).Oct. 30, 1970, Pub. L. 91–518, 84 Stat. 1327, § 306(f); added June 22, 1972, Pub. L. 92–316, § 3(b), 86 Stat. 228; Apr. 7, 1986, Pub. L. 99–272, § 4004, 100 Stat. 107. In subsection (a), before clause (1), the text of 45:541 (1st sentence) is omitted as executed. The text of 45:541 (last sentence) is omitted as surplus. In clause (1), the words “rail carrier” are substituted for “common carrier by railroad” because of 49:10102. In clause (3), the words “department, agency, or instrumentality” are substituted for “agency, instrumentality, authority, or entity, or establishment” for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code. The word “instrumentality” includes entities, authorities, establishments, and any other organizational unit of the United States Government that is not a department or agency. In subsection (b), the words “In connection with the performance of such activities” and “to which the Corporation is a party” are omitted as surplus. In subsection (c)(1)(B), the words “whether by trackage rights or otherwise” are omitted as surplus. In subsection (c)(2)(B), the words “adversely affected” are substituted for “aggrieved” for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the Code. In subsection (d), the word “same” is omitted as surplus. In subsection (e), the text of 45:545(a) (last sentence) and (e)(8) is omitted as surplus. In subsection (f), the words “the place” are omitted as surplus. In subsection (h), the word “applicable” is omitted as surplus. In subsection (j), the words “existing”, “including the antitrust laws of the United States”, and “contracts . . . leases” are omitted as surplus. In subsection (k)(2), the words “of funds” are omitted as surplus. In subsection (l)(1), the words “Notwithstanding any other provision of law”, “other”, “including such taxes and fees levied after September 30, 1982”, and “notwithstanding any provision of law” are omitted as surplus. The text of 45:546b (2d sentence) is omitted as executed. In subsection (l)(2), the words “Notwithstanding the provision of section 1341 of title 28” are omitted as surplus. In subsection (m)(1), before clause (A), the word “New” is omitted as surplus. In subsection (m)(2), the word “vehicles” is substituted for “conveyances” for clarity. In subsection (n), the words “uniformed services” are substituted for “Armed Forces or commissioned services” for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the Code.
Editorial Notes
References in Text
section 20102(2), referred to in subsec. (a)(1), was redesignated section 20102(3) by Pub. L. 110–432, div. A, § 2(b)(1), Oct. 16, 2008, 122 Stat. 4850. The Railroad Retirement Act of 1974, referred to in subsec. (c), is act Aug. 29, 1935, ch. 812, as amended generally by Pub. L. 93–445, title I, § 101, Oct. 16, 1974, 88 Stat. 1305, which is classified generally to subchapter IV (§ 231 et seq.) of chapter 9 of Title 45, Railroads. For further details and complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Codification note set out preceding section 231 of Title 45, section 231t of Title 45, and Tables. The Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act, referred to in subsec. (c), is act
June 25, 1938, ch. 680, 52 Stat. 1094, which is classified principally to chapter 11 (§ 351 et seq.) of Title 45, Railroads. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 367 of Title 45 and Tables. The Railroad Retirement Tax Act, referred to in subsec. (c), is act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, §§ 3201, 3202, 3211, 3212, 3221, and 3231 to 3233, 68A Stat. 431, which is classified generally to chapter 22 (§ 3201 et seq.) of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 3233 of Title 26 and Tables. The District of Columbia Business Corporation Act, referred to in subsec. (e), is act
June 8, 1954, ch. 269, 68 Stat. 179, which is not classified to the Code. The date of the enactment of this subsection, referred to in subsec. (o), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–53, which was approved Aug. 3, 2007.
Amendments
2007—Subsec. (o). Pub. L. 110–53 added subsec. (o). 2004—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 108–199 inserted “11123,” after “except for sections”. 1997—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 105–134, § 401(1), substituted “railroad carrier under section 20102(2) and chapters 261 and 281” for “rail carrier under section 10102”. Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 105–134, § 415(d)(1), inserted “, and shall not be subject to title 31” after “United States Government”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 105–134, § 401(2), reenacted heading without change and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “(1) Part A of subtitle IV of this title applies to Amtrak, except for provisions related to the— “(A) regulation of rates; “(B) abandonment or extension of rail lines used only for passenger transportation and the abandonment or extension of operations over those lines; “(C) regulation of routes and service; “(D) discontinuance or change of rail passenger transportation operations; and “(E) issuance of securities or the assumption of an obligation or liability related to the securities of others. “(2) Notwithstanding this subsection— “(A) section 10721 of this title applies to Amtrak; and “(B) on application of an adversely affected motor carrier, the Surface Transportation Board under part A of subtitle IV of this title may hear a complaint about an unfair or predatory rate or marketing practice of Amtrak for a route or service operating at a loss.” Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 105–134, § 110(a), inserted at end “Section 552 of title 5, United States Code, applies to Amtrak for any fiscal year in which Amtrak receives a Federal subsidy.” Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 105–134, § 106(b), amended heading and text of subsec. (f) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The laws of the District of Columbia govern leases and contracts of Amtrak, regardless of where they are executed.” Subsec. (l)(1). Pub. L. 105–134, § 208, inserted heading and substituted in text “Amtrak, a rail carrier subsidiary of Amtrak, and any passenger or other customer of Amtrak or such subsidiary, are” for “Amtrak or a rail carrier subsidiary of Amtrak is”, “tax, fee, head charge, or other charge, imposed or levied by a State, political subdivision, or local taxing authority on Amtrak, a rail carrier subsidiary of Amtrak, or on persons traveling in intercity rail passenger transportation or on mail or express transportation provided by Amtrak or such a subsidiary, or on the carriage of such persons, mail, or express, or on the sale of any such transportation, or on the gross receipts derived therefrom” for “tax or fee imposed by a State, a political subdivision of a State, or a local taxing authority and levied on it”, and “In the case of a tax or fee that Amtrak was required to pay as of
September 10, 1982, Amtrak is not exempt from such tax or fee if it was assessed before
April 1, 1997.” for “However, Amtrak is not exempt under this subsection from a tax or fee that it was required to pay as of
September 10, 1982.” Subsec. (m)(1)(A). Pub. L. 105–134, § 402, substituted “2001” for “1996”. 1995—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 104–88, § 308(g)(1)(A), substituted “Part A of subtitle IV” for “Subtitle IV”. Subsec. (c)(2)(A). Pub. L. 104–88, § 308(g)(1)(B), substituted “section 10721 of this title applies” for “section 10721–10724 of this title apply”. Subsec. (c)(2)(B). Pub. L. 104–88, § 308(g)(1)(C), substituted “Transportation Board under part A of subtitle IV” for “Interstate Commerce Commission under any provision of subtitle IV of this title applicable to a carrier subject to subchapter I of chapter 105”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 104–88, § 308(g)(2), substituted “rail carrier subject to part A of subtitle IV” for “common carrier subject to subchapter I of chapter 105”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1995 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 104–88 effective Jan. 1, 1996, see section 2 of Pub. L. 104–88, set out as an
Effective Date
note under section 1301 of this title.
Regulations
Pub. L. 101–610, title VI, § 601(d), (e), Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3186, provided that: “(d) Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act [Nov. 16, 1990], the Secretary of Transportation, after appropriate notice and comment, and in consultation with the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Surgeon General, and State and local officials shall promulgate such
Regulations
as may be necessary to mitigate the impact of the discharge of human waste from railroad passenger cars on areas that may be considered environmentally sensitive. “(e) Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act [Nov. 16, 1990], the Secretary of Transportation shall promulgate
Regulations
directing the National Railroad Passenger Corporation to, where appropriate, publish printed information, and make public address announcements, explaining its existing disposal technology and the retrofit and new equipment program, and encouraging passengers using existing equipment not to dispose of wastes in stations, railroad yards, or while the train is moving through environmentally sensitive areas.” Passenger Choice Pub. L. 105–134, title I, § 109, Dec. 2, 1997, 111 Stat. 2574, provided that: “Federal employees are authorized to travel on Amtrak for official business where total travel cost from office to office is competitive on a total trip or time basis.” Application of Federal Property and Administrative Services Act Pub. L. 105–134, title I, § 110(b), Dec. 2, 1997, 111 Stat. 2574, provided that: “section 303B(m) of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 ([former] 41 U.S.C. 253b(m)) [now 41 U.S.C. 4702] applies to a proposal in the possession or control of Amtrak.” Exemption From Laws Relating to Abandoned or Unclaimed Property Pub. L. 104–205, title III, § 347, Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 2976, provided that: “Hereinafter, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) shall be exempted from any State or local law relating to the payment or delivery of abandoned or unclaimed personal property to any government authority, including any provision for the
Enforcement
thereof, with respect to passenger rail tickets for which no refund has been or may be claimed, and such law shall not apply to funds held by Amtrak as a result of the purchase of tickets after April 30, 1972 for which no refund has been claimed.”
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
49 U.S.C. § 24301
Title 49 — Transportation
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73