§12162 — Title 42 The Public Health and Welfare | U.S. Code

§12162 Intercity and Commuter Rail Actions Considered Discriminatory

Title 42 › Chapter 126— EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES › Subchapter II— PUBLIC SERVICES › Part B— Actions Applicable to Public Transportation Provided by Public Entities Considered Discriminatory › Subpart ii— public transportation by intercity and commuter rail › § 12162

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

Rail carriers must make trains and stations usable by people with disabilities, including wheelchair users. Each intercity and commuter train must have at least one passenger car that is readily accessible and usable by people with disabilities as soon as possible but no later than 5 years after July 26, 1990. Any new rail cars bought or leased after 30 days after July 26, 1990 must be accessible. Single-level coaches must allow wheelchair entry from the platform, have spaces to park and secure wheelchairs, a seat people can transfer to plus room to fold and store wheelchairs, and a restroom usable by a wheelchair user. Dining cars and bi-level cars have specific exceptions for entry, restroom, and wheelchair space. Trains with single-level coaches must have required numbers of wheelchair parking and folding/storage spaces (at least one-half of, and in some cases equal to, the number of single-level coaches); those spaces must be in single-level coaches or food service cars, no more than two such spaces per car, and those cars must be platform-accessible and have an accessible restroom. Where dining cars are used, carriers must provide table service or equivalent aids so wheelchair users can eat. Carriers must try in good faith to buy used cars that are accessible. If a car is remanufactured to extend its life 10 years or more, it must be made accessible to the maximum extent feasible, and buyers must follow that rule. New stations must be accessible. Existing intercity stations must be made accessible as soon as possible but no later than 20 years after July 26, 1990. Commuter systems must make key stations accessible as soon as possible but no later than 3 years after July 26, 1990 (that deadline can be extended to 20 years in special cases). A commuter authority must name key stations after consulting people with disabilities and hold a public hearing. When stations are altered, the altered parts and the path to primary services (restrooms, phones, drinking fountains) must be made accessible to the maximum extent feasible, unless doing so is disproportionate in cost. Station owners must reasonably cooperate with those responsible for making accessibility changes and can be held liable if they do not.

Title 42, §12162

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)It shall be considered discrimination for purposes of section 12132 of this title and section 794 of title 29 for a person who provides intercity rail transportation to fail to have at least one passenger car per train that is readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, including individuals who use wheelchairs, in accordance with regulations issued under section 12164 of this title, as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 5 years after July 26, 1990.

(2)(A)Except as otherwise provided in this subsection with respect to individuals who use wheelchairs, it shall be considered discrimination for purposes of section 12132 of this title and section 794 of title 29 for a person to purchase or lease any new rail passenger cars for use in intercity rail transportation, and for which a solicitation is made later than 30 days after July 26, 1990, unless all such rail cars are readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, including individuals who use wheelchairs, as prescribed by the Secretary of Transportation in regulations issued under section 12164 of this title.

(B)Single-level passenger coaches shall be required to—

(i)be able to be entered by an individual who uses a wheelchair;

(ii)have space to park and secure a wheelchair;

(iii)have a seat to which a passenger in a wheelchair can transfer, and a space to fold and store such passenger’s wheelchair; and

(iv)have a restroom usable by an individual who uses a wheelchair,

(C)Single-level dining cars shall not be required to—

(i)be able to be entered from the station platform by an individual who uses a wheelchair; or

(ii)have a restroom usable by an individual who uses a wheelchair if no restroom is provided in such car for any passenger.

(D)Bi-level dining cars shall not be required to—

(i)be able to be entered by an individual who uses a wheelchair;

(ii)have space to park and secure a wheelchair;

(iii)have a seat to which a passenger in a wheelchair can transfer, or a space to fold and store such passenger’s wheelchair; or

(iv)have a restroom usable by an individual who uses a wheelchair.

(3)(A)It shall be considered discrimination for purposes of section 12132 of this title and section 794 of title 29 for a person who provides intercity rail transportation to fail to have on each train which includes one or more single-level rail passenger coaches—

(i)a number of spaces—

(I)to park and secure wheelchairs (to accommodate individuals who wish to remain in their wheelchairs) equal to not less than one-half of the number of single-level rail passenger coaches in such train; and

(II)to fold and store wheelchairs (to accommodate individuals who wish to transfer to coach seats) equal to not less than one-half of the number of single-level rail passenger coaches in such train,

(ii)a number of spaces—

(I)to park and secure wheelchairs (to accommodate individuals who wish to remain in their wheelchairs) equal to not less than the total number of single-level rail passenger coaches in such train; and

(II)to fold and store wheelchairs (to accommodate individuals who wish to transfer to coach seats) equal to not less than the total number of single-level rail passenger coaches in such train,

(B)Spaces required by subparagraph (A) shall be located in single-level rail passenger coaches or food service cars.

(C)Of the number of spaces required on a train by subparagraph (A), not more than two spaces to park and secure wheelchairs nor more than two spaces to fold and store wheelchairs shall be located in any one coach or food service car.

(D)Single-level rail passenger coaches and food service cars on which the spaces required by subparagraph (A) are located shall have a restroom usable by an individual who uses a wheelchair and shall be able to be entered from the station platform by an individual who uses a wheelchair.

(4)(A)On any train in which a single-level dining car is used to provide food service—

(i)if such single-level dining car was purchased after July 26, 1990, table service in such car shall be provided to a passenger who uses a wheelchair if—

(I)the car adjacent to the end of the dining car through which a wheelchair may enter is itself accessible to a wheelchair;

(II)such passenger can exit to the platform from the car such passenger occupies, move down the platform, and enter the adjacent accessible car described in subclause (I) without the necessity of the train being moved within the station; and

(III)space to park and secure a wheelchair is available in the dining car at the time such passenger wishes to eat (if such passenger wishes to remain in a wheelchair), or space to store and fold a wheelchair is available in the dining car at the time such passenger wishes to eat (if such passenger wishes to transfer to a dining car seat); and

(ii)appropriate auxiliary aids and services, including a hard surface on which to eat, shall be provided to ensure that other equivalent food service is available to individuals with disabilities, including individuals who use wheelchairs, and to passengers traveling with such individuals.

(B)On any train in which a bi-level dining car is used to provide food service—

(i)if such train includes a bi-level lounge car purchased after July 26, 1990, table service in such lounge car shall be provided to individuals who use wheelchairs and to other passengers; and

(b)(1)It shall be considered discrimination for purposes of section 12132 of this title and section 794 of title 29 for a person who provides commuter rail transportation to fail to have at least one passenger car per train that is readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, including individuals who use wheelchairs, in accordance with regulations issued under section 12164 of this title, as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 5 years after July 26, 1990.

(2)(A)It shall be considered discrimination for purposes of section 12132 of this title and section 794 of title 29 for a person to purchase or lease any new rail passenger cars for use in commuter rail transportation, and for which a solicitation is made later than 30 days after July 26, 1990, unless all such rail cars are readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, including individuals who use wheelchairs, as prescribed by the Secretary of Transportation in regulations issued under section 12164 of this title.

(B)For purposes of section 12132 of this title and section 794 of title 29, a requirement that a rail passenger car used in commuter rail transportation be accessible to or readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, including individuals who use wheelchairs, shall not be construed to require—

(i)a restroom usable by an individual who uses a wheelchair if no restroom is provided in such car for any passenger;

(ii)space to fold and store a wheelchair; or

(iii)a seat to which a passenger who uses a wheelchair can transfer.

(c)It shall be considered discrimination for purposes of section 12132 of this title and section 794 of title 29 for a person to purchase or lease a used rail passenger car for use in intercity or commuter rail transportation, unless such person makes demonstrated good faith efforts to purchase or lease a used rail car that is readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, including individuals who use wheelchairs, as prescribed by the Secretary of Transportation in regulations issued under section 12164 of this title.

(d)(1)It shall be considered discrimination for purposes of section 12132 of this title and section 794 of title 29 for a person to remanufacture a rail passenger car for use in intercity or commuter rail transportation so as to extend its usable life for 10 years or more, unless the rail car, to the maximum extent feasible, is made readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, including individuals who use wheelchairs, as prescribed by the Secretary of Transportation in regulations issued under section 12164 of this title.

(2)It shall be considered discrimination for purposes of section 12132 of this title and section 794 of title 29 for a person to purchase or lease a remanufactured rail passenger car for use in intercity or commuter rail transportation unless such car was remanufactured in accordance with paragraph (1).

(e)(1)It shall be considered discrimination for purposes of section 12132 of this title and section 794 of title 29 for a person to build a new station for use in intercity or commuter rail transportation that is not readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, including individuals who use wheelchairs, as prescribed by the Secretary of Transportation in regulations issued under section 12164 of this title.

(2)(A)(i)It shall be considered discrimination for purposes of section 12132 of this title and section 794 of title 29 for a responsible person to fail to make existing stations in the intercity rail transportation system, and existing key stations in commuter rail transportation systems, readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, including individuals who use wheelchairs, as prescribed by the Secretary of Transportation in regulations issued under section 12164 of this title.

(ii)(I)All stations in the intercity rail transportation system shall be made readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, including individuals who use wheelchairs, as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 20 years after July 26, 1990.

(II)Key stations in commuter rail transportation systems shall be made readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, including individuals who use wheelchairs, as soon as practicable but in no event later than 3 years after July 26, 1990, except that the time limit may be extended by the Secretary of Transportation up to 20 years after July 26, 1990, in a case where the raising of the entire passenger platform is the only means available of attaining accessibility or where other extraordinarily expensive structural changes are necessary to attain accessibility.

(iii)Each commuter authority shall designate the key stations in its commuter rail transportation system, in consultation with individuals with disabilities and organizations representing such individuals, taking into consideration such factors as high ridership and whether such station serves as a transfer or feeder station. Before the final designation of key stations under this clause, a commuter authority shall hold a public hearing.

(iv)The Secretary of Transportation shall require the appropriate person to develop a plan for carrying out this subparagraph that reflects consultation with individuals with disabilities affected by such plan and that establishes milestones for achievement of the requirements of this subparagraph.

(B)(i)It shall be considered discrimination, for purposes of section 12132 of this title and section 794 of title 29, with respect to alterations of an existing station or part thereof in the intercity or commuter rail transportation systems that affect or could affect the usability of the station or part thereof, for the responsible person, owner, or person in control of the station to fail to make the alterations in such a manner that, to the maximum extent feasible, the altered portions of the station are readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, including individuals who use wheelchairs, upon completion of such alterations.

(ii)It shall be considered discrimination, for purposes of section 12132 of this title and section 794 of title 29, with respect to alterations that affect or could affect the usability of or access to an area of the station containing a primary function, for the responsible person, owner, or person in control of the station to fail to make the alterations in such a manner that, to the maximum extent feasible, the path of travel to the altered area, and the bathrooms, telephones, and drinking fountains serving the altered area, are readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, including individuals who use wheelchairs, upon completion of such alterations, where such alterations to the path of travel or the bathrooms, telephones, and drinking fountains serving the altered area are not disproportionate to the overall alterations in terms of cost and scope (as determined under criteria established by the Attorney General).

(C)It shall be considered discrimination for purposes of section 12132 of this title and section 794 of title 29 for an owner, or person in control, of a station governed by subparagraph (A) or (B) to fail to provide reasonable cooperation to a responsible person with respect to such station in that responsible person’s efforts to comply with such subparagraph. An owner, or person in control, of a station shall be liable to a responsible person for any failure to provide reasonable cooperation as required by this subparagraph. Failure to receive reasonable cooperation required by this subparagraph shall not be a defense to a claim of discrimination under this chapter.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (e)(2)(C), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 101–336, July 26, 1990, 104 Stat. 327, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 12101 of this title and Tables.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective July 26, 1990, see section 246(b) of Pub. L. 101–336, set out as a note under section 12161 of this title.