49 U.S. Code § 24706 - Discontinuance

(a) Notice of Discontinuance.—

(1) Except as provided in subsection (c), not later than 180 days before discontinuing service over a route, Amtrak shall give notice of the discontinuance in the way Amtrak decides will give a State, a regional or local authority, or another person the opportunity to agree to share or assume the cost of any part of the train, route, or service to be discontinued.

(2) Notice of the discontinuance under paragraph (1) shall be posted in all stations served by the train to be discontinued at least 14 days before the discontinuance.

(b) Discontinuance or Substantial Alteration of Long-distance Routes.—

Except as provided in subsection (c), in an emergency, or during maintenance or construction outages impacting Amtrak routes, Amtrak may not discontinue, reduce the frequency of, suspend, or substantially alter the route of rail service on any segment of any long-distance route in any fiscal year in which Amtrak receives adequate Federal funding for such route on the National Network.

(c) Discontinuance for Lack of Appropriations.—

(1) Amtrak may discontinue service under subsection (a)(1) during—

(A) the first month of a fiscal year if the authorization of appropriations and the appropriations for Amtrak are not enacted at least 90 days before the beginning of the fiscal year; and

(B) the 30 days following enactment of an appropriation for Amtrak or a rescission of an appropriation.

(2) Amtrak shall notify each affected State or regional or local transportation authority of a discontinuance under this subsection as soon as possible after Amtrak decides to discontinue the service.

(d) Congressional Notification of Discontinuance.—

Except as provided in subsection (c), not later than 210 days before discontinuing service over a route, Amtrak shall give written notice of such discontinuance to all of the members of Congress representing any State or district in which the discontinuance would occur.

(e) Applicability.—

This section applies to all service over routes provided by Amtrak, notwithstanding any provision of section 24701 of this title or any other provision of this title except section 24702(b).

(Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 927; Pub. L. 105–134, title I, §§ 101(c), 142(a), Dec. 2, 1997, 111 Stat. 2572, 2576; Pub. L. 110–432, div. B, title II, § 201(d), Oct. 16, 2008, 122 Stat. 4910; Pub. L. 114–94, div. A, title XI, § 11316(n)(1), Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1678; Pub. L. 117–58, div. B, title II, § 22210, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 708.)

Historical and Revision Notes
Revised Section	Source (U.S. Code)	Source (Statutes at Large)
24706(a)(1)	45:564(c)(4)(F)(ii).	Oct. 30, 1970, Pub. L. 91–518, 84 Stat. 1327, § 404(c)(4)(F); added Sept. 29, 1979, Pub. L. 96–73, § 117, 93 Stat. 545; restated Aug. 13, 1981, Pub. L. 97–35, § 1183(b), 95 Stat. 696.
24706(a)(2)	45:564(c)(4)(F)(i).
24706(b)	45:564(c)(4)(F)(iii).
24706(c)(1)	45:565(a) (2d sentence).	Oct. 30, 1970, Pub. L. 91–518, § 405(a) (1st, 2d sentences), 84 Stat. 1337; restated June 22, 1972, Pub. L. 92–316, § 7(a), 86 Stat. 230.
	45:565(a) (last sentence).	Oct. 30, 1970, Pub. L. 91–518, 84 Stat. 1327, § 405(a) (last sentence); added Apr. 7, 1986, Pub. L. 99–272, § 4016, 100 Stat. 110.
24706(c)(2)	45:565(a) (1st sentence).
	45:565(b) (1st sentence).	Oct. 30, 1970, Pub. L. 91–518, § 405(b) (1st–3d sentences), 84 Stat. 1337.
	45:565(c) (1st sentence words before 2d comma).	Oct. 30, 1970, Pub. L. 91–518, § 405(c), 84 Stat. 1337; restated June 22, 1972, Pub. L. 92–316, § 7(c), 86 Stat. 230.
24706(c)(3)	45:565(b) (2d sentence).
24706(c)(4)	45:565(b) (3d sentence).
24706(c)(5)	45:565(c) (1st sentence words after 2d comma, last sentence).
24706(c)(6)	45:565(g).	Oct. 30, 1970, Pub. L. 91–518, 84 Stat. 1327, § 405(g); added Aug. 13, 1981, Pub. L. 97–35, § 1188(d), 95 Stat. 699.

In subsection (a)(1), the words “Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section” are added for clarity. The word “authority” is substituted for “agency” for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code.

In subsection (b)(1), before clause (A), the words “Notwithstanding the provisions of clause (ii)” are omitted as surplus. In clauses (A) and (B), the words “the benefit of” are omitted as surplus. In clause (A), the words “for such fiscal year” are omitted as surplus.

In subsection (c)(1), before clause (A), the words “Amtrak or” are substituted for 45:565(c) (1st sentence words before 2d comma) to eliminate unnecessary words because operations in the basic system have begun. The words “whether occurring before, on, or after January 1, 1975” and “without being limited to, such provisions as may be necessary for” are omitted as surplus. In clause (A), the words “to such employees” are omitted as surplus.

In subsection (c)(3), the words “section 11347 of this title” are substituted for and coextensive with “section 5(2)(f) of the Interstate Commerce Act” in section 405(b) of the Rail Passenger Service Act (Public Law 91–518, 84 Stat. 1337) on authority of section 3(b) of the Act of October 17, 1978 (Public Law 95–473, 92 Stat. 1466).

In subsection (c)(5), the words “be construed to” are omitted as surplus. The text of 45:565(c) (last sentence) is omitted as executed.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2021—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 117–58, § 22210(1), substituted “subsection (c), not later than 180 days” for “subsection (b) of this section, at least 180 days”.

Subsecs. (b) to (e). Pub. L. 117–58, § 22210(2)–(4), added subsecs. (b) and (d) and redesignated former subsecs. (b) and (c) as (c) and (e), respectively.

2015—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 114–94, § 11316(n)(1)(A)(i), struck out “a discontinuance under section 24704 or or” after “before”.

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 114–94, § 11316(n)(1)(A)(ii), struck out “section 24704 or” after “under”.

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 114–94, § 11316(n)(1)(B), struck out “section 24704 or” after “under” in introductory provisions.

2008—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 110–432 added subsec. (c).

1997—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 105–134, § 101(c)(1)–(3), substituted “180 days” for “90 days” and “or discontinuing service over a route,” for “24707(a) or (b) of this title,” and inserted “or assume” after “agree to share”.

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 105–134, § 101(c)(4), which directed substitution of “paragraph (1)” for “section 24707(a) or (b) of this title”, was executed by making the substitution for “24707(a) or (b) of this title” to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 105–134, § 101(c)(5), which directed substitution of “subsection (a)(1)” for “section 24707(a) or (b) of this title”, was executed by making the substitution for “24707(a) or (b) of this title” to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 105–134, § 142(a), struck out subsec. (c) which related to employee protective arrangements.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2015 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 114–94 effective Oct. 1, 2015, see section 1003 of Pub. L. 114–94, set out as a note under section 5313 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Effective Date of 1997 Amendment

Amendment by section 142(a) of Pub. L. 105–134 effective 180 days after Dec. 2, 1997, see section 142(c) of Pub. L. 105–134, set out in an Employee Protection Reforms note below.

Deemed References to Chapters 509 and 511 of Title 51

General references to “this title” deemed to refer also to chapters 509 and 511 of Title 51, National and Commercial Space Programs, see section 4(d)(8) of Pub. L. 111–314, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.

Employee Protection Reforms

Pub. L. 105–134, title I, §§ 141, 142, Dec. 2, 1997, 111 Stat. 2575, 2576, provided that:

“SEC. 141. RAILWAY LABOR ACT PROCEDURES.

“(a) Notices.—

Notwithstanding any arrangement in effect before the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 2, 1997], notices under section 6 of the Railway Labor Act (45 U.S.C. 156) with respect to all issues relating to employee protective arrangements and severance benefits which are applicable to employees of Amtrak, including all provisions of Appendix C–2 to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation Agreement, signed July 5, 1973, shall be deemed served and effective on the date which is 45 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. Amtrak, and each affected labor organization representing Amtrak employees, shall promptly supply specific information and proposals with respect to each such notice.

“(b) National Mediation Board Efforts.—

Except as provided in subsection (c), the National Mediation Board shall complete all efforts, with respect to the dispute described in subsection (a), under section 5 of the Railway Labor Act (45 U.S.C. 155) not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 2, 1997].

“(c) Railway Labor Act Arbitration.—

The parties to the dispute described in subsection (a) may agree to submit the dispute to arbitration under section 7 of the Railway Labor Act (45 U.S.C. 157), and any award resulting therefrom shall be retroactive to the date which is 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 2, 1997].

“(d) Dispute Resolution.—

(1) With respect to the dispute described in subsection (a) which—

“(A) is unresolved as of the date which is 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 2, 1997]; and

“(B) is not submitted to arbitration as described in subsection (c),

Amtrak shall, and the labor organization parties to such dispute shall, within 127 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, each select an individual from the entire roster of arbitrators maintained by the National Mediation Board. Within 134 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the individuals selected under the preceding sentence shall jointly select an individual from such roster to make recommendations with respect to such dispute under this subsection. If the National Mediation Board is not informed of the selection under the preceding sentence 134 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Board shall immediately select such individual.

“(2) No individual shall be selected under paragraph (1) who is pecuniarily or otherwise interested in any organization of employees or any railroad.

“(3) The compensation of individuals selected under paragraph (1) shall be fixed by the National Mediation Board. The second paragraph of section 10 of the Railway Labor Act [45 U.S.C. 160] shall apply to the expenses of such individuals as if such individuals were members of a board created under such section 10.

“(4) If the parties to a dispute described in subsection (a) fail to reach agreement within 150 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the individual selected under paragraph (1) with respect to such dispute shall make recommendations to the parties proposing contract terms to resolve the dispute.

“(5) If the parties to a dispute described in subsection (a) fail to reach agreement, no change shall be made by either of the parties in the conditions out of which the dispute arose for 30 days after recommendations are made under paragraph (4).

“(6) Section 10 of the Railway Labor Act (45 U.S.C. 160) shall not apply to a dispute described in subsection (a).

“(e) No Precedent for Freight.—

Nothing in this Act [see Short Title of 1997 Amendment note set out under section 20101 of this title], or in any amendment made by this Act, shall affect the level of protection provided to freight railroad employees and mass transportation employees as it existed on the day before the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 2, 1997].

“SEC. 142. SERVICE DISCONTINUANCE.

“(a) Repeal.—

Section 24706(c) is repealed.

“(b) Existing Contracts.—

Any provision of a contract entered into before the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 2, 1997] between Amtrak and a labor organization representing Amtrak employees relating to employee protective arrangements and severance benefits applicable to employees of Amtrak is extinguished, including all provisions of Appendix C–2 to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation Agreement, signed July 5, 1973.

“(c) Special Effective Date.—

Subsections (a) [amending this section] and (b) of this section shall take effect 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 2, 1997].

“(d) Nonapplication of Bankruptcy Law Provision.—

Section 1172(c) of title 11, United States Code, shall not apply to Amtrak and its employees.”