49 U.S.C. § 24321
Section 24321 · Food and beverage service
Current version, with additions and removals from the December 4, 2015 version.
(a) Plan.—Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2015, Amtrak shall develop and begin implementing a plan to eliminate, within 5 years of such date of enactment, the operating loss associated with providing food and beverage service on board Amtrak trains.
(b) Considerations.—In developing and implementing the plan, Amtrak shall consider a combination of cost management and revenue generation initiatives, including—
(1) scheduling optimization;
(2) on-board logistics;
(3) product development and supply chain efficiency;
(4) training, awards, and accountability;
(5) technology enhancements and process improvements; and
(6) ticket revenue allocation.
(c) Savings Clause.—Amtrak shall ensure that no Amtrak employee holding a position as of the date of enactment of the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2015 is involuntarily separated because of—
(1) the development and implementation of the plan required under subsection (a); or
(2) any other action taken by Amtrak to implement this section.
(d) No Federal Funding for Operating Losses.—Beginning on the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment of the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2015, no Federal funds may be used to cover any operating loss associated with providing food and beverage service on a route operated by Amtrak or a rail carrier that operates a route in lieu of Amtrak pursuant to section 24711.
(a) Working Group.—
(1) Establishment.—Not later than 180 days after enactment of the Passenger Rail Expansion and Rail Safety Act of 2021, Amtrak shall establish a working group to provide recommendations to improve Amtrak's onboard food and beverage service.
(2) Membership.—The working group shall consist of individuals representing—
(A) Amtrak;
(B) the labor organizations representing Amtrak employees who prepare or provide on-board food and beverage service;
(C) nonprofit organizations representing Amtrak passengers; and
(D) States that are providing funding for State-supported routes.
(1) ways to improve the financial performance of Amtrak;
(2) ways to increase and retain ridership;
(3) the differing needs of passengers traveling on long-distance routes, State supported routes, and the Northeast Corridor;
(4) Amtrak passenger survey data about the food and beverages offered on Amtrak trains;
(5) ways to incorporate local food and beverage items on State-supported routes; and
(6) any other issue that the working group determines to be appropriate.
(c) Implementation.—Not later than 180 days after the submission of the report pursuant to subsection (b), Amtrak shall submit a plan for implementing the recommendations of the working group, and an explanation for any of the working group's recommendations it does not agree with and does not plan on implementing to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives.
(d) Savings Clause.—Amtrak shall ensure that no Amtrak employee who held a position on a long-distance or Northeast Corridor route as of the date of enactment of the Passenger Rail Expansion and Rail Safety Act of 2021, is involuntarily separated because of the development and implementation of the plan required under this section.