GLEN ROCK, N.J. — A New Jersey congressman wants Amtrak and NJ Transit passengers to receive full refunds for significantly late trains, as well as those that are canceled.
U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Bergen County) on Monday announced plans to introduce the “All Aboard Act.” It would include a Passenger Bill of Rights requiring automatic full refunds when trains are canceled or significantly changed by more than three hours, similar to a proposal for airline passengers.
Text of the bill was not immediately available, but it appears the refund is focused only on services on the Northeast Corridor, not elsewhere on the Amtrak’s national network. In prepared remarks for a press conference Monday at the Glen Rock NJ Transit station, Gottheimer cited extensive statistics about Amtrak delays on the corridor, and the degree to which Amtrak issues lead to NJ Transit delays.
Gottheimer said his bill would also call for Amtrak to “immediately deploy” $6 billion in federal funding for Northeast Corridor infrastructure, and be required to produce a report on new maintenance strategies within the next six months to address the company’s strategy of waiting to replace infrastructure until well after its known lifespan.
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