Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 108 Part 2.djvu/207

 PUBLIC LAW 103-272—JULY 5, 1994 108 STAT. 923 was conveyed to the Corporation under the Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973 (45 U.S.C. 701 et seq.). CHAPTER 247—AMTRAK ROUTE SYSTEM Sec. 24701. Operation of basic system. 24702. Improving rail passenger transportation. 24703. Route and service criteria. 24704. Transportation requested by States, authorities, and other persons. 24705. Additional qualifying routes. 24706. Discontinuance. 24707. Cost and performance review. 24708. Special commuter transportation. 24709. International transportation. §24701. Operation of basic system (a) BY AMTRAK. — Aintrak shall provide intercity rail passenger transportation within the basic system unless the transportation is provided by— (1) a rail carrier with which Amtrak did not make a contract under section 401(a) of the Rail Passenger Service Act; or (2) a regional transportation authority under contract with Amtrak. (b) BY OTHERS WITH CONSENT OF AMTRAK. —Except as provided in section 24306 of this title, a person may provide intercity rail passenger transportation over a route over which Amtrak provides scheduled intercity rail passenger transportation under a contract under section 401(a) of the Act only with the consent of Amtrak. § 24702. Improving rail passenger transportation (a) PLAN TO IMPROVE TRANSPORTATION.— Amtrak shall continue to csirry out its plan, submitted under section 305(f) of the Rail Passenger Service Act, to improve intercity rail passenger transportation provided in the basic system. The plan shall include— (1) a zero-based assessment of all operating practices; (2) changes to achieve the minimum use of employees consistent with safe operations and adequate transportation; (3) a systematic program for achieving the greatest ratio of train size to passenger demand; (4) a systematic program to reduce trip time in the basic system; (5) establishing training programs to achieve on-time departures; (6) establishing priorities for passenger trains over freight trains; (7) adjusting the buying and pricing of food and beverages so that food and beverage services ultimately will be profitable; (8) cooperative marketing opportunities between Amtrak and governmental authorities that have intercity rail passenger transportation; and (9) cooperative marketing campaigns sponsored by Amtrak and the Secretary of Energy, the Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. (b) STATE AND LOCAL SPEED RESTRICTIONS.— Amtrak shall— (1) identify any speed restriction a State or local government imposes on a train of Amtrak that Amtrak decides

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