49 USC § 24701 - National rail passenger transportation system

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t49/s24701"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "49 USC § 24701 - National rail passenger transportation system"
title_number: 49
title_name: "TRANSPORTATION"
section_number: "24701"
section_name: "National rail passenger transportation system"
chapter_number: 247
chapter_name: "AMTRAK ROUTE SYSTEM"
part_number: "C"
part_name: "PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 923; Pub. L. 105–134, title I, § 101(a)(1), Dec. 2, 1997, 111 Stat. 2572.)"
---


# § 24701. National rail passenger transportation system

Amtrak shall operate a national rail passenger transportation system which ties together existing and emergent regional rail passenger service and other intermodal passenger service.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 923; Pub. L. 105–134, title I, § 101(a)(1), Dec. 2, 1997, 111 Stat. 2572.)

| RevisedSection | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 24701(a) | 45:561(b). | Oct. 30, 1970, Pub. L. 91–518, § 401(b), 84 Stat. 1335. |
| 24701(b) | 45:561(c). | Oct. 30, 1970, Pub. L. 91–518, § 401(c), 84 Stat. 1335; Nov. 3, 1973, Pub. L. 93–146, § 9, 87 Stat. 551. |

In subsection (a), before clause (1), the text of 45:561(b) (1st sentence words after 3d comma) is omitted as obsolete because no regional transportation authority provided intercity rail passenger transportation after . The words “On ” and “begin” are omitted as executed. The words “between points” and “either” are omitted as surplus. In clause (2), the words “under contract with Amtrak” are substituted for 45:561(b) (last sentence) for clarity and to eliminate unnecessary words. The words “at any time subsequent to ” are omitted as executed.

In subsection (b), the words “concerning auto-ferry service . . . railroad or any other” are omitted as surplus.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1997— substituted section catchline for former catchline which read “Operation of basic system” and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows:

“(a) .—Amtrak 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) .—Except as provided in , 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.”