Senator Dick Durbin

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) recently introduced legislation that would create jobs and help Amtrak meet the increasing demand for an efficient, cost-effective and reliable alternative mode of travel.  Durbin’s bill aims to promote the replacement and rehabilitation of Amtrak’s aging fleet of passenger cars and to revive the train car industry in the United States. The legislation also creates a special fund to provide a supply of passenger cars for state-supported routes, such as the Chicago to Quad Cities Amtrak route.   

S. 3360, known as the "Train CARS Act," provides funding to encourage manufacturers currently supplying passenger rail cars overseas to bring their modern design and manufacturing expertise to the U.S. and open manufacturing facilities here to meet growing demand. The bill also provides a tax incentive for private, domestic businesses to re-enter the passenger rail equipment business and rebuild facilities and train cars here in the U.S.

Click here for a detailed summary of Senator Durbin's proposal.