WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass) and Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.) have reintroduced a bill that would devote $200 billion over a five-year period for rail projects including high speed rail and electrification of some lines.
The All Aboard Act, announced by Markey on Tuesday (July 29, 2025) revives legislation introduced late in 2024 [see “Senator introduces bill …,” Trains News Wire, Dec. 17, 2024]. It includes:
— Creation of dedicated formula funding for rail projects, as long has existed for highway projects;
— Establishment of a $50 billion “Green Railroad Fund” to electrify the most highly polluting rail yards and highest trafficked rail corridors, and support “electric high-performance passenger rail projects;”
— $150 billion over five years to expand existing programs: $80 billion for the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail grant program; $30 billion for Consolidated Rail Infrastructure Safety and Improvement, or CRISI; $30 billion for Amtrak; and $10 billing for the Grade Crossing Elimination program.
— $500 million in grants under the Clean Air Act to address pollution from diesel locomotives at rail yards;
— $300 million for freight and passenger rail training centers, in partnership with organized labor, to develop the rail industry’s future workforce.
Full text of the bill is available here.
“By investing billions in America’s rail network, we can drive down emissions, make our communities more connected, and create union jobs,” Markey said in a press release. “That is a future all Americans are on board with.”
Deluzio, who will lead the House version of the legislation, said the bill “will make American passenger and freight rail a lot safer and cleaner, slash road traffic, and invest in the rail workers who make it all happen.”
The bill introduced in 2024 died in committee.
Another bill called the All Aboard Act has already been introduced in the House. H.R. 759 calls for Amtrak to refund the cost of tickets when trains are cancelled or delayed more than three hours [see “Bill requiring Amtrak refunds …,” News Wire, Feb. 3, 2025].
