This bill requires Amtrak to provide a range of dining services on overnight routes. Amtrak must offer traditional table service dining where practicable, plus an affordable alternative food and beverage option. Unused traditional dining capacity must be offered to coach passengers for a fee. Traditional dining must include healthy meal options and allow passengers to preorder meals accommodating dietary restrictions. The Department of Transportation must issue implementing regulations. The bill aims to restore and improve dining quality on long-distance trains.
Latest Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
AI Summary
Plain-English explanation of this bill
This bill requires Amtrak to provide a range of dining services on overnight routes. Amtrak must offer traditional table service dining where practicable, plus an affordable alternative food and beverage option. Unused traditional dining capacity must be offered to coach passengers for a fee. Traditional dining must include healthy meal options and allow passengers to preorder meals accommodating dietary restrictions. The Department of Transportation must issue implementing regulations. The bill aims to restore and improve dining quality on long-distance trains.
Last updated: 1/4/2026
Official Summary
Congressional Research Service summary
<p><strong>Train Establishment of Appetizing Table Service Act or the Train EATS Act </strong></p><p>This bill requires Amtrak to provide a range of dining services to passengers on overnight routes.</p><p>Specifically, Amtrak must make available (1) traditional dining (i.e., table service), to the extent practicable; and (2) an alternative food and beverage service that is more affordable than traditional dining.</p><p>On each overnight route, Amtrak must offer any traditional dining capacity not otherwise used by first-class or business-class passengers to passengers in coach class for a fee. </p><p>In addition, Amtrak must ensure that traditional dining on overnight routes includes (1) a healthy meal option, and (2) the option for passengers to preorder meals that satisfy their dietary restrictions.</p><p>The Department of Transportation must issue any necessary regulations.</p>
Key Points
Main provisions of the bill
Requires traditional dining service on Amtrak overnight routes
Mandates affordable alternative food options
Opens unused dining capacity to coach passengers
Requires healthy meal options and dietary accommodation
DOT must issue implementing regulations
How This Impacts Americans
Potential effects on citizens and communities
For Amtrak passengers: Improved dining options on overnight routes. For coach travelers: Access to traditional dining when capacity available. For passengers with dietary needs: Preorder options for special meals. For Amtrak operations: Service standards to meet and maintain. For long-distance rail travel: Enhanced experience competitive with other modes.
Policy Areas
No policy areas assigned yet.
Scope & Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction Level
federal
Congressional Session
119th Congress
Citation Reference
264, 119th Congress (2025). "Train EATS Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-264
