# The Train EATS Act: What It Means for Amtrak Passengers

This bill requires Amtrak to offer two types of food service on all overnight train routes. First, the railroad must provide traditional sit-down dining with wait staff whenever possible—the kind of experience where you're seated at a table in a dedicated dining car and served a meal. Second, Amtrak must always offer a cheaper alternative food and beverage option for passengers who don't want to pay for the full dining experience. Right now, Amtrak has been scaling back its traditional dining service, so this bill essentially forces them to bring it back and keep it available.

The bill also addresses fairness in how dining is allocated. If there are empty seats in the traditional dining car that aren't being used by first-class or business-class passengers, Amtrak must offer those seats to regular coach passengers for a fee on a first-come, first-served basis. This means budget travelers would have the opportunity to enjoy the nicer dining experience if they're willing to pay extra, rather than having those seats sit empty.

Additionally, the bill requires that traditional dining menus include at least one healthy option and accommodate special dietary requests if passengers order in advance. This ensures that people with dietary restrictions—whether for health, religious, or personal reasons—can actually eat on their overnight journey. The Secretary of Transportation would be responsible for writing the specific rules about how all this gets implemented.

Train EATS Act

Cohen, Steve

Train Establishment of Appetizing Table Service Act or the Train EATS Act&nbsp;This bill requires Amtrak to provide a range of dining services to passengers on overnight routes.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.On each overnight route, Amtrak must offer any traditional dining capacity not otherwise used by first-class or business-class passengers&nbsp;to passengers in coach class for a fee. 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.The Department of Transportation must issue any necessary regulations.