The Rail Passenger Service Act of 1970, signed into law by President Richard Nixon, created the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak).
The measure aimed to provide modern, efficient intercity rail passenger service within the basic rail system of the nation, employ innovative operating and marketing concepts and fully develop the potential of modern rail service in meeting intercity transportation needs.
Under the law, Amtrak assumed private railroads’ common carrier obligations in exchange for the right to priority access to their tracks for an incremental cost.
The legislation established Amtrak as a for-profit corporation and stipulated, “The Corporation will not be an agency or establishment of the United States Government.”
