PUBLIC LAW 96-73—SEPT. 29, 1979
93 STAT. 547
"(A) the short-term avoidable loss per passenger mile on such route, as calculated by the Corporation and projected for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1980, is not more than 9 cents per passenger mile; and "(B) the passenger mile per train mile, as calculated by the Corporation and projected for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1980, is not less than 80. "(e)(1) In order to preserve regional balance in the national intercity rail passenger system and to ensure that long-distance routes recommended for discontinuance by the Secretary pursuant to section 4 of the Amtrak Improvement Act of 1978 which provide service 92 Stat. 923. to regions with few population centers in a large geographic area 45 USC 521 note. have equal opportunity to qualify for continued operation, the Corporation shall operate a long-distance route in each section of the United States (with sections being determined by dividing the United States into four quadrants) if— "(A) service is not maintained on any long-distance route in that section under the criteria set forth in subsection (d)(1) of this section; and "(B) the Corporation determines that (i) a long-distance route exists in that section which has shown and will show improvements in performance under the criteria, set forth in subsection (d)(1) of this section, and (ii) such route shows potential, under such criteria, to warrant maintenance in the system. "(2) The Corporation shall not continue to operate any route under this subsection if service is provided on a significant part of that route by any other route. "(3) Service operated on a route under this subsection shall continue to be operated after October 1, 1981, only if such route meets the criteria set forth in subsection (d)(1) of this section: Provided, That the Corporation shall continue to operate the Inter-American train to the Mexican border if that train meets the criteria set forth above. "(f) For the purpose of this section and section 4 of the Amtrak Improvement Act of 1978, the reference to Tampa in table 4-1 at page 4-7 of the Secretary's Final Report to Congress on the Amtrak Route System, dated January 1979, shall be deemed to mean Saint Petersburg. "(g) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Act (including the requirements of section 403(d)), the Corporation is authorized, to Ante, p. 544. the extent available resources permit, to operate short-haul trains, on a demonstration basis for the purpose of determining the feasibility and benefits of such services, on additional routes of 200 miles or less which link two or more major metropolitan areas.". FREE OR REDUCED RATE TRANSPORTATION OF RAILROAD EMPLOYEES
120. (a) REIMBURSEMENT RATE.—Section 405(f) of the Rail Passenger Service Act (45 U.S.C. 565(f)) is amended by striking out "The Corporation shall be reimbursed" and all that follows through "in accordance with the agreements." and inserting in lieu thereof the following: "Unless the Corporation and a railroad or group of railroads agree on a different basis for compensation, the Corporation shall, during the 2-year period beginning on the effective date of the Amtrak Reorganization Act of 1979, be reimbursed by each railroad at the rate of 25 percent of the systemwide average monthly yield per revenue passenger mile. Reimbursement at this rate is in lieu of any charges for liability incident to travel of railroad employees eligible for free or reduced-rate transportation and any other costs incurred by the Corporation in connection with free or reduced-rate transporSEC.
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