Reliable Rail Service Act of 2025

The Reliable Rail Service Act of 2025 would strengthen the railroads’ duty to provide transportation or service on reasonable request in a way that meets a shipper’s needs for timely, efficient, and reliable delivery. It amends the rail transportation statute (49 U.S.C. 11101) to (a) clarify that service must be provided in a manner that fulfills the shipper’s reasonable service requirements, and (b) require the Surface Transportation Board (the Board) to weigh a broad set of factors when assessing whether a carrier has complied with these obligations. The bill also expands what counts as acceptable “terms” of service to include transit times and other service standards, creates accelerated timelines for resolving violations or service-term disputes, and authorizes the Board to impose or prescribe specific service standards if violations are found. Overall, it aims to improve accountability, reliability, and predictability of rail service for shippers.