New Report Urges Congress to Embrace Competition to Revitalize U.S. Passenger Rail

SEATTLE, Aug. 13, 2025 "What passenger rail in America needs now is competition, competition and competition—not just more government handouts," says Discovery Institute board chair Bruce Chapman.

A from Discovery Institute outlines a bold vision for restoring American passenger rail through competition, private sector innovation, and targeted infrastructure investment. The report was written by Chapman and Ray Chambers, head of the Association for Innovative Passenger Rail Operations and a Senior Fellow at Discovery Institute.

Titled "Competition Will Put Passenger Rail on the Right Track," the report argues that the time is ripe for meaningful reform. With Congressional reauthorization of transportation policy on the horizon and growing interest from private operators like Brightline and Texas Central, the authors propose a Passenger Rail Authority to restructure the national system and open the door for public-private partnerships. 

The authors propose eight reform goals, including a competitive access model, the separation of infrastructure and operations in the Northeast Corridor, a sustainable federal rail capital fund, and the creation of a national high-speed rail plan. They also call for state-level management of short-distance routes and safeguards for labor rights during the transition.

"The future of passenger rail is not about dismantling Amtrak — it's about modernizing it and allowing private innovation to thrive alongside it," Chambers noted.

The report highlights successful private rail models such as Brightline in Florida and recommends leveraging infrastructure grants to stimulate further private investment and improve service quality nationwide.

is a non-profit educational and research organization whose mission is to advance a culture of purpose, creativity, and innovation. It sponsors programs in areas such as economics, education, science and technology, bioethics, and artificial intelligence.  Bruce Chapman is the founder and board chair of Discovery Institute and a former member of the Amtrak Reform Council. Ray Chambers is a longtime rail advocate and a Senior Fellow at Discovery Institute, and leads the Association for Innovative Passenger Rail Operations (AIPRO).

SOURCE Discovery Institute