49 U.S.C. § 24322 — Rolling stock purchases

(a) In General — Before signing any contract worth more than $100,000,000 to buy rolling stock or locomotives, Amtrak must send a business case analysis to the Secretary of Transportation and four congressional committees (Senate Commerce, Senate Appropriations, House Transportation and Infrastructure, House Appropriations), explaining why the purchase is worthwhile. (b) Contents — The business case analysis must: (1) compare the total lifecycle costs against expected benefits in revenue, efficiency, reliability, and other factors; (2) list the total payments due each fiscal year; (3) identify exactly where the money for each payment will come from — federal funds, state funds, Amtrak's own profits, loans or loan guarantees, or other sources; (4) explain whether any payment will increase Amtrak's funding request in a particular year's annual report under section 24315(b); and (5) describe how Amtrak would adjust the purchase if expected future funding doesn't come through. (c) Rule of Construction — Nothing here forces Amtrak to reveal a vendor's confidential pricing or other sensitive business details before signing the contract, and nothing here stops Amtrak from signing the contract after it submits the business case analysis.