1. (a)

   1. (1) A rail carrier providing transportation or service subject to the jurisdiction of the Board under this part may not subject a person, place, port, or type of traffic to unreasonable discrimination.
   2. (2) For purposes of this section, a rail carrier engages in unreasonable discrimination when it charges or receives from a person a different compensation for a service rendered, or to be rendered, in transportation the rail carrier may perform under this part than it charges or receives from another person for performing a like and contemporaneous service in the transportation of a like kind of traffic under substantially similar circumstances.

2. (b) This section shall not apply to—

   1. (1) contracts described in section 10709 of this title;
   2. (2) rail rates applicable to different routes; or
   3. (3) discrimination against the traffic of another carrier providing transportation by any mode.
3. (c) Differences between rates, classifications, rules, and practices of rail carriers do not constitute a violation of this section if such differences result from different services provided by rail carriers.

(Added Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 102(a), Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 819.)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 10741, Pub. L. 95–473, Oct. 17, 1978, 92 Stat. 1390; Pub. L. 96–296, § 33(d), July 1, 1980, 94 Stat. 825; Pub. L. 96–448, title II, § 212, Oct. 14, 1980, 94 Stat. 1912; Pub. L. 99–521, § 7(h), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2995, related to prohibitions against discrimination by common carriers, prior to the general amendment of this subtitle by Pub. L. 104–88, § 102(a). See sections 10741 and 15505 of this title.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective Jan. 1, 1996, except as otherwise provided in Pub. L. 104–88, see section 2 of Pub. L. 104–88, set out as a note under section 1301 of this title.