49 USC 20102 - Definitions

In this part
(1) railroad
(A) means any form of nonhighway ground transportation that runs on rails or electromagnetic guideways, including
(i) commuter or other short-haul railroad passenger service in a metropolitan or suburban area and commuter railroad service that was operated by the Consolidated Rail Corporation on January 1, 1979; and
(ii) high speed ground transportation systems that connect metropolitan areas, without regard to whether those systems use new technologies not associated with traditional railroads; but
(B) does not include rapid transit operations in an urban area that are not connected to the general railroad system of transportation.
(2) railroad carrier means a person providing railroad transportation.