NARP rebrands as RPA
The National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) has changed its name to the Rail Passengers Association (RPA) and adopted a new logo that “evokes the image of a train window through which passengers view the world.”
NARP
NARP urges support for Hudson River tunnel project
The National Association of Railroad Passengers added its support to growing political pressure to speed-up New York’s Hudson River rail project, in fear of a “transportation meltdown.”
NARP statement on Amtrak 188
One day after the National Transportation Safety Board released its findings on Amtrak 188’s derailment, National Association of Railroad Passengers President Jim Matthews issued this statement on May 18, 2016:
Senators Thune and Wicker receive Golden Spike Award for FAST Act
U.S. Senators John Thune (R-S.D.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) were honored with a prestigious award conferred by the National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) on April 12, 2016 at the organization’s annual Congressional Reception. The “Golden Spike” Award is given to individuals who promote and help advance the cause of American passengers. The award was presented to the senators for their leadership in passing the bipartisan Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, the first comprehensive surface transportation bill to include passenger trains.
Commentary
GUEST BLOG: “Build the new tunnels already”
National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) President and CEO Jim Mathews issued a statement responding to the recent incidents that have affected intercity and commuter rail operations in the New York/New Jersey region of the Northeast Corridor. We reprint it here in its entirety, unedited:
NARP installs new leadership
The National Association of Railroad Passengers announced on August 8, 2014 that Jim Mathews will join the organization as President and Chief Executive Officer. Mathews will take over the role from Acting President Larry Scott on Sept. 8, 2014.
Thank you, Ross Capon
My first encounter with Ross Capon was some 40-plus years ago when he was Special Assistant for Railroad Operations to Massachusetts Governor Francis (Frank) Sargent’s administration. I was a member of the Advisory Board (Budgetary Approval Board) of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) in the early 1970s, and an active participant in the Advisory Board’s Commuter Rail Subcommittee, representing the City of Melrose.
NARP President Capon steps down
Ross Capon, the face of the National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) for 39 years on Capitol Hill, is stepping down from his role as president, and apparently will retire from the organization at year’s end.
NARP: New Amtrak Midwest routes advance
The National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) says progress is being made on establishing two new Amtrak routes from the railroad’s Chicago hub, one serving the Quad Cities and a second reaching toward Dubuque, Iowa.
STB urged to halt Princeton Dinky truncation
Two advocacy groups on Monday, June 24, 2013 filed a petition with the Surface Transportation Board to block New Jersey Transit Corp. and Princeton University from hacking away at NJT’s Princeton Branch, a branch line linking its namesake town with Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor.