Releases
NARP Releases, Statements & Letters
An archive of press releases, Congressional statements, letters to officials, and written testimony.
NARP: Tunnel Debacle Betrays “Goldfish” Pathology Plaguing U.S. Infrastructure
Release #15-16A
July 31, 2015
For Immediate Release (#15-17) Contact: Benet J. Wilson 202-408-8362, ext. 3203 NARP: Tunnel Debacle Betrays “Goldfish” Pathology Plaguing U.S. Infrastructure National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) President & 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: Our Association is extremely dismayed at the series of incidents that have
Train Passengers Applaud Senate’s Move to Increase Funding for Life-Saving Safety Technology; Call for More Local Choice in Transportation Spending
Release #15-16
July 28, 2015
For Immediate Release (#15-16) Contact: Benet J. Wilson 202-408-8362, ext. 3203 WASHINGTON, D.C.—The National Association of Railroad Passengers threw the full weight of its 28,000 members behind the provision included added to the Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy (DRIVE) Act that provides an additional $199 million in dedicated funding for Positive Train Control (PTC), a life-saving technology whose implementation is long past due. PTC is an automated system tha
NARP Thanks Senate Commerce Committee Leaders for Including Rail Reform in Transportation Bill
Release #15-15
July 13, 2015
For Immediate Release (#15-15) Contact: Benét J. Wilson 202-408-8362, ext. 3203 Washington, D.C.—The National Association of Railroad Passengers issued a letter today to the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation commending Chairman John Thune and Ranking Member Ben Nelson for their decision to include the Railroad Reform, Enhancement, and Efficiency Act (S.1626) as part of the Commerce Committee’s portion of the surface transportation bill, the Comprehensive Tra
Senate Drops Railroad Reform Bill; A Huge Leap Forward
Release #15-15a
June 18, 2015
For Immediate Release (#15-15) Contact: Benet J. Wilson June 18, 2015 202-408-8362, ext. 3203 WASHINGTON, D.C. —The National Association of Railroad Passengers applauds the pro-expansion ideas contained within the Railroad Reform, Enhancement, and Efficiency Act of 2015 (RREEA 2015), released today by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. This bill -- which serves as a response to the House’s Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2015 (PRRIA 2015) -- covers a
NARP CEO to Speak on Post-Katrina Panel Covering Gulf Coast Rail Service
Release #15-14
June 17, 2015
For Immediate Release (#15-14) Contact: Benet J. Wilson June 17, 2015 202-408-8362, ext. 3203 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Jim Mathews, president and CEO of the National Association of Railroad Passengers, will be among the speakers on a panel -- Y’All Aboard -- on the progress and support for restoring passenger rail service across the Gulf Coast corridor. The event, hosted by the Southern Rail Commission, will be held tonight at 7:00 p.m. at the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum in Biloxi, Mississippi. Between
NARP Staff Expands To Accelerate Advocacy, Raise Profile
Release #15-13
June 12, 2015
For Immediate Release (#15-13) Contact: Benet J. Wilson June 12, 2015 202-408-8362, ext. 3203 WASHINGTON, D.C.—Bruce B. Becker, a long-time National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) member and board of directors member, has accepted a full-time role on the association’s professional staff, where he will lead event planning, logistics and special projects. Becker, a native of Utica, N.Y., who now resides in the Buffalo area, will resign his NARP volunteer responsibilities to accep
NARP Thanks House Members for Defeating Amendments to Cut Amtrak Funding
Release #15-12
June 4, 2015
For Immediate Release (#15-12) Contact: Benet J. Wilson June 4, 2015 202-408-8362, ext. 3203 WASHINGTON, D.C.—The National Association of Railroad Passengers applauded the resounding defeat of two anti-train amendments offered by Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) in today’s voting on the fiscal year 2016 Transportation, Housing & Urban Development appropriations bill. The amendments sought to eliminate Amtrak’s operating and capital grants, respectively—a move that would have killed passenge
NARP Calls on House of Representatives to Provide Dedicated Rail Funding for a Safer System
Release #15-11
June 2, 2015
For Immediate Release (#15-11) Contact: Benet J. Wilson 202-408-8362, ext. 3203 June 2, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C.—The National Association of Railroad Passengers says the best way to make American train travelers safer is to provide a predictable, dedicated source of funding for passenger trains that is robust enough to meet the needs of an aging infrastructure. The recommendation was made in response to a House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing held today on the derailment of
Statement on FY2016 House Transportation Appropriations
NARP on FY2016 Appropriations
May 29, 2015
Statement of Jim Mathews President & CEO * * * Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies The Honorable Mario Diaz-Balart Committee on Appropriations, U.S. House of Representatives * * * Fiscal 2016 Department of Transportation Appropriation * * * March 31, 2015 Thank you for the opportunity to submit this statement. Thank you also for your work to ensure the continuation of intercity passenger train service.Funding Request 1.) NARP is asking Congre
The Latest Updates on Train #188
Details about the Train #188 Incident
May 15, 2015
The NARP team was front and center in the wake of the tragic Amtrak Train #188’s derailment in Philadelphia on May 12. President and CEO Jim Mathews appeared on NPR’s “The Diane Rehm Show” and CBS Baltimore, while VP Sean Jeans-Gail appeared on “CNN Newsroom.” Below are more links to Media Coverage of Train #188 National Journal - White House: Republicans Have Blocked Investments in Amtrak Al Jazeera America - Amtrak says it needs billions to meet ‘state of good repair’ USA T