The mission of the National Association of Railroad Passengers is to work for a modern, customer-focused national passenger train network that provides a travel choice Americans want.
NARP is the largest national membership advocacy organization for train and rail transit passengers. We have worked since 1967 to expand the quality and quantity of passenger rail in the United States. Our work is supported by over 23,000 individual members.
Mailing Address:
900 Second Street, NE, Suite 308
Washington, DC 20002
Phone: 202-408-8362
Fax: 202-408-8287
Email:
The following NARP staff members may be reached through the contact information listed above:
Executive Director - Ross B. Capon Biography
Assistant Director - David R. Johnson Biography
Communications Associate - Matthew Melzer Biography
Transportation Associate - Darryl Yates Biography
Director of Finance and Administration - Douglas Kidd
Office Manager - Tiffanie Childs
Here are the most recent additions and major changes to our website.
This list does not include updates to the Action Alert center, Calendar of Events, NARP Blog entries, or our weekly news hotline (which is updated every Friday afternoon). Click on the appropriate menu bar to the left to read these items.
April 16, Annual written testimony of NARP Executive Director Ross B. Capon submitted to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Housing and Urban Development regarding Fiscal 2009 Amtrak funding.
April 3, Testimony of NARP Executive Director Ross B. Capon at the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement Hearing for the Access to the Region’s Core (ARC) – THE (Trans-Hudson Express) Tunnel Project. A news release was also issued.
March 13, A news release about Railroad Day On The Hill. NARP Executive Director Ross B. Capon participated.
February 13, A news release on NARP’s request to Amtrak to restart the entire Coast Starlight service March 4, busing between Klamath Falls and Eugene if the track remains closed
January 18, 2006. Comments on 1979 Congressional Budget Office Amtrak Energy Report, Critique of a 1979 CBO report entitled “The Current and Future Savings of Energy Attributable to Amtrak” NARP Executive Director Ross B. Capon wrote this rebuttal in June 1979, with an update in March 1981.
BE SURE TO PRESS “REFRESH” OR “RELOAD” ON YOUR BROWSER TO GET THE MOST UPDATED INFORMATION
Updated February 4, 2008
Want the above graphic for your website, newsletter, or presentation? Simply e-mail NARP and we’ll be glad to send it to you.
Action Alert flyer… please distribute copies to as many Amtrak passengers as you can, whether or not you are traveling!
WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO SAVE AND IMPROVE AMTRAK?
There are two priorities for passenger rail advocates in the 110th Congress: Amtrak reauthorization and the Fiscal 2009 budget.The Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act (S. 294) has passed the Senate. We now need a House version. The bill provides for common-sense Amtrak reform and operational improvements, authorizes Amtrak for the five years Fiscal 2008-2012, provides for capital assistance for states, and development of state rail plans. Tell your House member to push for companion legislation.
President Bush’s 2009 budget request was released on February 4. It calls for cutting Amtrak funding by $535 million, or 40%. Tell your House and Senate members to reject these proposed cuts and fully fund Amtrak. (link to our Feb. 4 news release)
You can access your Members’ webpages by going to the Senate website and choose your state from the drop-down menu. The House website asks for your zipcode to be taken to your Representative’s page.
A sample message is presented below.
Several NARP members have asked why we do not offer the “free email and fax service” that some other non-profit groups provide. Please read this article from the Washington Post that discusses these services’ increasing ineffectiveness. Although it takes a bit more effort, making phone calls and going through Members’ websites (links we provide above) will ensure that your message is heard and documented.
Sample message to your Members of Congress
(Be sure to include your mailing address to prove that you are a constituent)
Dear Senator/Representative:
President Bush has only request $800 million for Amtrak in his Fiscal 2009 budget. Please work to reject this 40% cut and fully fund Amtrak. America needs passenger rail now more than ever with increasing congestion at airports and on our highways.
I also urge your support for the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act, S. 294. The bill provides real, meaningful reform for Amtrak and a federal-state partnership for capital investments, which is enjoyed by the other modes of transportation. Please urge House leadership to pass companion legislation.
Thank you for considering my views.
Sincerely,
Things to keep in mind when writing your elected officials
A couple of pointers to maximize the effectiveness of your message:
When writing elected officials, keep your message brief (one page or 4-5 E-mail paragraphs) and to the point (talk about only one issue at a time).
While E-mail is convenient, many offices are overwhelmed with E-mail correspondence; especially spam. For optimum effectiveness, fax is the best way to communicate with your legislators. Don’t discount E-mail, but don’t be surprised if you do not receive a response. Send all U.S. Mail to district offices, not Washington, D.C. Anthrax/poison screening is still in effect.
Refrain from insults! Anger accomplishes nothing
If you choose to call, you will likely speak with the elected official’s legislative aid for transportation
Offer to follow up a phone call with a fax or E-mail with more details
Let the NARP office know if you receive a response with incorrect information and the NARP staff will contact them!
Don’t forget to spread the word to other Amtrak passengers by downloading our Action Alert flyer and sharing it with fellow passengers!
Informational Resources
Action Alert flyer… please distribute copies to as many Amtrak passengers as you can, whether or not you are traveling!
NARP Pushes The Facts. Home of our “Amtrak Fact Check” and other resources you can use to get the truth out about Amtrak. Includes the 2006 Fact Check and a list of key Congressional offices.
To renew your membership please click on “Join, Renew, or Donate” on the left menu bar.
Note to AOL users: The AOL web browser is not compatible with the technology used on the NARP website, and may cause problems with membership registration and login. AOL users can open another browser such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Netscape to register and login to the member area.
NARP members are entitled to a 10% discount on the best available Amtrak railfare--
Requires three day advance purchase.
Does not apply to extra charges for sleeping car, First class, and Business class.
On Auto Train, good only for the passenger railfare charge (not the vehicle charge).
The discount is not valid on weekday Acela Express and Metroliner service. It is valid on weekend Acela Express and Metroliner services. The discount is always valid on Amtrak’s Regional service between Washington and Boston.
This cannot be combined with most other discount programs (such as AAA, seniors, ten-trip or monthly passes, Air-Rail program, North America Pass, or USA Rail Pass).
This can be combined with the Explore America discount program.
NARP members should identify themselves as such when booking a ticket, and must carry a current, valid NARP membership card when paying for tickets in person and while traveling. Each passenger must be in the possession of and present upon request a valid membership card with his or her name on it.
When you get to the screen that allows you to select a train (or trains), toward the bottom of the screen there is an easy-to-miss “scroll” box below that says “Passenger One,” with a default setting of “Adult”—be sure to select “NARP” from that box before proceeding. There is no need to enter anything in the box labeled “Promotion Code.”
If you have followed the previous step (selecting “NARP” at “Passenger One"), the Amtrak Reservations site will then calculate your fare using the NARP member discount as allowed by the conditions higher up on this screen.
On the “Billing Information” page, under “Membership Discount Number,” enter in your six-digit NARP member number—do not enter any promotion code number you may have at this location.
“Rail Sale” discounts booked on the Amtrak Reservations site cannot be combined with the NARP member (or any other) discount.
Sometimes, an Amtrak agent (on the phone or at a station) will not know how to process your NARP discount correctly, or will claim it does not exist. The agent can find everything he/she needs to know about the NARP discount on Amtrak’s own computer system (STARS) by doing the following:
Enter F3 (function key to get to discounts menu), then
Enter 3 (for specific discount name), then
Type in NARP (and information will appear).
QuikTrak machines...As of now, you do need to have made a reservation and have your NARP number already in the reservation (either through the 800 number or website) to get the NARP discount at a Quiktrak machine. We have been told by Amtrak that the next revision to the Quiktrak software will permit you to purchase a ticket “from scratch” (without prior reservation) and get your NARP discount.
One more important note...Amtrak will not adjust fares after your trip if you purchase a ticket and did not provide your NARP membership number.
