NARP - National Association of Railroad Passengers - DEADLINE EXTENDED: You could win 100,000 Amtrak Guest Rewards points! Enter by joining NARP or referring a friend.

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DEADLINE EXTENDED: You could win 100,000 Amtrak Guest Rewards points! Enter by joining NARP or referring a friend.

Details: Published Date; Written by Sean Jeans Gail; Category: Blog; Hits: 5902

The National Association of Railroad Passengers needs to grow its membership and we're giving you a special incentive to help -- our first ever New Member and Member-Get-A-Member Drawing! New deadline: April 8, 2013.

If you are not a NARP member but become one by April 8, 2013, you will be automatically entered into a drawing for a grand prize of 100,000 Amtrak Guest Rewards points--enough for a free cross-country round-trip in a Bedroom, two cross-country round-trips in a Roomette, 4 Acela Express First Class round-trips, or many free coach trips!

If you are already a NARP member, every new member you bring in will get you one entry for the drawing.

The first-place winner will get 100,000 Amtrak Guest Rewards points and each of two second-place winners will receive 25,000 points. To be eligible, entries must be received by April 8, 2013. There are several ways for existing NARP members to be entered in the drawing (and help us bring in new members):

Give us the name and address of someone you think would want to join NARP and we'll send them a membership package! You will get credit when they join.
Buy a gift membership for a new member! Send their information along with the minimum $35 dues or $45 for a Family membership (they're entitled to a second membership card and 10% discount for two people).
Have your friend send in their membership application and either write your name on their form or send us an email, giving you credit!

You don't have to bring in any new members to enter (details below), but we hope you will so NARP can be stronger than ever! Your new member's dues must be received by April 23, 2013 (whether by regular mail delivery or electronically), for you to get credit, and you must be an Amtrak Guest Rewards and a NARP member to get the points. So, get out there and get NARP some new members! And good luck!

To let NARP know that you’ve signed up a new member and wish to enter the drawing, send an email to narp[at]narprail.org or call (202) 408-8362, including your NARP membership number and your Amtrak Guest Rewards number, as well as the name of the person you signed up as a new member. To sign up a new member, simply go to www.narprail.org/join, click “Join online using a credit card,” and enter the recipient’s name and contact information, then enter your credit card information.

We will be grateful for entries received after April 8, 2013, but they will not be eligible for entry in this contest. Winners will be notified on or before April 26, 2013, and should allow four to six weeks for the points to be posted to their Amtrak Guest Rewards account.

No purchase necessary to enter. To enter without helping NARP acquire any new members, type your name, address, phone number and email address on a 3x5 notecard and mail it in an envelope to:

NARP

505 Capitol Court NE, Suite 300

Washington, DC 20002-7706

Comments

0 #14 Mary 2013-03-14 11:18

Typically I try always to play nicely with others, but frankly NARP is not being run in a businesslike manner. In fact, we paid for a Family Membership with a check and sent in the "membership confirmation form." No materials received. NARP has had our money for two months and still no membership ID, no cards. We E-mailed NARP and sent copy of form and cancelled check. We received a promise of "new cards" (where were the "old" cards?) and extension of membership due to their oversight, but it's been 10 more days and all I have received is another solicitation for money. This is not businesslike, not professional... The person sent kind and friendly e-mails and had a pleasant telephone manner, but I thought I was paying for more than that when I sent NARP a check for $45.

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0 #13 Kelly B. 2013-03-12 19:14

I read with interest your report regarding intercity rail. On page six, you hit upon the point most salient here---"when properly scheduled". Amtrak service here in central Arkansas is exclusively late night. (3:10am Southbound, 11:30pm Northbound.) Plus, there is no service East/West.

On several occasions I considered rail as an option. But, the schedule is such a disincentive, that it is worth paying the 30% extra to fly during the middel of the day, even with enduring the ills of the air service. When a daytime schedule is offered, I'll again consider rail.

At this point, I see no need to join NARP, nor Amtrak Rewards until there is evidence of advocacy for better service in the middle of the country,--not just the coasts.

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0 #12 Grandchuck 2013-03-09 21:45

I was a strong advocate of trains in the past. Freight, passenger, it did not make any difference. I grew up when trains were running commuter trips in large cities - I lived in one of them. All that changed for me and my wife during a round trip venture we took on Amtrak from Atlanta to Boston and return. The trains were late, the staff was surly and totally uninterested in the passengers. The dining car had no food, not even snacks for sale , from Boston to Wasington because the staff person was AWOL. So when a food guy got on the train in Washington, he had to take inventory before he would sell any sandwiches, etc. Now the train was in North Carolina and my wife and I were without food since the breakfast we bought at the station in Boston. This ride cured me of trains. The staff knows they work for the government's subsidies, not the goodwill of the individual traveler. Thanks but no thanks to the NARP membership and to Amtrak. I'll drive, take the plane, stay home, but I will not take another long-distance train trip.

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+1 #11 Barbara 2013-01-12 18:07

The Cleveland, Ohio station of AmTrak has a great, helpful staff; however the waiting area is dark and dreary. It would take so little to brighten it up- just paint the walls a light color instead of dark(!), more lighting, and how about a tv to pass the time as passengers wait for their train?
Trains are great; we need more in America. Governor, please take note. Thanks!

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0 #10 Vickie Boling 2012-12-19 22:41

Just completed the online process for signing up for NARP at the family level. I have the confirmation number and authorization code.

I was disappointed that there was no reference made to what my userid or how to establish a password.

Clearly the process is designed just to collect money and not help individuals join and register for access to the website.

Then perhaps there is no benefit in logging into the website and I'm disappointed over nothing :)

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0 #9 expediter 2012-12-12 16:06

When are they going to build the new passenger station in Waterloo, IN?

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0 #8 expediter 2012-12-12 16:05

When are they going to build a new passenger station in Waterloo, IN? Supposedly they have the $$$ now.

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+3 #7 Hilary Brown 2012-10-15 05:56

What can I do to bring back the Kansas Pacific line for passengers? I think it would be so wonderful for Kansas, Colorado and passenger rail. Everyone wants a train from KC to Denver!!
Thanks,
Hilary

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+2 #6 Nathanael 2012-10-09 23:25

Quoting Donald Mack:

When, if ever, will Amtrack abandon the prefab shack in Salt Lake City and make use of the modern intermodal hub next door?

That's up to Salt Lake City and Utah, which promised to pay for moving Amtrak to the intermodal hub (back when they kicked it out of the old Rio Grande station) but hasn't actually paid for it yet. They still have plans and keep asking for federal funds....

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0 #5 Alex Brideau III 2012-10-05 02:35

Quoting Alicia:

No one of you staff ever cleaned the bathrooms. I was stuck with the smell of urine for 20 hours. The urine was rolling up and down the floors of the bathrooms. In the cabin it felt like it was freezing. On my way back to Miami. The train was over 3 hours late:-(. I really was looking forward in giving my son a positive experience traveling by train. It was the biggest disappointment for me and especially my son. He never wants to travel again by train, and I don't blame him. At this point I feel the same. You need to do something, if not you will loose more travelers.

As a network of fellow train passengers, one of the reason NARP exists is to educate Amtrak and other rail operators about these concerns. Have you contacted Amtrak about your sub-par experience? If not, I'd encourage you to do so. I'd also encourage you to join NARP as a member to support an organization that works to educate and inform about the good as well as "need-to-improv e" aspects of American rail travel.

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