Train Passengers Honor Senator Inouye of Hawaii

Release #12-04—April 24, 2012

Washington, D.C.—The National Association of Railroad Passengers presented Senator Daniel Inouye the Golden Spike Award for his long and unflagging support of American passenger trains.

“I would like to thank the National Association of Railroad Passengers for this honor.  I am truly humbled.  For more than a century, passenger rail service has been a safe and reliable means for the citizens of our great nation to move about the country.  I will continue to do everything I can in the Congress to support this important mode of transportation,” said Senator Inouye.

Despite the absence of Amtrak service in his state, Inouye has been a staunch defender of Amtrak, allowing the company to grow its ridership to the record levels seen over the past decade.  In his work as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, he played a key role in the passage of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act (PRIIA) of 2008—the first Amtrak authorization passed by Congress since 1997.  PRIIA created a number of important programs, including creating a federal grant program for states to support infrastructure upgrades for passenger trains and establishing the Next Generation Corridor Equipment Pool Committee.

“It is especially fitting that NARP has the opportunity to recognize Senator Inouye on the day after the Federal Railroad Administration issued a request for bids for 130 new bi-level passenger rail cars; the Senator’s leadership was a key driver in the passage of the law that laid the foundation for this equipment,” said NARP President Ross Capon.“We will look back on this day as an important moment in the regeneration of America’s passenger train manufacturing industry, and Senator Inouye played an important role in getting us here.”

Senator Inouye has also been an invaluable advocate for the Honolulu Rail Transit Project, scheduled to open in 2015. The rail line will help Honolulu deal with a growing population and economy; the service will accommodate 116,300 weekday passenger trips and save an estimated 40,000 car trips per day by the year 2030.

The Association presents Golden Spike Awards to honor individuals for their support for a fully developed train network and leadership in promoting rail development.  A complete list of past winners is at NARP’s website.

About the National Association of Railroad Passengers

NARP is the largest citizen-based organization advocating for train and rail transit passengers. We have worked since 1967 to expand the quality and quantity of passenger train service in the U.S. Our mission is to work towards a modern, customer-focused national passenger train network that provides a travel choice Americans want. Our work is supported by over 20,000 individual members.

###