National Association of Railroad Passengers
Encyclopedia
The National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) "is the largest national membership advocacy organization for train and rail transit passengers" according to the association's website.
. Its lobbying efforts were hampered somewhat by Democratic Party
political opposition to any sort of subsidies
to the privately-owned railroads, and Republican Party
political opposition to nationalization of the railroad industry. The proponents were aided by the fact that few in the federal government wanted to be held responsible for the seemingly-inevitable extinction of the passenger train, which most regarded as tantamount to political suicide.
Each month, NARP publishes a monthly newsletter
detailing news in the
passenger rail world. It often includes stories about related
legislation
in Congress, Traveler's Advisories, and Travel Tips, with a
particular focus on Amtrak
. Paid circulation, corresponding to membership as of December 2007, was about
23,500.
NARP also conducts interviews with media on passenger rail related
issues, and encourages its members to lobby their legislators for
funding for Amtrak and other improvements to the rail infrastructure
.
The organization's website includes action alerts and news releases.
Travel discounts are a member benefit.
. The various regions and their elected representatives usually meet annually. The regions are grouped into four districts, each of which elects a vice-president. In addition to the above, the members elect a president, a secretary, and a treasurer.
In addition to the elected leadership, there is a small paid staff in Washington, D.C., that includes an executive director, an assistant, a director of finance and administration, and an office manager.
As of May 2009, the president was Ross B. Capon and the chairman was George Chilson.
Early history
The organization was originally founded by Anthony Haswell on May 18, 1967 to lobby for the continuation of passenger trains in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Its lobbying efforts were hampered somewhat by Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
political opposition to any sort of subsidies
Subsidy
A subsidy is an assistance paid to a business or economic sector. Most subsidies are made by the government to producers or distributors in an industry to prevent the decline of that industry or an increase in the prices of its products or simply to encourage it to hire more labor A subsidy (also...
to the privately-owned railroads, and Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
political opposition to nationalization of the railroad industry. The proponents were aided by the fact that few in the federal government wanted to be held responsible for the seemingly-inevitable extinction of the passenger train, which most regarded as tantamount to political suicide.
Activities
NARP's small paid staff in Washington, D.C., spends most of its time educating members of Congress and their staffs about the value of passenger rail.Each month, NARP publishes a monthly newsletter
Newsletter
A newsletter is a regularly distributed publication generally about one main topic that is of interest to its subscribers. Newspapers and leaflets are types of newsletters. Additionally, newsletters delivered electronically via email have gained rapid acceptance for the same reasons email in...
detailing news in the
passenger rail world. It often includes stories about related
legislation
Legislation
Legislation is law which has been promulgated by a legislature or other governing body, or the process of making it...
in Congress, Traveler's Advisories, and Travel Tips, with a
particular focus on Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
. Paid circulation, corresponding to membership as of December 2007, was about
23,500.
NARP also conducts interviews with media on passenger rail related
issues, and encourages its members to lobby their legislators for
funding for Amtrak and other improvements to the rail infrastructure
Infrastructure
Infrastructure is basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, or the services and facilities necessary for an economy to function...
.
The organization's website includes action alerts and news releases.
Travel discounts are a member benefit.
Organization
NARP is divided into twelve membership regions for the purposes of electing members to the board of directorsBoard of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
. The various regions and their elected representatives usually meet annually. The regions are grouped into four districts, each of which elects a vice-president. In addition to the above, the members elect a president, a secretary, and a treasurer.
In addition to the elected leadership, there is a small paid staff in Washington, D.C., that includes an executive director, an assistant, a director of finance and administration, and an office manager.
As of May 2009, the president was Ross B. Capon and the chairman was George Chilson.