Dick Welch, Director, Region 10
National Association of Railroad Passengers
3349 Southgate CT SW #108
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404-5424
(319) 362-6824 Voice, (319) 362-7734 Fax
www.narprail.org
dick@rfwelch.com



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
03/29/01


Railroad Officials to Address Passenger Group in Grinnell


(Grinnell, Iowa) The National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) will hold its annual Region 10 meeting at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, April 7, 2001, at the Depot Crossing Restaurant, 1014 Third Avenue, Grinnell.

Amtrak's Brian Rosenwald, who is General Manager of Amtrak's Western Business Group, will speak at the meeting.

Iowa Interstate Railroad President and CEO Jon Roy is also scheduled to address the meeting. Roy's railroad, which runs across Iowa through Grinnell, would be the host railroad for the proposed Amtrak Mail & Express train from Chicago to Des Moines as well as the proposed eight daily trains across Iowa as part of the proposed Midwest Regional Rail System.

Grinnell Mayor Gordon Canfield will begin the meeting by providing a brief history of the railroads which have been and are serving Grinnell.

NARP Region 10 Director Richard F. "Dick" Welch says the meeting will include reports on rail passenger activity from the various states which comprise Region 10: Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, South Dakota and Wyoming.

Welch also expects to have an update on the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact legislation which is being considered in both houses of the Iowa Legislature and has already been approved by three of the 12 eligible states.

The meeting will start at 11:30 a.m. with a social hour. Lunch follows at 12:30 p.m. The program begins at 1:30 p.m. The meeting fee, which includes lunch, is $20 and may be paid at the door.

Membership information is available from the Region 10 office, National Association of Railroad Passengers, Inc., 3349 Southgate Court, SW, Suite 108, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404-5424. Membership information is also available from the national office at: National Association of Railroad Passengers, 900 Second St., SE, #308, Washington, DC 20002-3557. Membership information will also be available at the meeting. Information about the organization is available on the Internet at http://www.narprail.org or by sending e-mail to: narp@narprail.org.