For Immediate Release (21-14)

Contact: Sean Jeans-Gail (202) 320-2723; sjeansgail@narprail.org

BIPARTISAN BILL, WHILE WELCOME, FALLS SHORT

Washington, D.C. -- Rail Passengers Statement on the U.S. Senate passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

“We applaud the Senate and the Biden Administration for their work in advancing this historic investment in passenger rail included in this bill, which will allow Amtrak and states to modernize our country’s aging passenger rail network, including buying new railcars and locomotives, upgrading stations and increasing reliability” said Jim Mathews, President and CEO of Rail Passengers Association. “It is absolutely imperative that this investment results in increased service and an expanded passenger rail network, and we look forward to working with Congress, the White House and the U.S. Department of Transportation to ensure that more Americans are able to choose passenger trains as a result of this historic investment.”

To read a full breakdown of how the $66 billion will be spent, please read the Rail Passengers' full analysis.

About Rail Passengers Association

The Rail Passengers Association is the oldest and largest national organization serving as a voice for the more than 40 million rail passengers in the U.S. Our mission is to improve and expand conventional intercity and regional passenger train services, support higher speed rail initiatives, increase connectivity among all forms of transportation and ensure safety for our country's trains and passengers. All of this makes communities safer, more accessible, and more productive, improving the lives of everyone who lives, works and plays in towns all across America.

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