IOWA ASSOCIATION OF RAILROAD PASSENGERS 3349 Southgate CT SW #108 Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404-5424 (319) 362-6824 Voice, (319) 362-7734 Fax www.simpson.edu/~iarp or Henry Wulff 515-276-8888 henrywulff@aol.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 01/09/01 Rail Passenger Group to Meet in Des Moines Area (Johnston, Iowa)öThe Iowa Association of Railroad Passengers will hold its winter meeting at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, January 20, 2001, at the North End Diner, 5055 Merle Hay Road, Johnston (Des Moines), Iowa. President Henry C. Wulff of Urbandale says the statewide group will hear an update of current proposals for enhanced rail passenger service for the state. A discussion of how that enhanced passenger service will help rail freight service will also be part of the meeting. Wulff says this is a critical year and he expects the 2001 Iowa Legislature to support the visionary proposals being advocated for rail transportation. One of the key topics will be the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact, a multi-state agreement which has already been endorsed by two of Iowaâs neighbors (Missouri and Minnesota). Up to twelve states could sign on to the agreement in the coming years. Wulff says IARP is a statewide group that supports rail service, both passenger and freight. Wulff also says the group meets at various locations throughout the state. Previous recent meeting sites have included Burlington, Amana, Iowa City, Davenport and Cedar Rapids. The group was also a co-sponsor of a multi-state meeting on rail passenger service in Chicago last April. The meeting will start at noon with the program beginning at 1:00 p.m. Reservations are required and there is a $12 per person meeting fee, which includes the noon luncheon. Reservations should be sent by Wednesday, January 17th, to: henrywulff@aol.com, or 515-276-8888 or to Henry Wulff, 3929 Patricia Drive, Urbandale, IA 50322-2178. Membership information is available from the Iowa Association of Railroad Passengers, Inc., 3349 Southgate Court, SW, Suite 108, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404-5424. Membership information will also be available at the meeting. Information about the organization is available on the Internet at http://www.simpson.edu/~iarp. 30