IOWA ASSOCIATION OF RAILROAD PASSENGERS
3349 Southgate Court Southwest #108
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404
(319) 362-6824



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
01/08/98


RAIL PASSENGER GROUP TO MEET IN LITTLE AMANA

        (Williamsburg, Iowa)--The Iowa Association of Railroad Passengers, Inc.,
(IARP) will be holding its annual meeting at the Colony Village Restaurant
just east of Williamsburg at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 24th.
        IARP President Richard F. "Dick" Welch of North Liberty says John Hey,
transportation planner from the Iowa Department of Transportation will be
the featured presenter at the meeting. Hey is expected to give an update on
the Midwest Rail Initiative. Iowa is a member of the nine-state group
examining future rail passenger options for the Midwest. Hey is Iowa's
primary representative to the Midwest Rail Initiative group.
        Welch says IARP will also be meeting to elect officers for the coming year
as well as hear an update on the status of Amtrak operations.   
        IARP, according to Welch, is a state-wide group and meets at various
locations throughout the state. Previous recent meeting sites have included
Cedar Rapids,  Boone and Des Moines.
        The meeting is open to the public and non-members are encouraged to attend.
An informal lunch will be available starting at 11:30 a.m. before the 1:00
p.m. meeting. Reservations are not required. The Colony Village Restaurant
is located on the east side of U Avenue (across from the Handi-Mart), south
of Interstate 80 at Exit 225, five miles east of Williamsburg, Iowa.