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Rail Passengers Statement on Stephen Gardner’s Departure
March 19, 2025
For Immediate Release (25-04)
Contact: Joe Aiello ([email protected])
Rail Passengers Association Statement on Stephen Gardner’s Departure
Washington, D.C.—Rail Passengers Association President Jim Mathews issued the following statement regarding today’s announcement that Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner will be stepping down:
“On behalf of America’s passengers, I want to thank Stephen for working during his long tenure to build a better railroad. Under Stephen’s leadership, Amtrak recommitted to operating a truly national network, while making concrete investments to upgrade service and ensure the long-term viability of the U.S. intercity passenger rail system.
“In every interaction I’ve had with Stephen – and there were many – there was never any doubt that he loved trains, loved passenger rail, and loved Amtrak. He has been a good colleague and a great partner to this Association. We wish him every success, and look forward to continuing to work with President Roger Harris as Amtrak continues to grow and modernize.”
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About the 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.
"On behalf of Amtrak’s onboard service staff, I want to thank the Rail Passengers Association for honoring their hard work with this award. The past couple years have indeed been difficult for Amtrak onboard service staff – coping with furloughs and job insecurity, adapting to changing protocols and services, not to mention the unfortunate events such as a tragic derailment and a fatal shooting. Nevertheless, our dedicated members at Amtrak have handled these hurdles with the care, attention and diligence for which they’re known. We thank Rail Passengers for their acknowledgement of our members’ hard work and, as always, look forward to seeing you on the rails."
Arthur Maratea, TCU/IAM National President
December 21, 2021, on the Association awarding its 2021 Golden Spike Award to the Frontline Amtrak Employees.
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