Why is Amtrak called the National Railroad Passenger Corporation instead of the less awkwardly-worded National Passenger Railroad Corporation?
I sure would like to learn how this name came about. It sounds, to me, like the name of the National Association of Railroad Passengers, who were instrumental in the formation of Amtrak.
It is call National Railroad Passenger Corporation because that is the name Congressional Legislation gave it…I suppose if you read through the legistation and the other paperwork leading up to NRPC you would find the answer…in fact there is a new book just out about Amtrak, the answer might be there. Congress and government in general have never been known to name things in non-awkward terms!
I’ve wondered about that too.
In fact, wasn’t Amtrak’s original business name intended to be “Railpax”? I vaguely remember seeing some materials to that effect, before Amtrak actually got off the ground (so to speak!).
Yes, and some spoke of the dread disease “Railpox,” and then they spoke of “Amthracks.”[:)]
In one way it makes sense:
The National Rail Passenger Corporation concentrates on the passengers. “Rail,” is just an adjective.
I don’t believe Congress ever anticipated that the NRPC would ever concentrate on the rails, with passenger being only an adjective.
Chuck
“Railpax” was a handy name used before Lippincott & Margulies came up with Amtrak and had no formal status. The word itself is telegraphic shorthand for “railroad passenger”.
I think the authors of the legislation wanted to make it clear that the National Railroad Passenger Corporation must not be mistaken for a new railroad.