Maine Rail Day Coming Up!
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- Created: 16 March 2025 16 March 2025
Wells Transportation Center Construction Underway
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- Created: 08 March 2025 08 March 2025
From Seacoastonliine: "The $11.8 million project involves replacing the station’s existing high-level boarding platform, building a second boarding platform on the other side of the tracks, and connecting the two with an overhead pedestrian bridge.
Once complete, Amtrak Downeaster trains arriving at the station from opposing directions will be able to board passengers and let them off at the same time.
The new platform and the added track capacity will support an additional Downeaster train that will operate between Brunswick and Wells each morning. The train’s schedule will be designed to serve commuters traveling to and from the Greater Portland Region."
Some five years ago, TrainRidersNE interviewed NNEPRA Executive Director Patricia Quinn about the project. Major improvements take time - the result will be appreciated by passengers and crews alike.
High Priority Legislative Alert
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- Created: 03 March 2025 03 March 2025
The legislature will be taking up a bill that will determine the future on passenger rail north of Brunswick!
LD 487, Resolve, Directing NNEPRA to Apply for Federal Funding for the Purpose of Identifying the Rail Corridor Connecting Portland to Orono as an Intercity Passenger Rail Corridor
Maine’s Transportation Committee has set a public hearing on LD 487 to begin at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 6, 2025, in Room 126 of the State House. The Committee has also scheduled a work session on this bill to be held beginning at 1:30 pm on Thursday, March 13, 2025, in Room 126 of the State House.
This bill represents the future of passenger rail service in Maine, providing a way to expand that service directly to the northern half of our State.
We need as many people as possible to testify in favor of its passage and, if possible, to attend both the public hearing and the work session!!!
Passenger rail in Maine extends only as far north as Brunswick. Many passengers travel from north of that Town to get on Amtrak’s Downeaster service, some from hundreds of miles away. This includes not only people from Maine but from Quebec and the Canadian Maritime provinces as well. Designation of the CSX-owned and operated rail line from Portland through Auburn, Lewiston, Waterville, and Bangor to Orono as an intercity passenger rail corridor will make Maine eligible for federal funds to upgrade that line for passenger use.