(April 9, 2010) At a meeting held on April 8, 2010, the Board of Directors of Trainriders Northeast voted unanimously to strongly support passage of legislation now pending before the Maine legislature which includes $27 million to support passenger and freight rail in Maine. 

Trainriders’ Chairman, Wayne Davis, said “This legislation includes $17 million for the State’s purchase of the former Bangor & Aroostook rail line between Millinocket and Madawaska, which is the only line connecting the northern third of Maine to rail service outside of that region.  If this bill is not passed, that freight line will be abandoned and the track removed.

Trainriders has always supported improved and expanded use of our freight rail systems and we simply cannot stand by while the economic lifeblood of northern Maine is destroyed.  Trainriders strongly urges its members, as well as the public at large, to immediately contact their Maine legislators to insist that they vote in favor of the bill.”  

The legislation also includes $5 million for rail improvements in the Lewiston/Auburn area, as well as an additional $5 million for improvements to the Mountain Division line in Western Maine.  Davis said “Both of these projects will improve present and future freight rail service on these lines, and will aid in the development of any future passenger service.  They will also produce jobs and economic benefits far outweighing their cost to the Maine taxpayer.”

Trainriders Northeast is a grass roots, citizens’ organization formed in 1989 to educate the public, as well as public officials, as to the benefits of passenger rail service in the Northeast.  Trainriders played a leading role in the return of passenger rail service to Maine with the commencement of the immensely successful Downeaster service between Portland and Boston in 2001.  Trainriders provides volunteers as hosts on that service, as well as at some stations served by the Downeaster.  It continues to work on passenger rail issues in Maine and throughout the Northeast.