mmaThe Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway, a freight railroad that serves northern Maine, will be purchased by the state in an agreement reached between the railroad and the Department of Transportation. The purchase will prevent the abandonement of 233 miles of track and preserve, according to the MDOT press release, up to 1,000 jobs. An additional $10.5 million from the USDOT will be allocated to upgrading tracks and signals.

TrainRiders/Northeast has encouraged the acquisition of the rail line so that northern Maine businesses remain connected to the national rail network.

The full press release is available here.