NNEPRA
News relating to NNEPRA - primarily summaries of their board meetings.
NNEPRA Awarded $27 Million Grant from Biden Administration & Money to Explore Falmouth Station Stop & Possible Rockland Service
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- Created: 09 December 2023 09 December 2023
From Portland Press Herald: "Amtrak’s Downeaster will receive $27 million under a new initiative from the Biden administration to improve and expand passenger rail service across the country.
The funds for the Downeaster Corridor Track Improvement Project will improve the mainline from Brunswick to the Massachusetts state line and help avoid delays and longer transit times.
NNEPRA will also receive a $500,000 grant to explore building a new station in Falmouth and extending train service from Brunswick to Rockland, something that has long been considered."
Executive Director of NNEPRA, Patricia Quinn, said, “We are grateful for this federal award which, in partnership with CSX Transportation, will fund track-related upgrades to maintain reliability and set the stage for future improvements to the Amtrak Downeaster service.”
The full Press Herald article can be read here.
More details on the grant from Construction Equipment Guide.
NNEPRA Breaks Ridership Record & Inflation Forces Proposed Fare Increases
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- Created: 10 October 2023 10 October 2023
Ridership is one of the critical metrics in measuring the success of the Downeaster. The Pandemic was no friend to passenger rail in general and our Downeaster was no exception. However, FY 2023 bounced back with 516,723 riders and in August of this year 'America's Favorite Trian' carried an all-time record of 61,769 riders!
We talked with Natalie Bogart, NNEPRA's Deputy Director, about the reasons for this impressive rebound. Natalie, before taking the reins of her new position, was Marketing Director. Therefore, if anyone should know, it's Natalie.
The Downeaster is no stranger to inflation as operating costs, according to NNEPRA, have risen by 20% in the last five years. A new fare plan has been proposed to address this increase. The Portland Press Herald detailed the anticipated ticket increases:
"Certain one-way coach Value fares would increase $2 to $6; the maximum premium paid for Business Class seating would increase from $10 to $12; and the cost of certain Multi-Ride Passes would increase as much as $10, including monthly, 10-ride and six-ticket college passes."
Five years ago the average price of a gallon of gas was $2.74, today it averages at least $3.50/gallon - that's more than a 25% increase. The Downeaster is still a bargain!
NNEPRA Endorse CSX Purchase of PanAm Railways
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- Created: 08 August 2021 08 August 2021
With the impending purchase of Pan Am Railways by CSX, questions have arisen as to what type of new partner CSX would be for NNEPRA’s Downeaster.
That question is now answered with a NNEPRA filing in support of the CSX purchase. You can read the details in this Trains Magazine article.
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NNEPRA Board Meetings 14
Summaries of NNEPRA's monthly board meetings