The Downeaster Celebrates Its 10 Millionth Passenger!
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- Created: 19 December 2024 19 December 2024
We've been waiting, waiting, waiting... And now it's official: the Amtrak Downeaster has carried 10 million passengers since 2001! .
Here's the press release from NNEPRA.
Amtrak Downeaster Celebrates 10 Million Riders
PORTLAND, MAINE – The Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA) announced that the Amtrak Downeaster celebrated a historic milestone—reaching 10 million riders since its inaugural trip in 2001, a result of a citizens initiative started by Trainriders Northeast.
A special celebration took place on board Downeaster Train 686 southbound out of Brunswick, ME on Wednesday, December 18, 2024. Everyone who rode that train between Brunswick and Wells became the 10 millionth passenger! NNEPRA staff handed out cookies and Golden Tickets (valid for a free round-trip on the Downeaster) to passengers to commemorate their part in this historic trip. The on-board celebration combined with special community partnerships, and an online giveaway have helped make the 10-millionth rider milestone truly memorable for all involved.
“Reaching 10 million riders is a significant accomplishment which speaks to the value the Amtrak Downeaster service provides to so many people and communities in our region and State,” said Patricia Quinn, Executive Director of NNEPRA. “The Downeaster is much more than just a train ride—it’s a lifeline for commuters, a resource for students, and an essential link to medical care and other important services. Families also rely on the Downeaster to attend events, explore Maine’s beautiful coastline, and visit loved ones. We are proud to celebrate this achievement and look forward to continuing to serve our communities for many years to come.”
In addition to its significance for passengers, the Downeaster is a cornerstone of the regional economy. Passenger rail service supports jobs and promotes tourism, helping boost local economies in the cities and towns it serves.
NNEPRA is exploring opportunities to expand and enhance service to meet the growing needs of riders and communities in the years ahead. The Portland Station Relocation Project is a priority initiative which will reduce travel time, improve reliability, minimize conflicts with freight trains, reduce operating costs while increasing ridership and revenue and promoting car-free travel.
Special Travel Promotions put in place to Celebrate Downeaster Milestone
The Amtrak Downeaster is celebrating 10 Million Riders by offering special discounted fares for travel during January 2025. “If you already love the Downeaster, or if you’ve haven't ridden yet, these $30 Round-Trip fares make January the perfect time to take the train!” said Taylor Auclair, NNEPRA Marketing Director.
The $30 round-trip ($15 one-way) fares apply to travel between Brunswick, ME and Boston, MA or any station in between. The special fares are available for sale now and are valid for travel January 1, 2025 through January 31, 2025. Reservations for these discounted fares must be purchased 3 days in advance of travel. Reference promotion code v232.
For schedules, fares and more information visit AmtrakDowneaster.com.
Natalie Bogart - Deputy Director
Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA)
Proposal to Tear Up Unused Rail Between Auburn and Portland Raises Objections
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- Created: 12 December 2024 12 December 2024
This is an all too familiar scenario as trail advocates push Auburn town management to support tearing up unused rail lines for trails.
The reasonable alternative is to run the trails alongside the existing rails, thus preserving a valuable asset for future train development.
Trainriders president F. Bruce Sleeper, along with other rail advocates, made the case for dual use of existing railroad right-of-ways.
The full story can be read in the Sun Journal.
Oops! Newspaper Article Ignores TrainRiders/NE's Pivotal Role in the Creation of the Downeaster. Our President was Quick to Educate the Writer
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- Created: 09 October 2024 09 October 2024
Photo: Ben McCanna/Portland Press Herald file
We're always pleased when the Downeaster shows up in the media. Such was the case when the Portland Sunday Telegram recently published an extensive article on the underground North/South Rail Link, connecting North and South Stations. A recent Harvard University study resurrected the long-delayed proposal, citing economic, environmental and passenger train efficiency benefits.
What caught the sharp eye of TrainRiders' president, F. Bruce Sleeper, was a single sentence. Here is Mr. Sleeper's letter of clarification to the writer, Steve Collins.
"I have just had the chance to read your 10/6/2024 Maine Sunday Telegram article on the North/South Rail Link in Boston. With one exception, I found it to be an interesting and timely discussion of the Link, a project that TrainRiders has supported for many, many years. I would, however, take exception to the following statement made in the article:
Though the connection between the two stations never got approval –President Ronald Reagan thought it was too costly – the effort ultimately led to creation of the Amtrak Downeaster that restored passenger rail service to Maine for the first time since 1965.
It was not the Link effort that led to the creation of the Downeaster; it was TrainRiders. In 1990 we formed a political action committee, RailVision, to obtain signatures of registered Maine voters on a petition asking the Maine legislature to enact citizen-initiated legislation requiring the Maine Department of Transportation to reinitiate passenger rail service between Maine and Boston. Ultimately, we gathered almost 90,000 signatures, far more than the approximately 52,000 required by Maine’s Constitution for such a petition. In 1991, the Maine legislature passed that legislation (the “Passenger Rail Services Act”) and it was signed into law by Governor McKernan, becoming the first citizen-initiated bill passed by the legislature without first being presented to the people of Maine for a vote. All of this occurred independently of efforts by many, including TrainRiders and, most especially, John Businger in Massachusetts to move forward with the Rail Link in Boston.
TrainRiders worked long and hard to obtain the Downeaster service, and we continue to support it to this day. In 1995, we worked with MDOT to modify the Act to, among other things, provide for the creation of the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (“NNEPRA”) to manage the then anticipated service for the State of Maine (I personally served on NNEPRA’s inaugural board in my then-capacity as legal counsel to TrainRiders). The service commenced in December 2001 with on-board volunteer hosts provided by TrainRiders, a program that continued through the onset of COVID. We continue to this day to provide hosts at several of the stations along the line. We also worked to obtain the extension of the service from Portland N=north to Brunswick in 2012.
Too many people today take the Downeaster for granted, assuming, it seems, that the service dropped out of the sky one day. Clearly, you did not make that mistake, for which we are grateful. I hope that my provision of this information will, however, allow you to have a more complete picture of what actually led to the creation of the Downeaster."
TrainRiders continues to work with NNEPRA, MDOT, State Legislators and our Washington Delegation on behalf of today's ridership. Our goal is to improve and expand "America's Favorite Train." Won't you join us?
TrainRiders/Northeast - Changing the Way New England Travels.
Renew, join or provide special financial support by going here!
The full artical by Steve Collins: https://www.pressherald.com/2024/10/05/boston-eyes-8-billion-rail-plan-that-would-benefit-maine/