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The FRA Grants NNEPRA $17 Million for Service Improvements!
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- Created: 28 February 2020 28 February 2020
The Downeaster has received a Federal Railroad Administration $17 million grant for service improvements in Wells, Berwick and Brunswick.
Wells will see an additional platform, accessed by a pedestrian bridge, as well as a six-mile extension to Berwick of the current two-mile passing track. This will alleviate the current bottleneck in Wells by allowing north and southbound trains to load/unload passengers simultaneously.
In 2018, NNEPRA Executive Director Patricia Quinn provided TrainRiders/NE with an overview of the project.
A sixth roundtrip between Wells and Brunswick can then be added, creating the first such 'inside Maine' passenger rail service.
Senator Susan Collins, who chairs the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee in Washington, announced the grant in a press release. She noted that NNEPRA "will be able to make important improvements to this rail line in southern and midcoast Maine, increasing the corridor's capacity and improving safety, efficiency and reliability for the hundreds of thousands of passengers who use this service each year."
2019 - A Record Year for the Downeaster!!!
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- Created: 01 February 2020 01 February 2020
'America's Favorite Train' posted record-breaking ridership numbers in 2019!
NNEPRA announced that 574,404 passengers took the Downeaster last year, which was a 7.8% increase over 2017's record of 546,056.
Marketing Director Natalie Bogart reported that "August of last year saw an all-time record of 60,944 - the first time that Downeaster ridership had surpassed 60,000 passengers in a month."
In a press release, NNEPRA attributes the ridership surge to the "increased frequency to Freeport and Brunswick, improve reliability, as well as repeat riders. The Downeaster's Amtrak Customer Satisfaction score of 91% suggests that people are not only riding the Downeaster, but finding it to be enjoyable as well."
NNEPRA Board Chairman John Melrose spoke of the future, "We are committed to the continued growth of the Downeaster service and are working hard in 2020 to improve/expand transportation alternatives to further enhance mobility to our citizens and support economic growth for Maine businesses."
The service began on December 15th of 2001, and since then the Downeaster has been a trailblazer in passenger rail service!
Proposed Downeaster Rockland Extension Not Happening This Summer
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- Created: 10 June 2019 10 June 2019
From the Portland Press Herald:
"Midcoast passenger rail shelved for 2nd season
We are very disappointed, but still believe this is a great opportunity and will continue to actively pursue it,” Quinn said in her email.
Quinn said that despite efforts of the rail authority, it was simply not possible to begin seasonal passenger service this summer.
“There are many regulatory requirements which need to get settled, and although progress continues to be made, there simply is not enough time to qualify crews and do the other work necessary to commence service in time for the summer season,” the executive director stated in her message.
The Rail Authority had to reach an agreement both with Amtrak, which operates the passenger service, and with Central Maine and Quebec Railway, which leases the 58-mile Brunswick-to-Rockland line for moving freight.
The lack of a safety assessment of the tracks was the reason given last year when a proposed pilot project failed to move ahead."