NNEPRA
News relating to NNEPRA - primarily summaries of their board meetings.
Kennebunk Cancels Planned Downeaster Stop!
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- Created: 10 October 2018 10 October 2018
...from SeacoastOnline.com by Donna Buttarattzi
KENNEBUNK -- The Board of Selectmen voted Tuesday to pull the plug on plans for an Amtrak Downeaster station that would have brought passenger rail service to downtown Kennebunk.
Four years after voters approved $300,000 for a seasonal train stop in town, the board voted unanimously Tuesday to officially halt the plans that appeared to be close to coming to fruition just a few weeks ago.
Board Chairman Dick Morin read a statement from the board saying, “As we narrowed the conversation regarding the details of the project with regard to things such as renting versus owning and space availability for parking and restrooms, it became more apparent that this location, with its significant limitations, presented a situation that would make us losers if it won, meaning if it was successful, and losers if the project failed at that location.”
The Downeaster Exceeds Ridership and Revenue Targets
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- Created: 21 July 2017 21 July 2017
NNEPRA's Executive Director, Patricia Quinn, reports that the Downeaster exceeded annual targets for ridership and revenue in FY 2017. Ridership topped out at 511,422, exceeding passenger goals by 9%. Revenue exceeded FY2017 goals by 7%. There were track maintenance challenges, but "America's Favorite Train" came through with more than half a million riders!
From the Portland Press Herald: "Improved reliability, schedule changes and added trips to Freeport and Brunswick helped add riders in 2016-17, the authority said. The Downeaster service has some of the highest customer satisfaction scores among Amtrak routes in the country."
Patrica Quinn was the 2014 Mainebiz Business Leader of the Year and she continues to drive the Downeaster to higher performance levels.
TrainRiders/NE interviewed Ms. Quinn about FY2017. It was a memorable year.
Subcategories
NNEPRA Board Meetings 14
Summaries of NNEPRA's monthly board meetings