NNEPRA Settles on Site for New Portland Station
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- Created: 22 August 2024 22 August 2024
This article provides additional details on NNEPRA's decision to move its Portland Station from the Transportation Center to the mainline. Three possible relocation sites were analyzed, and NNEPRA decided on a St. John Street location opposite the Metro bus headquarters.
https://www.nnepra.com/project/portland-station-relocation/
The new location would shave 15 minutes off Amtrak Downeaster's northbound and southbound trips - time now spent moving the train on and off a branch of the CSX main line to reach the existing station at the Portland Transportation Center at Thompson's Point.
Amtrak Downeaster Sets All-time Ridership Record!!!
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- Created: 07 August 2024 07 August 2024
'America's Favorite Train' set an all-time record in FY 2023-2024 by transporting nearly 600,000 passengers between Brunswick and Boston. With five round trips daily, a total of 598,426 riders left their cars behind, relaxing to and from their ME, NH & MA destinations. NNEPRA notes that the previous record of 575,000 was set 2019.
We had a conversation with Natalie Bogart, NNEPRA Deputy Director, about the amazing ridership and revenue achievements.
Ten of the 12 months in the just completed fiscal year set new records!
A full article from the Portland Press Herald article can be viewed here.
TrainRiders/Northeast - Changing the Way New England Travels.
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Three Letters - PTC - Equal Positive Train Control
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- Created: 28 June 2024 28 June 2024
Amtrak is funding a major upgrade of the CSX tracks and signaling on which the Downeaster operates between Brunswick, ME and Haverhill, MA.
The USDOT defines Positive Train Control (PTC) systems as integrated command, control, communications, and information systems for controlling train movements with safety, security, precision, and efficiency.
PTC gets data from radio signals and satellites and can stop a train without the engineer's intervention when it detects an error on the tracks that could cause an accident.
NNEPRA Executive Director Patricia Quinn said of the $50 million investment, “In addition to the significant safety improvements, the installation of PTC creates opportunities for potential increases in Downeaster frequencies in the future.”
TrainRiders/Northeast - Changing the Way New England Travels.
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