narptrnPassenger rail advocates are invited to the NARP Annual New England Meeting to be held on Saturday, April 6th, at the Clarion Hotel, which is right next to the Downeaster stop at the Portland Transportation Center. Registration is at 11:30, the meeting begins at noon and will conclude by 3:30.

TrainRiders/NE is co-hosting the event which will focus on New England rails issues. Among the guest speakers are Patricia Quinn, Executive Director of NNEPRA and Malcolm Kenton, Director of Outreach and Engagement for NARP.

Good news on the anti-rail bill in the Maine Legislature. L.D. 28, β€œAn Act to Reduce Air Pollution from Trains,” was introduced by Brunswick senator Gerzofsky at the beginning of the new legislative session. If adopted, the bill which attempt to limit diesel locomotive idling will do signficant damage to Maine's growing railroad industry which includes the Downeaster, Pan Am and Maine Eastern.

One of the co-sponsors, newly-elected Senator Sen. Dutremble of York County, told me in a phone call that he has withdrawn his support of the bill after learning more about the issue from rail officials and employees. Public input to our legislators in one way to reduce harmful over-regulation.

The US Consitution states that the president "shall from time to time give to the Congress information of the state of the union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.”

obama-hsr1President Obama considered High Speed Rail as one of the 'necessities' of our national infrastructure. 

Member John Graback passed along the following article regarding the PANAM plows and their 'pipeline on the rails.' Enjoy!

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Here are links to a nice digital photo and an HD video of a pair of Pan Am Railway's big Russell plows clearing the tracks north of Portland after this weekend's big storm:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3370916

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzqRQr8tQPQ

nhEleven months ago, the NH Exec. Council said 'No' to using a federal grant that would have examined the feasibility of a Concord to Boston commuter rail link. What a difference an election makes.

The newly elected council voted 4-1 in favor of studying the 78-mile New Hampshire Capitol Corridor project. It is expected to be completed by the end of next year.

The full story from the Concord Monitor.{jcomments on}