Annual Meeting
Annual Meeting
David Swirk Brings Conway Scenic to Our 35th Annual Meeting
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- Created: 10 May 2024 10 May 2024
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David Swirk, President and General Manager of Conway Scenic Railroad, headquartered in North Conway, runs a successful heritage train system in New Hampshire. With multiple trainsets and engines, including a steam locomotive, utilizing the NH portion of the Mountain Division that B&M operated from Portland to North Conway, the railroad hauls 160,000 tourists annually through the breathtaking White Mountains.
Rehabbing the NH section of the Mountain Division was a challenging but successful undertaking. Battling this year's ferocious storms that left deep scars in the well-maintained trackage was another challenge overcome by Mr. Swirk and his team at Conway Scenic. Adding the winter Snow Train has kept North Conway on the visitor's list year-round. At our meeting, Mr. Swirk showed a video about the winter train and the impressive work of keeping the tracks up-to-snuff, something that the railroad did primarily with its own equipment and employees.
Mr. Swirk is always on the lookout for expansion opportunities. Recently, Conway Scenic acquired VIP Tour & Charter Company to, among other things, move cruise ship passengers from Portland Harbor to North Conway for a rail excursion and return.
The Maine section of the Mountain Division had been in Mr. Swirk's sights as well. But recently, Maine's governor signed legislation that would rip up those tracks for a trail. The state is waiting for removal cost proposals. TrainRiders testified in opposition to that legislation, seeking to preserve the rail right-of-way for future use with the trail located alongside the tracks, not replacing them. That was not to be, but both TrainRiders and Mr. Swirk continue in their attempts to return rail operations to that line before the tracks are torn up away.
TrainRiders/Northeast - Changing the Way New England Travels.
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Amtrak President Joins Our 35th Annual Meeting!
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- Created: 09 May 2024 09 May 2024
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Our 35th Annual Meeting welcomed Amtrak President Roger Harris as our keynote speaker. Mr. Harris is a proven leader with more than 25 years of experience in the transportation industry.
Since April 2019, Mr. Harris has served as Executive Vice President, Marketing and Revenue, and Chief Commercial Officer. In this role, he managed the Marketing, Loyalty, eCommerce, Product Development, and Pricing & Revenue Management functions, along with the Northeast Corridor, State Supported, and Long Distance Service Lines. Roger joined Amtrak in early 2019 as Vice President, Long Distance Service Line.
He spoke knowingly about the Downeaster's success and its various proposed projects - a new Portland Station on the Main Line and a pilot program between Brunswick and Rockland this summer. Introduced by TRNE President F. Bruce Sleeper, Mr. Harris took questions in a live thirty-minute session via the Internet. Below is an edited version of his time with us.
Our thanks to Mr. Harris and his support team for making this happen.
The Downeaster is one of Maine's success stories, thanks in large part to TrainRider/Northeast's vision and NNEPRA's creative and professional management!
TrainRiders/Northeast - Changing the Way New England Travels.
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TrainRiders/Northeast's 34th Annual Meeting a Big Success!!!
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- Created: 18 August 2022 18 August 2022
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This was our first in-person gathering since the pandemic shut us down. It was a pleasure to associate with each other after such a long hiatus.
We met at The Harraseeket Inn in Freeport and many of our guests, members and friends arrived by the Downeaster, having skipped the crowded interstate highway summer traffic. Attendees who took the train benefited from a discount as did those who stayed overnight at the inn.
Chairman Wayne Davis welcomed all to the meeting, reminding us that while we've accomplished much over the years, much remains to be done.
MEDOT Commissioner Bruce Van Note emphasized that without Wayne Davis and TrainRiders/NE, the Downeaster would not exist. He also committed to initiating pilot programs on certain proposed rail expansion projects. One example was to run Budd cars on the Rockland line to gain data on rider interest.
Read more: TrainRiders/Northeast's 34th Annual Meeting a Big Success!!!
NNEPRA's Patricia Quinn Outlines Goal of New Portland Station
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- Created: 07 May 2024 07 May 2024
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NNEPRA Executive Director Patricia Quinn, appearing at our 35th Annual Meeting, presented her 'Downeaster by the Numbers.' Ridership during the last 12 months was 585,000 - record growth! The Pandemic is definitely in the rearview mirror. Can 600,000 be far behind?
It was the proposed new Portland Station that took center stage. Patrica detailed the impacts associated with the current Transportation Center stop as she listed the annual passenger inconvenience and financial costs associated with the move to and from the current station.
Her summary was beyond convincing, "In CY 2023, 125,000 passengers experienced the 15-minute backup move into Portland Station. This collectively wasted 31,250 hours of passenger time, 3,650 hours of crew overtime and consumed 8,600 gallons of fuel. That total cost is $973,00 annually!"
NNEPRA and MeDOT are zeroing in on three possible sites along the mainline and after final evaluation, a preferred location will be selected. The station will have customer parking for 101 cars. A detailed report on this project can be found on the NNEPRA website.
NNEPRA's other goals:
- Implementation of 'Positive Train Control' which will allow increased frequency of train service.
- Continue work on the double tracking at Wells and the addition of a northbound platform.
- Examine a new stop in Falmouth.
- The much anticipated pilot project service between Brunswick and Rockland this summer (NNEPRA, Amtrak and the MeDOT are in discussions).
The Downeaster is one of Maine's success stories, thanks in large part to TrainRider/Northeast's vision and NNEPRA's creative and professional management!
TrainRiders/Northeast - Changing the Way New England Travels.
Renew, join or provide special financial support by going here!
TrainRiders/NE's Virtual Annual Meeting Held on March 25th - View the Video
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- Created: 01 March 2021 01 March 2021
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On March 25th at 2 p.m., our 33rd Annual Meeting was called to order. It was not in a hotel ballroom but on the Internet as a Zoom Webinar.
You heard from Chairman Wayne Davis and former Vice-Chair Andy Hyland about our new proposal for a simplified trip from any Downeaster station to New York City's revitalized Penn Station (Moynihan Train Hall). At North Station, you would cross the platform to an awaiting Amtrak southbound train, thus eliminating the frequently challenging and time-consuming subway commute to South Station or the costly taxi ride. Of course, the trip to Maine, New Hampshire & Massachusetts from the Big Apple would be equally accommodating.
You also heard from our guest presenters and were able to ask them questions thanks to Bruce Sleeper's tireless monitoring of the chat channel.
Our speakers:
- Patricia Quinn - Executive Director of NNEPRA
- Eugene Skoropowski, best known for his Florida Brightline passenger rail accomplishment. (PowerPoint file)
- Ross Capon - President Emeritus of the National Association of Rail Passengers (now RPA) (PowerPoint file)
- Andy Hyland - Former Vice-Chair of TrainRiders/Northeast presents our New England States Amtrak connection at North Station (PowerPoint file)
The video of the Webinar has been split into two sections for easier viewing.
Section 1 features our panelists: Patricia Quinn, Gene Skoropowski, Ross Capon, along with Senators Susan Collins, Angus King and Representative Chellie Pingree. Go here.
Section 2 details our New England States proposal, eliminating the frequently awkward journey between North and South Stations for those wishing to continue on to New York City. You'll hear assessments of the proposal from town and station leaders and then join Wayne Davis for an in-person tour of the new Moynihan Train Hall in NYC. Go here.