TRAINRIDERS NORTHEAST APPLAUDS GRANT AGREEMENT TO EXPAND DOWNEASTER SERVICE NORTH FROM PORTLAND TO BRUNSWICK
Trainriders Northeast, a grass-roots citizens organization formed in 1989 to educate the public and public officials as to the benefits of passenger rail service in the Northeast, applauds the finalization of a grant agreement between Maine’s Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) which will provide $35 million in federal funds to expand the Downeaster passenger rail service north from Portland, through Freeport to Brunswick.
Today, it was announced that this agreement would allow work on the track between these points to begin as soon as the end of this week, with construction to be completed, and the extended service to be operating before the end of 2012.
Trainriders’ chairman, Wayne E. Davis said “Like so many things having to do with passenger rail, this was a long time in coming, but we’re very glad that work can begin immediately on an expansion which will provide economic benefits throughout Maine and the Northeast. Passenger rail service through to Brunswick is something which Trainriders said should have been part of the Downeaster service from the beginning, and we are delighted that we have been able to work with federal & state officials to ensure that this funding was put into place.”
Trainriders and its over 1,300 members have been working on passenger rail issues for over two decades. “When the long awaited Downeaster service between Portland and Boston started in 2001, we were promised its extension to Brunswick within two years” said Davis. “It took a bit longer than that, but we hope to see everyone on the train to Brunswick by 2012.” PanAm officials, owners of the track, have been chomping at the bit to begin the upgrade since the Brunswick Maine Street Station dedication in January of 2010.
The northward expansion of the Downeaster service will permit passengers to step off the train in downtown Freeport, Maine’s second largest tourist destination, and walk to L.L. Bean and other outlet stores. Similarly, it will allow passengers to walk to Bowdoin College and the downtown area of Brunswick. Connecting service will be provided by the Maine Eastern Railroad, providing a passenger rail corridor from Boston, all the way through to Rockland. Economic development in anticipation of this expansion has already started, with the Maine Street Station project in Brunswick and Freeport Station in that town. A 2008 study showed that the expanded service could be expected to result in $980 million in additional construction investment and more than 2,400 new jobs in Maine by 2030, along with a myriad of other economic benefits.
The above video examines Brunswick Station's groundbreaking, dedication and anticipation of Downeaster service.
Freeport Brunswick, here we come The reality of all the hard work done by the folks, (especially Patricia) at NNEPRA and the board of TRNE have paid off. For those who said it was not going to happen. I TOLD YOU THAT IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. So enjoy it.
Wonderful news!! The temptation is great to say, "There, we did it." and relax. But we can't afford to do that. With the naysayers in the Portland Press, we need to keep the heat and pressure on to make sure that those who try to get in the way are not able to derail our efforts!
This is a prime example of vision, teamwork and astute management: Wayne's initial vision of passenger rail service from Boston to Brunswick; the power of TRN's teamwork with federal, state & local officials; and the the astute management of the Downeaster service by Patricia Quinn and her NNEPRA colleagues.
Maine has set a national example of how the "impossible things are happening every day.!
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Trainriders’ chairman, Wayne E. Davis said “Like so many things having to do with passenger rail, this was a long time in coming, but we’re very glad that work can begin immediately on an expansion which will provide economic benefits throughout Maine and the Northeast. Passenger rail service through to Brunswick is something which Trainriders said should have been part of the Downeaster service from the beginning, and we are delighted that we have been able to work with federal & state officials to ensure that this funding was put into place.”
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For those who said it was not going to happen. I TOLD YOU THAT IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. So enjoy it.
Maine has set a national example of how the "impossible things are happening every day.!
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