Planned Rockland Extension's Schedule Reduced Due to New Amtrak Safety Requirements - THIS IS NOW OUTDATED

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Written by TRN Webmaster TRN Webmaster

Parent Category: NNEPRA NNEPRA

Published: 26 February 2018 26 February 2018

Today's NNEPRA Board Meeting was expected to give the 'Go-ahead'  for the summer Coastal Connection Service between Brunswick and Rockland. That did not happen. What was approved was a decision to move forward with an August weekend service, but with four important conditions:

1. An Amtrak-CMQ agreement being reached.

2. A positive MeDOT infrastructure report on the branch line

3. A trip no longer than two and a quarter hours.

4. The service must meet all Amtrak and FRA requirements

Several members of the public expressed their disappointment, particularly those along the midcoast. 

Read more: Planned Rockland Extension's Schedule Reduced Due to New Amtrak Safety Requirements - THIS IS NOW...

NH Legislative Committee Says "No" to Federally Funded Rail Study - THIS IS NOW OUTDATED

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Written by TRN Webmaster TRN Webmaster

Published: 20 February 2018 20 February 2018

The effort to use federal money to initiate an in-depth study of commuter rail service between Manchester and Boston has been defeated.

From Kevin Landrigan of the New Hampshire Union Leader:

"On Wednesday, the House Public Works and Highways Committee voted along party lines to strike a $4 million grant for commuter rail from the proposed 10-year highway program.

Gov. Sununu requested the grant since it was a critical part of the state’s application to try to lure Amazon to locate its second national headquarters here.

After the state was bounced from that competition, leading GOP legislators said Sununu told them he “wouldn’t lose sleep” if the House took it out."

Mr. Landrigan concludes, "One thing is for certain; supporters won’t be giving up and they’ve put together a broad cross-section of businesses that are on board with this request."

Passenger rail service in NH remains the domain of the State of Maine - the Downeaster!

January, 2018 NNEPRA Board Meeting

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Written by TRN Webmaster TRN Webmaster

Parent Category: NNEPRA NNEPRA

Published: 29 January 2018 29 January 2018

The NNEPRA Board met at the University of Southern Maine in Portland. The well-attended meeting heard reports on the Downeaster's performance numbers and further details on the proposed Coastal Connection.

Representatives from the MidCoast were present to add their support for the proposed summer weekend service expansion.

Ridership & Revenue Report:

The first six months of NNEPRA's fiscal year delivered record-breaking numbers or as Executive Director Patricia Quinn put it, "It was a good story - the best ever!"

Ridership in FY2018 saw a 13% increase over FY2017. On the revenue side, income grew in FY2018 by 26%!  Ms. Quinn noted that the last three months of FY2017 were plagued by extensive tie-replacement work.

Read more: January, 2018 NNEPRA Board Meeting

Rockland Residents Enthusiastically Support Proposed Downeaster Expansion to the MidCoast

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Written by TRN Webmaster TRN Webmaster

Published: 25 January 2018 25 January 2018

NNEPRA's Executive Director Patricia Quinn briefed Rockland residents and officials last night about the proposed seasonal expansion of Downeaster service to several mid-coast towns and cities. Bath, Wiscasset, Newcastle/Damariscotta and Rockland would be added to the route.

Those in attendance, more than 70, listened, asked questions and learned that the service could run from July to Labor Day in September with direct trains to and from Boston on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Here's our video.

The Press Herald's article.