Downeaster to Return to Pre-Covid Schedule on May 3rd - Plus Other Amtrak News

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Created: 06 April 2021 06 April 2021

'Back to Normal' as the Downeaster returns to five roundtrips in May

• According to NNEPRA's Patricia Quinn, the Downeaster will return its 5th roundtrip train to the timetable on May 3rd. This will restore the 5-daily roundtrip service to its pre-Covid schedule.
  More details from Maine Biz. 
  NNEPRA Press Release
  New Schedule (May 3rd)
• Amtrak will end the 50% limit on seat sales on May 24th. The Downeaster is planning to end the limit on May 3rd.
• NNEPRA Executive Director Patricia Quinn has been awarded the prestigious 'Vincent R. Terrill 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award' from the New England Railroad Club for her "exemplary commitment to passenger rail service in New England and beyond throughout her career." You can read the impressive press release here.
  
  
• Amtrak has placed an extension to Rockland from Brunswick on their 'dream map.' The graphic showed other proposed expansions of Amtrak service throughout various states. NNEPRA, MEDOT, our state delegation in DC and local authorities along the proposed route are assessing the inclusion of Rockland in Amtrak's plans. NNEPRA had pushed for an extension to Rockland in 2017, but it was for naught at that time. As the Bangor Daily News reports, "Amtrak could permanently extend Maine’s Downeaster line up the coast to Rockland among 30 new routes possible under President Joe Biden’s $2 trillion infrastructure plan, officials said." More here. A proposed extension of passenger rail service to Bangor was not included in Amtrak's plans. Here's a story on the disappointment in Central Maine.
   
• President Biden's $2 Trillion 'American Jobs Plan' now headed to Congress allocates $80 Billion for passenger and freight rail. Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn states that if the proposed funding is approved, "Amtrak would be able to bring the NEC to a state of good repair and improve trip times" as well as avoid "devastating consequences for our transportation network..." Full statement 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

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.

Maine DOT Supports NNEPRA Goal to Relocate Portland Station to the Mainline

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Created: 23 February 2021 23 February 2021

At this month's NNEPRA Board Meeting, Executive Director Patricia Quinn announced that the Maine DOT was on board with the rail authority's goal of moving the Portland passenger station from its current location to a new facility on the mainline. Such a move would eliminate backing out of the Portland Transportation Center in order to maintain service to and from Freeport/Brunswick. Ms. Quinn figures that one-mile detour' costs the Downeaster at least two hours of unnecessary travel each day - that's 14 hours a week!!!

The DOT has pledged up to $2 million for a feasibility study which is expected to take two years. More on this topic can be viewed at Maine Public.

In other news from the meeting:

• Ticket-generated income since July (beginning of the fiscal year) was $1,047,133 with 46,136 passengers. Ms. Quinn noted that ridership to date is but 15% of the normal passenger load but it is growing, albeit at a slow pace. However, ridership at the Haverhill station has picked up because the MBTA has suspended weekend service there.
  
  
• NNEPRA is planning to return the 5th roundtrip by Memorial Day if Covid-19 restrictions for Interstate travel are relaxed. Assuming that the Red Sox return to Fenway Park, night games will once again see a later northbound train departure. 
  
  
• Cash is now accepted for Downeaster travel at the Portland Transportation Center and onboard.
  
  
• Bicycles are now able to 'roll on' to all trains at all stations - one per coach.

Rail Passengers Association Webinar Features Chairman Wayne Davis

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Created: 29 January 2021 29 January 2021

The Rail Passengers Association, formerly the National Association of Railroad Passengers, held a webinar this week for its members. The topic was state-sponsored Amtrak service.

Chairman Wayne Davis of TrainRiders/NE was one of several presenters who shared not only the projects they were focused on but, in Wayne's case, how an effective grassroots effort galvanized a state legislature to push for the return of Amtrak service to Maine. The Downeaster service from Maine through New Hampshire to Boston was the result. Wayne shared the video we shot on board the Downeaster during the pandemic, demonstrating the safety measures in place and discovering the various reasons passengers were traveling.

You can view Wayne's remarks beginning at 8:46 into the video. Later, he returned to share with the group advice that then Gov. Angus King provided which led to the creation of the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority.