TRAINRIDERS NORTHEAST:

CHANGING THE WAY THE NORTHEAST TRAVELS

TrainRiders Northeast, formed in 1989, is a nonprofit, grassroots, all-volunteer organization whose primary purposes are to educate public officials and the public at large about the advantages of passenger rail service in the Northeast, and to advocate for that service as part of a balanced, efficient, accessible, and safe transportation system.

TrainRiders' most significant action has been initiating the process that resulted in Amtrak’s Downeaster service between Boston and Portland, Maine in 2001 and extending that service north to Brunswick, Maine in 2012.

TrainRiders continues to support that service, as well as its expansion, particularly northwards to the Bangor, Maine area. While awaiting the construction of a direct rail link between Boston's North and South Station, we support creating a service cross platform from Boston's North Station to  Worcester and Springfield, Hartford to New York City.

5-20-26 Rail Passengers’ Association Analysis of released draft of the House surface transportation reauthorization bill (“Build America 250 Act”)

The $64 billion for rail programs in the BUILD America 250 Act marks a 38% decrease from the IIJA. In addition, the BUILD America 250 Act provides not a single dollar of dedicated funding for rail. That means it expects the Appropriations Committees to use the annual budgeting process to find around $13 billion per year for rail programs when appropriators have consistently struggled to stay above the $3 billion mark. This doesn’t account for the other transportation programs BUILD is expecting appropriators to find additional money. Using the past five years of annual appropriations as a guidepost, we can expect this bill to represent more than an 80% reduction in funding for rail programs. Read the complete analysis at: https://www.railpassengers.org/happening-now/news/blog/rail-passengers-analysis-of-build-america-250-act-part-1/

TrainRiders is a §501(c)(3) organization, which means that contributions made to it may be tax-deductible, depending on your tax status and circumstances (please consult with your tax advisor to determine if this applies to you). It has been a Maine corporation since its formation in 1989.  

We are working on improving our website - if you have questions or suggestions please email us at:

info@trainridersne.org