Train Lobby Day in Augusta - 2023

On Thursday, April 6, 2023, several passenger rail advocacy groups, including TrainRiders, held a lobbying day at the Maine legislature. This was the very first time that multiple passenger rail groups have jointly held such a day, and it could not have come at a better time since 12 or more passenger rail-related bills are now pending before that legislature, including three that seek to rip up two different state-owned rail lines and replace them with trails.

The Maine Rail TransitCoalition (“MRTC”) and the Maine Rail Group (“MRG”), together with TrainRiders, participated in this lobbying day, along with a private group proposing to provide passenger rail service through Maine between Boston and Montréal and a subsidiary of the Finger Lakes Railway that proposes to provide passenger rail service between Brunswick and Rockland. Both TrainRiders President F. Bruce Sleeper and several TrainRiders members attended the meeting.  

The day started with a brief meeting to provide legislative newbies with instructions on how to contact their legislators and perform other lobbying activities at the State House. From there, attendees spread out to do just that, followed by a luncheon at which each group made a presentation to about 10-15 legislators.

In their presentations, TrainRiders, MRTC, and MRG, each described itself and then briefly discussed the bills about which they were most concerned. TrainRiders used its time to warn about the bills seeking removal of the Mountain Division track between Standish and Fryeburg, Maine, as well as another bill proposing track removal over the line formerly owned by the St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad between Portland and Auburn, Maine. Several legislators knew that trail advocates wanted to build trails along these routes, but were surprised to learn that this involved tearing up those tracks, making any future use of the lines for rail (passenger or freight) economically impossible. MRTC and MRG discussed other bills that would promote passenger rail expansion in Maine, including those that could result in service to Bangor or Montreal, as well as other legislation that could determine just how existing State-owned lines could be used for both rails and trails.

The day was a real success, setting the stage for educating legislators as to what these bills are all about. On Wednesday, April 13, 2023, the Transportation Committee will hold hearings on most of the bills that do not deal with ripping up State-owned rail lines, with no hearing dates yet set for the remaining bills. TrainRiders will shortly add a discussion of these bills will be added tothis web site.

F. Bruce Sleeper - President, TRN