NNEPRA May Board Meeting - FY2017 Continues Growth
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- Created: 22 May 2017 22 May 2017
Ridership Report:
Executive Director Patricia Quinn briefed the NNEPRA Board on the Downeaster's Performance. With one more quarter to go, FY2017 has already eclipsed FY2016 in ridership and revenue. Only two months, October and November, saw a decrease in ridership.
FY2017 is well ahead of FY2016 by 33,954 riders or 9%.
Revenue:
Revenue in FY2017 to date was $6,425,859 compared to $5,990,533 - an increase of 7%
Brunswick Layover Facility:
From the Performance Report: "During the first full season in the BLF, the Downeaster posted strong ridership gains and our best on-time-performance in five years." Trains did not have to spend the winter months outdoors but were inside the new facility, where 50-degree temperature made ice and snow removal far easier for the appreciative maintenance crews.
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An Era Ends Much Too Soon!
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- Created: 15 May 2017 15 May 2017
2017 marks the end of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus trains. There are two units, the Red Unit, labeled "Circus Extreme," and the Blue Unit, known as "Out of This World."
Some interesting facts from RB, B&B:
*An average of 326 performers, staff and maintenance crew on the train
*33 conventional cars for circus personnel and their families on each train
*4 custom-designed animal stock cars
*2 container flats for concessions storage
*17 piggyback flats which carry equipment, props and vehicles
*16,378 miles - average miles traveled in last six years
*Blue Unit: 56 cars, 4,055 tons and 4,959 feet long
Here's the train approaching Newark, NJ station. Keep watching for the other approaching train that follows it.
The circus began using a train in 1872 - a tribute to the organizational skills of the "Greatest Show on Earth" and the train crews who hauled this centerpiece of American entertainment across our "steel highway." Here's a link to their remaining schedule.
NNEPRA February Board Meeting Hears Good News
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- Created: 27 March 2017 27 March 2017
NNEPRA Executive Director Patricia Quinn was pleased to share the strong ridership and revenue numbers
First, ridership set a new February record of 37,275 which is 1,321 riders above February of last year. Ridership YTD is 27,816 above the similar period of last year.
Second, revenue set a new February record of $675,094 which is $56,280 above February of last year. Revenue YTD is $381,670 above the similar period of last year.
Third, the Joint Government Oversight Committee of the Maine State Legislature voted 7-3 to discontinue any further investigation of NNEPRA. Last year's investigation had given NNEPRA high marks for its management of the Downeaster service. The investigation had been a pet project of former senator Stan Gerzovski of Brunswick. He tried to bind the new incoming committee to conduct another investigation - the committee voted "no."
Fourth, the very popular Dome car will be back this year from mid-August to late September. You can remember last year's success by going here.