Welcome to TrainRiders/Northeast

Our New Vision

TrainRiders Northeast brought the Downeaster to Portland, ME in 2001 and Brunswick ME in 2012. Our New Vision: An across-the-platform Amtrak connection at Boston’s North Station, serving Worcester, Springfield, Hartford, New Haven & New York’s Penn Station (Moynihan Train Hall). Our continued success depends on your donation. Use our PayPal button to help us reach this goal. Many thanks for your continued support. Wayne Davis, Chairman

Rail Passengers Association Webinar Features Chairman Wayne Davis

Details: Created: 29 January 2021 29 January 2021

RPA 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.

The Downeaster Celebrates it's 19th Birthday!

Details: Created: 15 December 2020 15 December 2020

Congratulations to our favorite train and its fabulous managerial staffs at Amtrak and NNEPRA!

Back in 1989, Wayne Davis led a group of 21 Maine/NH citizens that created our grassroots non-profit. They organized a citizen's petition that urged the legislature to support passenger rail in Maine. It took 12 years of constant work with government officials in Maine and ultimately with Amtrak and the US Congress to get 'America's Favorite Train' on the tracks. Our history of accomplishment, which brought the Downeaster to northern New England, continues today with plans to extend connecting service to New York City.

We're planning for the future and we invite you to join us by going here: http://trainridersne.org/index.php/join-trainridersnortheast

From Wayne Davis: ”I’m reminded of that exciting moment 19 years ago today when the dreams of 21 citizens, backed by nearly 90,000 Maine taxpayers made our Downeaster service possible. Since then “America’s Favorite Train” has carried nearly 8 Million passengers and despite covid19’s temporary setback, TNE hopes the train will again be carrying 2,000 passengers a day.”

CSX to Acquire PanAm's New England Rail Network

Details: Created: 01 December 2020 01 December 2020

CSX The Amtrak Downeaster will soon have a new host railroad - CSX. The freight railroad has agreed to acquire Pan Am Railways' northern New England network for an estimated $700 million. The details of the agreement, which are not yet public, will be reviewed by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board.

NNEPRA Executive Director Patricia Quinn told TrainRidersNE: "We have enjoyed a long and productive working relationship with Pan Am Railways which we look forward to continuing with this new partner, in a new era, filled with opportunity."

Pan Am President David A. Fink said this about the upcoming merger, "Pan Am is pleased to reach this agreement with CSX, a North American leader in rail-based freight transportation. This is great news for New England shippers and the national freight network overall.”

A full article from Trains Magazine.

Link

Safe Amtrak Downeaster Travel During the Pandemic

Details: Created: 25 October 2020 25 October 2020

What's it like to travel on the Amtrak Downeaster during the Covid-19 pandemic? In a few words, 'safe and comfortable.'

Wayne Davis took to the train to chat with the passengers about their experience and the conductors about the Covid protocols.

Ridership continues to grow, albeit not as fast as we'd like to see. Why not take a trip to NOWHERE, between Brunswick and Boston, just to get out of the house? The crews will be delighted to see you.

Slow Growth of Public Transportation in Maine during Covid-19 Crisis

Details: Created: 10 October 2020 10 October 2020

The travel industry expected that public transportation ridership in Maine would increase moderately as the Corvid-19 virus receded. That hope has not been realized even though Maine has one of the lowest infection rates in the US.