Welcome to Maine Rail Group
A non-profit group working to enhance rail service in Maine and New England.
November 2026 Tracking the News …Transportation affects us
11/5/26 Midterm Transit Ballot Measure results are in
Three major wins, in San Francisco and Seattle voters supported sales tax increases to keep transit running, and in Colorado the CoCo Train was approved.
When given the facts, voters support having the transit option. Read more at: https://usa.streetsblog.org/2026/11/05/midterm-results-big-wins-for-transit-walking-and-biking
11-3-26 How Much Cheaper Is Transit Than Driving?
The American Public Transportation Association analyzed the costs of owning and operating a car found that households that use public transit can save more than $14,000 a year, on average, compared to the cost of driving. This is why we need to support the expansion of transit options for Maine! https://www.governing.com/transportation/how-much-cheaper-is-transit-than-driving
10-30-26 Confused about Amtrak proposed Restructuring?
You can read the Rail Passenger Association response at the link below written by the RPA President & CEO Jim Mathews filed response to the Amtrak Board of Directors request for comment on its proposal to create three subsidiary entities. https://news.railpassengers.org/p/rail-passengers-submits-response
10-31-26 Vision for Good Public Transit in Towns
While written for Canada, this piece explains advantages for transit growth in small urban areas which could apply to southern Maine. https://www.thetransitbrief.net/p/a-vision-for-good-public-transit?hide_intro_popup=true
10-29-26 How to pay for roads and transit while decreasing congestion.
Article that explains what congestion pricing success has done for New York. https://www.niskanencenter.org/what-new-yorks-congestion-pricing-success-means-for-carbon-pricings-future/
10-15-26 A Better Way to Reach Acadia National Park
Reading through 5 parks that you can get to by car, it would be great if we had passenger rail service to Bangor, with connecting bus service to Acadia National Park! https://travelbulletin.com/transportation/train-travel/national-parks-by-train?utm_source=travelbulletin&utm_medium=email-es&utm_content=6&campaignid=60036&e=223c84daeba2fd540bd8cf87914187c1&clickid=223c84daeba2fd540bd8cf87914187c1&adt_eih=223c84daeba2fd540bd8cf87914187c1&utm_campaign=514&message_id=514&lctg=97182&mdi=223c84daeba2fd540bd8cf87914187c1
10-12-26 Borealis Service Grows
The Borealis, the passenger train that runs exclusively between St. Paul and Chicago, has been a popular draw for riders over the last two years — so popular, in fact, that beginning this week, Amtrak will add a fourth, year-round superliner coach car to every departure.
You Tube video re: Boston North/South Link
One can always dream....but a good history with hope for the future: