History of Passenger Service to Maine
History of Passenger Service to Maine
Start of Passenger Service 1842-1967
1842-passenger service from Boston to to Portland via Saco and Biddeford
1847-service to Brunswick
1859-Service to Yarmouth, Lewiston and Montreal (Atlantic and St.Lawrence or Grand Trunk)
1913-Overnight service to NYC\
1935-1957 Flying Yankee with service from Bangor to Boston via Portland
Demise of Passenger Service
1960 End of service between Boston and Bangor
1965 End of service between Boston and Portland
1967 End of service (seasonal) Portland and Montreal
Resumption of passenger service
2001 Downeaster Service between Portland and Boston begins with 4 round-trips a day.
2007 Downeaster service increased to 5 round-trips a day.
2012 Downeaster service was extended to Brunswick.
2021-22 LD227 to study service to Bangor
The legislature, after requiring funding from Bangor and Waterville, agreed to a propensity study.
The propensity study only looked at existing car traffic between Portland and Bangor.
This is very different from a feasiblity study which looks at latent demand, a rural community's lack of alternatives, and the fact that the proposed service would be an extension of existing service. It also does not take into account economic growth that comes with train service nor enviornmental issues.
LD860 to study service to Bangor
2023-24 After the Federal infrastructure bill, a proposal was made for a feasibility study.
Federal Grant money would have paid 100% for a $500,000 feasibility study which would have looked at extending existing Downeaster from Falmouth branching to the CSX freight line to Lewiston/Auburn, Waterville and Bangor. Station locations, decreasing vehicle miles traveled, and under-served populations would have been taken into account.
MeDOT required $20,000 for creating the application, and so it had to be voted upon by the Maine senate and legislature.
While LD227 was passed in the senate, it was not approved by the legislature.
2024-25
It is hoped that following the climate extremes seen in the winter and summer of 2024, as well increasing traffic increases, that there will be another opportunity for Maine to take advantage of the funds available to plan for the future.
Rail Map showing areas for service extension
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