On June 30, 2020, Patricia Quinn, NNEPRA’s Executive Director and William Gayle, Grant and Policy Administrator attended a walking tour of proposed improvements being evaluated within the Mill District in Biddeford and on Saco Island. This tour was part of Greater Portland Council of Government’s work developing a Transit-Oriented Development Concept Plan for the area. 

NNEPRA looks forward to continuing participation as the study advances in order to leverage Downeaster service to benefit the transit-oriented development potential of this location.

Click here for additional information on the study.

A true champion of passenger rail.

It started with an ad Wayne Davis submitted to the newspaper. It asked for anyone interested in seeing passenger rail service come to Portland to attend a meeting held in a local bank on a Tuesday night. Twenty-one people showed and formed the first Board of Directors of TrainRiders Northeast, a group of passenger rail enthusiasts “dedicated to bringing modern and efficient passenger rail service to Northern New England.” Since then, Davis has been not only instrumental in getting passenger rail service to Maine, he helped create the Downeaster’s onboard train host service that warmly welcomes and acts as a resource for guests riding the train, and was the Downeaster’s first Ambassador.

On December 14, 2001, after a decade of obstacles, testimonies before congress, meetings with officials at the state and federal levels of government, consumers, rail companies and unions—and the creation of Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA)—the Downeaster made its maiden voyage.

While aboard that exciting first trip, joined by Governor Angus King and many other dignitaries and guest from the U.S. and Canada, Davis proposed another idea: what if TrainRiders Board Members acted as hosts to ensure safety, educate and be a resource for riders on the train?

“Governor King liked the idea, and following the inaugural celebration he wondered if we might continue to offer the host program as a regular amenity on board some of the daily trains for a while… till folks became familiar with train travel,” recalls Davis, “We’ve been at it ever since 2001.”

To this day, Davis remains a friendly face aboard the Downeaster as an Ambassador. Over the years, he’s chatted with thousands of individuals, couples and families, welcoming them aboard with his steadfast optimism, trove of knowledge and kind smile.

One of his most memorable moments as a Downeaster Ambassador over the years happened not long after he started hosting. He was speaking with a young couple headed to Boston. The man was in a wheelchair and told Davis that the train was affording the couple their first opportunity since “the accident,” as they described it, to travel comfortably, enjoying food and beverage as they made their way to Boston’s Copley Plaza Hotel to stay after a theater production. This was something, they shared, that they had not been able to do since the man required a wheelchair.

 “It was a memorable moment in time for me, repeated often by folks headed for Boston Hospitals and doctors to receive lifesaving treatments unavailable anywhere else. And thanks to the management policies of NNEPRA, such passengers enjoy special reduced fares.”

Wayne Davis has done so much for passenger rail service in Maine and continues to champion the use, expansion and restoration. He truly is an Ambassador who deserves the spotlight.

Click here to read about other Downeaster Ambassadors making huge contributions in their own unique ways.

Supporting and Enhancing Existing Amtrak Downeaster Service

Initiatives and programs under consideration.

The NNEPRA team is committed to the sustained growth of the Amtrak Downeaster and is exploring innovative ways to improve mobility, advance safety, support a growing economy, and provide value for the people of Maine and Northern New England. Over the course of 2024, NNEPRA will focus on the following initiatives:

Inbound Commuter Service

Capacity improvements to improve reliability are underway. In March 2020, NNEPRA was awarded federal funding to complete the Wells Siding Project which not only adds track capacity, but supports a new morning inbound Downeaster train between Wells and Brunswick. This will give workers in Maine more car-free travel options for their commute. The Project is in the final stages of design, and is expected to be completed in 2025.

Portland Station Improvements

NNEPRA, in cooperation with MaineDOT, is exploring Portland station alternates on the mainline. The current station, located on a branch line, requires Downeaster trains to stop and back into the station for more than a mile, adding time to the schedule. Mainline alternatives will improve Downeaster connectivity to and within the greater Portland region by reducing travel time, decreasing bottlenecks, and improving transit connections.

West Falmouth/Exit 53 Station Stop

NNEPRA is exploring an additional Downeaster stop in West Falmouth, located just off Exit 53 of I-95. This new stop will provide improved connectivity from the I-95 corridor and reduce parking demand in Portland.

Amtrak Downeaster Coastal Connection

NNEPRA and the Maine Department of Transportation are pursuing a pilot program to introduce regularly scheduled Downeaster service on the state-owned Rockland Branch between Brunswick and Rockland, Maine.

Planning initiatives that explore the potential for new passenger rail services in Maine:

Lewiston/Auburn Passenger Rail Service Plan

NNEPRA managed for MaineDOT a Service Plan for commuter rail service between L/A and Portland which identified ridership potential, outlined corridor options and estimated costs. MaineDOT completed an economic evaluation study in in 2023. More details can be found here.

Portland-Westbrook Rail Shuttle Feasibility Study

In partnership with private developers, NNEPRA completed a high-level feasibility study of a rail shuttle between Westbrook and Portland, connecting high-density developments with the downtown and local transit options. 

NNEPRA appreciates the financial support provided by the State of Maine, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), as well as CSX, the MBTA and Amtrak, that enables us to plan and execute projects to improve reliability, enhance safety, and expand service.

NNEPRA’s Response to the Pandemic

Safety and health of passengers and crew remain top priority.

Since March 2020, transit agencies across the country and globe, including NNEPRA, have been impacted by the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. 

After a sharp decline in Downeaster ridership beginning in mid-March and restrictions on travel, the difficult decision to temporarily suspend Downeaster operations was made by the NNEPRA Board of Directors on April 10 and implemented on April 13.

The NNEPRA Board met on June 8 and approved a gradual return of service dependent upon state and federal requirements.  Phase I of the Downeaster Service Restoration and Recovery Plan; reinstatied one daily round trip weekdays between Brunswick and Boston effective June 15, 2020. The Downeaster began operating in Phase 2 on July 20, 2020.  Phase 2 includes the operation of four daily round trips between Brunswick and Boston, 7 days per week.

Lost ticket revenue and funding to assist in the return of service when restrictions are lifted will be supported by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), a federal stimulus package passed in late March for public transit agencies and operating assistance for Amtrak.

The NNEPRA Team has adapted to hybrid and remote work environments and has remained actively focused on the days beyond these troubling times with the safety of passengers and crews being a top priority.  

Amtrak has nationally embraced and implemented enhanced cleaning, disinfecting and equipment sanitizing protocols as well as social distancing and public health guidelines. The following practices have been implemented on Downeaster trains: 

• Crews and passengers travelling on Amtrak trains are required to wear face coverings. 
• Enhanced cleaning protocols are in place.
• No more than 50% of seats can be sold on any train. 
• Amtrak’s eTicketing allows for a touchless environment for passengers.
• Enhanced cleaning and service protocols in the Downeaster Café include Plexiglass partitions in the service area, removal of all “grab and go items”, touchless payment (with credit card) and a pilot program for at-seat service. Table seating in the Downeaster Café is not permitted

Downeaster stations are being thoroughly cleaned and equipped with information and resources consistent with social and physical distancing guidelines set forth by the CDC.

Various track maintenance project scheduled for summer and fall were re-programmed to take place in spring and early summer to minimize construction-related service interruptions. Planning activities related to the Portland Station Relocation and new equipment procurement are ongoing, as are efforts to begin work on the Wells Siding Project.

More Than Passenger Rail

Supporting economic development along the Downeaster corridor.

The Amtrak Downeaster provides an integral transportation network for residents of Northern New England, from Brunswick, Maine, to Boston, Massachusetts. While making travel more accessible, convenient and affordable than ever before with passenger rail service for commuters and tourists, economic growth and development at the eleven stations and station communities has also benefitted positively.

Brunswick, ME

Brunswick Station, located on a former Brownfield site, has emerged as a bustling hub of activity. Here visitors can find numerous restaurants, retail businesses, medical facilities, residential property opportunities, as well as hotel and town offices.

Thompson’s Point, ME

Located adjacent to the Portland Transportation Center, this once overlooked and underutilized industrial site on the Fore River in the heart of Portland has been completely transformed. The site is now an exciting activity and entertainment complex featuring breweries, event pavilion welcoming national touring acts and festivals, the location of the Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine.

Saco/Biddeford, ME

Considered one of the fastest growing areas in Maine, the historic mills around the Saco Transportation Center have been reinvented into modern apartments and incubator work spaces, home to breweries, theaters, restaurants, and numerous businesses. Plans for an expansion and inclusion of a hotel, as well as recreation areas are underway.

Dover, NH

More than $100 million dollars in new residential and commercial development is currently taking place in and around Dover station and the downtown, making Dover one of New Hampshire’s fastest-growing cities.

Exeter, NH

Transformation in the form of improved landscaping, streetscape and sidewalks have recently been completed around Exeter Station enhancing the safety and overall welcoming aesthetic of the area.

Boston, MA

The Hub on Causeway, a $1.1 billion dollar mixed use development including retail, restaurants, a hotel, grocery store, restaurants, apartments and commercial space, has transformed Boston’s North Station into a massive entertainment and transit center.

To learn more about Downeaster stations and amenities, please visit our station page.