Wells Area Improvement Project

Project Overview

The Wells Area Improvement Project is underway.  The Project has two major elements:

  • Extend the existing 2-mile passing siding track in Wells six-miles.
  • Construct a boarding platform adjacent to the second track at Wells Station and an elevated pedestrian bridge to provide grade-separated passenger access to/from both tracks. 

These elements will improve reliability and schedule flexibility of both the Amtrak Downeaster and freight trains and will eventually support the addition of a 6th daily Downeaster round-trip between Wells and Brunswick, Maine. 


What to expect in the coming months.

Date Goal
February-July 2022 Tree clearing and earthwork to prepare railroad right of way for double track extension.
April-July 2022 Subgrade and ballast placement
May 2022 Platform/pedestrian bridge design
July-September 2022 Culvert Repair begins

Project Budget

The total project budget is $22,967,281.

Seventy-three percent of the total is being paid for through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement Grant awarded to NNEPRA by the Federal Railroad Administration in 2019 matched by a 20 percent contribution from the Maine Department of Transportation and six and a half percent contribution from Pan Am Railways.

Project Photos

February 2022- Project survey team
March 2022- Tree clearing, Berwick Maine
March 2022- Shaw Brothers Construction and Beaulieu Logging chipping trees along the railroad right-of-way.
March 2022- Shaw Brothers Construction cutting sub grade for the new siding track before placing ballast.
April 2022- Shaw Brothers Construction cutting sub grade.
April 2022- Pan Am signal department installing electrical conduit.
April 2022- Pan Am signal department covering conduit for new interlocking.

Project Schedule

Estimated Completion Date: Fall 2023

Detailed Project Plan >>

Updated 3/2/2022