On February 7th, Brian Beeler, Manager of Passenger Services at NNEPRA, attended the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce’s 34th Annual Meeting, where the Amtrak Downeaster was honored with two prestigious recognitions. The service was named December 2024 Business of the Month and received the esteemed 2024 Regional Impact Award, underscoring its significant contributions to the region’s connectivity and economic vitality.
NNEPRA is honored to receive these accolades and extends its sincere gratitude to the Chamber, city officials, and representatives for their unwavering support and commitment to the success of the Amtrak Downeaster. These recognitions reflect a shared dedication to enhancing regional mobility and fostering economic growth.
The Amtrak Downeaster Café is the only Amtrak service in the country managed by a third-party food service group: NexDine. This allows our staff to source food and beverages from local brands to bring customers a true taste of Maine while on board.
Beginning on Friday, February 14th, all trains are now stocked and serving Holy Donut products in three delicious flavors: Dark Chocolate Sea Salt, Maple Glazed, and Toasted Coconut. Gluten-free options are also available.
The story of Maine’s favorite gourmet potato donut is one baked on passion, determination, and a family bond so strong not even a pandemic could shake their success. We are proud to support a local business now boasting five brick-and-mortar locations, employing more than 120 hard-working Mainers.
Now and for a limited time: When you buy one Holy Donut product on board in the Downeaster Café, you get a FREE cup of coffee. A combination so sweet you will want this train ride to last forever.
The tour started with a warm welcome from NNEPRA Board Member Alison Harris, who also serves as a volunteer at the Brunswick Station, along with staff from the Brunswick Downtown Association, which manages the visitor center at the Brunswick station. From there, the group embarked on an Amtrak Downeaster train ride to Portland, experiencing firsthand the service we’re so proud to offer. The tour wrapped up with a visit to the Brunswick Layover Facility, giving the committee a behind-the-scenes understanding of our operations.
Throughout the day, the group was briefed on key partnerships and discussed projects that are shaping the future of passenger rail in Maine.
We’d like to extend a thank you to all our valued partners who helped make this event a success including Amtrak, CSX Transportation, NEXDINE Hospitality, and the Maine Department of Transportation, whose commitment to enhancing passenger rail service in Maine is truly invaluable.
NNEPRA is looking forward to continuing our collaboration with the Maine State Legislature Joint Committee on Transportation as we work together to enhance and expand passenger rail service for the people of Maine. Stay tuned for more updates as we move forward with these exciting projects!
PORTLAND, MAINE – The Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA) announced that the Amtrak Downeaster celebrated a historic milestone—reaching 10 million riders since its inaugural trip in 2001, a result of a citizen initative started by Trainriders Northeast.
A special celebration took place on board Downeaster Train 686 between Brunswick, ME and Wells, ME on Wednesday, December 18, 2024. NNEPRA staff handed out cookies and Golden Tickets (valid for a free round-trip on the Downeaster) to passengers to commemorate their part in this historic trip. The on-board celebration, special community partnerships, and an online giveaway have helped make the 10-millionth rider milestone truly memorable for all involved.
Taylor Auclair, NNEPRA
“Reaching 10 million riders is a significant accomplishment which speaks to the value the Amtrak Downeaster service provides to so many people and communities in our region and State,” said Patricia Quinn, Executive Director of NNEPRA. “The Downeaster is much more than just a train ride—it’s a lifeline for commuters, a resource for students, and an essential link to medical care and other important services. Families also rely on the Downeaster to attend events, explore Maine’s beautiful coastline, and visit loved ones. We are proud to celebrate this achievement and look forward to continuing to serve our communities for many years to come.”
In addition to its significance for passengers, the Downeaster is a cornerstone of the regional economy. Passenger rail service supports jobs and promotes tourism, helping boost local economies in the cities and towns it serves.
NNEPRA is exploring opportunities to expand and enhance service to meet the growing needs of riders and communities in the years ahead. The Portland Station Relocation Project is a priority initiative which will reduce travel time, improve reliability, minimize conflicts with freight trains, reduce operating costs while increasing ridership and revenue and promoting car-free travel.
Special Travel Promotions put in place to Celebrate Downeaster Milestone
The Amtrak Downeaster is celebrating 10 Million Riders by offering special discounted fares for travel during January 2025. “If you already love the Downeaster, or if you’ve haven’t ridden yet, these $30 Round-Trip fares make January the perfect time to take the train!” said Taylor Auclair, NNEPRA Marketing Director.
The $30 round-trip ($15 one-way) fares apply to travel between Brunswick, ME and Boston, MA or any station in between. The special fares are available for sale now and are valid for travel January 1, 2025 through January 31, 2025. Reservations for these discounted fares must be purchased 3 days in advance of travel. Reference promotion code v232.
NNEPRA is proud to be the official T-Shirt Toss Sponsor of the Maine Mariners, this 2024-2025 season. Leveraging a ridership milestone, Marketing Director, Taylor Auclair has secured a partnership with Oak View Group, the official corporate management team of the Maine Mariners.
At all home games this season, Mariners fans can take their chances and try to catch an official co-branded T-shirt during the exciting T-shirt toss.
As NNEPRA counts down to welcoming the 10 millionth rider aboard, partnerships and opportunities to increase visibility and drive trial are at the forefront of Taylor’s strategy.
Season Pass holders can save 20% on all Amtrak Downeaster travel when they book using the promo code V227. Terms and conditions apply. Visit the Maine Mariners Season Pass Holder dashboard for more information.
“It is my hope that by building on the excitement and allowing everyone to be a part of this ridership milestone, we will reach far beyond our established riders and instead introduce new potential customers to our brand and outstanding service.” – Taylor Auclair, Marketing Director
At NNEPRA, the safety of our passengers, employees, and communities remains our top priority. To reinforce our commitment to ensuring safe rail travel, NNEPRA is proud to announce that our staff has recently completed Operation Lifesaver volunteer training.
Operation Lifesaver is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing collisions, injuries, and fatalities on the nation’s railways. Its mission is to educate the public about rail safety through outreach programs and awareness campaigns.
Rail safety is a shared responsibility between railroad operators, local municipalities, and the public. Accidents at railroad crossings or near tracks can be devastating, but they are often preventable with the right education and awareness. By having NNEPRA staff trained, we can help ensure that our communities are aware of potential hazards and spread crucial information on how to stay safe around railroad tracks.
We encourage all of our passengers and local residents to learn more about rail safety and get involved in spreading the word. 👉 Take the rail safety pledge today! Together, we can make our railways safer for all.
Training and professional development is essential for delivering the highest quality passenger rail service. Recently, the NNEPRA team participated in a variety of valuable training sessions offered by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), and the National Transit Institute (NTI). Here’s a recap!
Financial Management Oversight Training, FTA Volpe Center, Boston, MA
Emily Bedard, Senior Accountant; Olivia Richmond, Finance Associate; Natalie Bogart, Deputy Director; and Patricia Quinn, Executive Director, participated in the FTA’s Financial Management Oversight Training in August 2024. This training is crucial for ensuring that NNEPRA adheres to federal guidelines and best practices in financial management.
Procurement Training, NTI Roux Institute, Portland, ME & FTA Volpe Center, Boston, MA
Catherine Davidson, Grant and Compliance Manager and Belle Askinasi, Office Administrator attended both the National Transit Institute (NTI) Procurement Class and the FTA Procurement System Review in August. These invaluable trainings strengthen NNEPRA’s understanding of the procurement processes and provide valuable insights into effective procurement strategies.
Rail Program Delivery Workshop, FRA Washington, D.C.
Catherine Davidson, Grant and Compliance Manager had the exciting opportunity to attend the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Rail Program Delivery Workshop in Washington, D.C. This workshop was a fantastic platform for learning, collaboration, and sharing best practices in rail program delivery.
Deputy Director, Natalie Bogart, and Grant and Compliance Manager, Catherine Davidson, represented NNEPRA at this year’s WTS Maine Chapter Annual Meeting. It was an inspiring event featuring keynote speaker Nuria Fernandez, who shared her insights on leadership and empowering women in the transportation sector.
Thank you to WTS Maine for hosting, and to Nuria Fernandez for her motivating words! Events like these highlight the importance of collaboration and mentorship.
Nuria Fernandez
ABOUT: WTS International was founded in 1977 by a group of pioneering women in transportation who realized that women’s careers would benefit from professional development, encouragement and recognition to support their advancement in transportation professions. After more than 40 years of growth and development, WTS is an international organization with more than 6500 members (including women and men) and 79 chapters. WTS is connected to a network of 40,000 transportation professionals. Join today.
September 23-29, 2024 marks the official week of train and track safety awareness promoted by Operation Lifesaver. NNEPRA is proud to work with Operation Lifesaver to continuously promote train safety messaging internally, and on our owned channels.
On June 26th, Amtrak and the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA) gathered with state, local, and federal officials at Freeport Station to discuss the installation and impact of Positive Train Control (PTC) between Haverhill, MA and Brunswick, ME on over 100 miles of track.
What is Positive Train Control?
Positive Train Control (PTC) is an advanced system designed to automatically stop or slow down a train before certain types of accidents occur and is intended to prevent:
Train-to-train collisions
Derailments caused by excessive speed
Unauthorized train movements on tracks undergoing maintenance
Movement of trains through misaligned track switches
Timeline
Scheduled to be completed in Spring 2026, Positive Train Control (PTC) also creates opportunities for potential increases in Downeaster frequencies.
For additional details and updates, please follow NNEPRA on LinkedIn and the Downeaster on social channels and subscribe to our newsletter.
