On August 22nd, on Portland’s very own Hadlock field, NNEPRA staff, along with regional Amtrak management and crew members, teamed up to give back to the kids and hosted this year’s PLAY BALL event, with the help of the Red Sox Foundation.
The Red Sox Foundation is the official charity of the Boston Red Sox. Harnessing the power of New England’s favorite baseball team to make a difference in the lives of youth, Veterans, families, and underprivileged communities.
What is PLAY BALL? A FREE introductory baseball/softball clinic for youth ages 5-12 with any skill range. Youth in attendance participate in fun and engaging baseball activities through station-based drills. The best part is, no personal equipment is necessary. Keeping this event accessible for all attendees.
The event was supported by Portland’s own baseball pros – The Portland Sea Dogs. Each station-based drill featured a unique set of skills kids can bring into their own game as they dream and work to become the next big name in MLB history.
NNEPRA and our regional Amtrak crew members were extremely grateful for the opportunity to jump on the field and give back to our local community. Anticipating many kids may now have a new response to the age-old question – What do you want to be when you grow up?
Your feedback helps us keep the Amtrak Downeaster moving forward, improving service, enhancing experiences, and planning for the future. Take our short survey today, and you’ll be entered to win a pair of roundtrip tickets for your next adventure.
NNEPRA attended National Night Out, hosted by the Saco Police Department, on Tuesday, August 5th at Thornton Academy. The annual event, organized in partnership with the City of Saco and supported by local businesses and organizations, brings the community together to connect in a fun and welcoming environment.
National Night Out is a wonderful opportunity to strengthen relationships among city officials, first responders, and residents. Events like this foster trust, encourage open communication, and promote the safety and well-being of both residents and visitors to Saco.
NNEPRA was proud to sponsor and participate alongside local businesses, clubs, and community groups, all working together to make this year’s event a success. We value opportunities to engage directly with our communities and share in the spirit of connection that makes them thrive.
NNEPRA attended the 2025 Maine Office of Tourism Governor’s Conference on Tourism held at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine on April 16–17. We were thrilled to see our Thompson Point neighbor, The Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine, awarded the 2025 Stewardship Award.
Conference speakers shared insights, trends, and tools for building strong marketing programs while highlighting the economic impact of travel and tourism in Maine. Governor Janet Mills gave an inspired speech to support continued tourism from across New England, Canada, and beyond.
The Maine Office of Tourism shared the effectiveness of their 2024 efforts and previewed the 2025 marketing campaigns.
The Amtrak Downeaster connects riders to some of the Top Visitor Activities as defined in the 2024 Maine Office of Tourism Highlights, including:
Food, beverage, and culinary
Shopping
Sightseeing and touring
Active outdoor activities
The NNEPRA team engaged potential partners from Maine-made products and services to the outdoor recreation economy, as well as transportation and publication industries. We distributed brand swag to rail fans from all sectors.
NNEPRA proudly supports the State of Maine brand, on and off the rails.
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.
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.
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.
Spring brings new opportunities for our station communities to engage with residents and visitors. NNEPRA remains committed to supporting and sustaining efforts put forth by small businesses, chamber groups, tourism partners, and rail advocacy members through sponsorships, tabling, and participating in local events. View our recent list of major engagements below.
Governor’s Conference on Tourism
April 24th & 25th – Holiday Inn By The Bay – Portland, Maine
At this year’s conference, NNEPRA was proud to watchWayne Davis, of TrainRiders Northeast, receive the 2024 WelcomeME Award. His dedication to bringing passenger rail to Maine was the catalyst for the development of the Amtrak Downeaster.
TrainRiders Northeast35th Annual Meeting
April 30th – Harraseeket Inn – Freeport, Maine
Supporting the TrainRiders Northeast Annual Meeting as Platinum Sponsors, the NNEPRA team, along with partners at Amtrak and MaineDOT, gathered to celebrate the growth of passenger rail in Maine and along the Northeast Corridor.
Flying Colors – Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine Art Auction Benefit
May 10th – Portland, Maine
NNEPRA partnered with Downeaster Travel Packages to donate a curated travel package to the CMTM’s Art Auction Benefit event. The CMTM continues to bring inclusive opportunities for all children and families to experience, learn, test, and grow within their expertly designed exhibits and hands-on experiential workshops, classes, and performances.
Downtown Worker Appreciation Day
May 25th – Portland, Maine
NNEPRA, alongside transportation partners serving the greater Portland region, b2b solutions, and b2c businesses, gathered to give back to Portland’s Downtown Workforce. With a two-hour lunch window and the location set in Monument Square, hundreds of staff, residents, and visitors poured into the city center to shake off the winter blues and get ready for a busy season in Portland, Maine.
Photo: Egide Foxworth and Portland DowntownPhoto: Egide Foxworth and Portland DowntownPhoto: Egide Foxworth and Portland Downtown
