TRAIN RIDER

THE NEWSLETTER OF TRAINRIDERS/NORTHEAST

* * *** Dreams DO Come True! * * *

The Obama administration has allocated $35 million in federal stimulus funds to expand our passenger rail service north to Freeport and Brunswick with connections on to Rockland as part of its $8 billion Recovery Act grants for developing a nationwide system of high-speed intercity passenger rail service. The funding is enough to complete the expansion for 's Downeaster service, including laying welded rail and improving 36 grade crossings along the 30-mile route.

In Brunswick, where the train station is already complete, the service will provide a much-needed economic boost, said Joanne King, chairwoman of the Brunswick Town Council. The train will make two or three round trips a day between Portland and Brunswick. "That is great news," she said. "It is vitally important to Brunswick. It's been talked about for close to 30 years."

The project will mean more passengers for Eastern Railroad, which operates a seasonal passenger train between Rockland and Brunswick. When the expansion is completed, people will be able to ride a train from to Brunswick and then on to Rockland, with an immediate cross-platform connection. There has not been regular passenger rail service linking Rockland, Brunswick and Portland since April 4th of 1959.

Maine US Representative Chellie Pingree said the project will create 200 jobs and work will start immediately. The Northern Passenger Rail Authority already has agreements in place with Amtrak to operate the expanded service and with the route's owner, , to do the track rehabilitation work.

The Downeaster has proven to be one of Amtrak's best performers. In a joint statement, Maine Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins said the Downeaster has enjoyed steady increases in ridership since service began in 2001. Extending the service would give the Brunswick area, which is coping with the closure of Brunswick Naval Air Station, "...a much-needed economic shot in the arm", they said.

In a separate proposal, the rail authority is seeking $52 million for track improvements between Portland and Plaistow, NH as part of an effort to boost the speed of the Downeaster and make it possible to increase the number of daily round trips between Portland and Boston from five to seven. The proposal would shave 10 to 12 minutes off the trip, making the service more attractive and competitive. That proposal is still pending.

The Downeaster would travel through Woodford's Corner in Portland, Cumberland Center, West Falmouth and Yarmouth Junction. It would stop in Freeport and Brunswick. At Yarmouth Junction, the railroad intersects with a mainline track operated by the St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad. That track runs to Quebec via Lewiston, Auburn and Bethel. These improvements will be the first step towards eventually running passenger trains on that line to Montreal.

Excerpted from the

Volume 19, Number 3, Fall/Winter 2009/2010 ♦ Stephen R. Piper, Editor, e-mail: [email protected] TrainRiders/Northeast, Box 4869, Downtown Station, Portland, ME 04112-4869 ♦ (207) TRY-RAIL ♦ [email protected] ♦ www.trainridersne.org

Chairman’s Update which serves an ongoing $100 and to Augusta. We’re looking for million investment in the Saco further expansion on the Our cover story is the most Island development), a total Downeaster corridor to include 6th exciting and long awaited news rehabilitation of the Durham/UNH and 7 th round trips that would we’ve had to share in quite some station to reopen the waiting room require double tracking and time. We all expected it was and reinvent the Dairy Bar strategic passing sidings. We coming and now it’s here. Finally! restaurant, new Quik-Trak hope that an investment of this

For the next two years we will see machines that deliver faster and magnitude would qualify for High a true transformation take place more convenient ticketing options, Speed Rail stimulus funding and here in the northeast right before WiFi on every coach and at some would better solidify our our very eyes. We can’t express of our stations, future station passenger rail presence as a enough our appreciation for the stops already well established at viable and preferred trans- simply admirable job NNEPRA’s Freeport and Brunswick, portation alternative. We’re Executive Director, Patricia Quinn nationally recognized award- looking to regionalize our and her staff have done to make winning advertising deployments approach by coordinating with this a reality. in Boston, and most importantly neighboring states to better the established community of leverage the federal funding that We’ve celebrated our train’s 8th riders that’s unique to this train is available. Stay tuned! Anniversary! service. We'd like to acknowledge all of We all know our train is the best in Here’s what is happening: you who support us, especially the country. Why? Because we We want this momentum to our major benefactors, who have a great group of people who continue! Plans are underway to continue to make contributions to put their souls into making this construct an enclosed layover TNE so that we can continue service the best it can be. From facility in Portland so the doing business. It’s what keeps the NNEPRA Board and staff to maintenance and mechanical us ticking. the Amtrak supervisors, folks can finally work out of the - WD engineers, conductors, agents, elements, funding has been ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ police, food service, cleaning and secured to reconstruct the wye in TrainRiders Debuts a New maintenance staff, to the Portland to enable equipment Web Site Feb 1 dispatchers in Billerica, to the turns that are otherwise very State of Maine, to TrainRiders costly and cumbersome to do in Northeast and its train hosts and Boston, stimulus funding that has station hosts, to the cities and just been awarded to provide for towns in Maine, the reconstruction of the corridor and Massachusetts served by the to Freeport and Brunswick thus Downeaster – the commitment is enabling our next logical deep and in many cases personal. expansion and connection to the We take pride in our train and , with over cherish it like it’s part of a large, half a million riders under its belt, appreciative family. Exeter has applied for funding to

Here’s what has happened: expand their parking area and refurbish the existing Railway Looking back we can note some The digital age is upon us and Express building into a waiting very key milestones that have is rolling area with restroom facilities and been reached: Ridership hitting 1 out some very exciting new ways ticketing, and the Maine state million, 2 million and now ap- of doing business. congressional delegation contin- proaching its 3 millionth pass- ues to lobby Congress to make a Our Board member and enger, a fifth round trip that permanent change to CMAQ Webmaster Bill Lord has been started in 2007 as a result of language that would enable those working tirelessly to revamp our additional passing sidings funds to continue to be used for web site and turn it into a truly constructed on the corridor, (thank operational costs. remarkable interactive experi- you NH & MA) a brand new Saco ence. Starting Feb 1 it not only station that derives its heat and Here's what will happen: will display up to the minute news power from green geothermal TrainRiders will continue to push articles and have active hyperlinks technology and a wind turbine, for service to Lewiston/Auburn to other sites, but it will also allow

Volume 19, Number 3, Fall/Winter 2009/2010 ♦ Stephen R. Piper, Editor, e-mail: [email protected] TrainRiders/Northeast, Box 4869, Downtown Station, Portland, ME 04112-4869 ♦ (207) TRY-RAIL ♦ [email protected] ♦ www.trainridersne.org train hosts to easily book, confirm participate in one or more of the the potential of extending or cancel their trips. following areas: passenger rail to Concord.

This is all wonderful, but we know • Membership Not so fast. news travels faster now than what • Revenue Sourcing Peter Burling, former state is possible to distribute in a • Political Liaison senator and chairman of the New printed quarterly newsletter. • Media Response Hampshire Rail Transit Authority, Printing costs and postage • Public Relations continue to rise as well. What is still pushing for this service and • Public Events we'd like to do is make our he sees several potential options • Host website, www.trainridersne.org for making it happen. and e-mail our principal means of If you or someone you know During a recent infrastructure distributing the newsletter and would be interested, please summit hosted by the Greater getting other news and contact us by phone at Manchester Chamber of information out to our members. (207) TRY-RAIL Commerce, Burling said that the For this to be successful, it is ultimate goal is to extend high- imperative that we have your by e-mail at speed trains to Montreal. current e-mail address . We [email protected] promise not to distribute it to “It’s crucial for the development of or through our web site at anyone else without your our future. If we don’t make this permission. If you do not wish to www.trainridersne.org choice, the state of New York or cannot receive this information will,” he said. Burling explained electronically, we will still send the ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ that New York has a high-speed newsletter to you via US Mail. We rail corridor from New York City hope that electronic delivery of ↓ ↓ ↓ History for Sale ↓ ↓ ↓ up the Hudson River to Montreal. these items will both help us save money and provide information on “There is going to be something of a timely basis. a race on to connect a major city ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ to Montreal,” Burling said last TrainRiders Seeks to Expand week. “If it’s the Hudson River line, all you have to do is look at On November 7 the TNE Board of the map.”

Directors met in a special session to discuss reconstituting our Progress was slowed earlier last Robert Willoughby Jones, author fall when Pan Am Railways, committee structure. Now it's of the historic Boston & Maine more important than ever for owners of the rail corridor snaking railroad books, City and Shore its way north from the New people to become more actively and Forest, River and Mountain , involved in TNE's day-to-day Hampshire line to Concord, left has made a generous donation to the bargaining table. Since then, activities. This is why TNE seeks TrainRiders. We now have copies to expand its existing committee the Transit Authority, which has available for purchase. These no funding, hasn’t been able to structure - to create places where books retail for more than $80 members can assist the entice them to return. each, but our special price is just organization with their knowledge $30.00 each or both for $50.00! “It’s overwhelmingly clear that and expertise. people want that train,” Burling Our Host Committee already ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ said. The goal is to procure oversees the training, scheduling, NH Rail Transit Authority federal funding ($300 million) for and operations of the onboard Speaks track upgrades allowing and station hosts. Our Executive passenger trains to travel 70 miles Committee, tirelessly continues to When the NH state Department of per hour, with about 11 or 12 90- address ongoing issues in Transportation opted not to apply minute round trips each day Washington, Augusta, Concord, for federal stimulus dollars between Concord and Boston. Montpelier and Boston. pertaining to high-speed rail Passenger trains will get people earlier this fall, it seemed to send off congested state highways, and In addition to these, we need an ominous message regarding improved freight accommodations energetic volunteers to join in and

3 will similarly move 18-wheelers off the people of the Authority, about $10 million per year to run. the road, Burling said. ‘Everybody stop,’” Burling said. Half would come from the fare box and the other half could come Chris Clement, NHDOT Deputy Each passenger rail car is worth from a variety of places, such as Commissioner, said DOT about 100 cars on the highway. CMAQ or creating a specific embraces the NH Capital Corridor That would make for a lot fewer district from which a certain and noted that, in an unprece- cars on Interstate 93. portion of economic growth tied to dented move, then Massachusetts rail would be taxed to fund DOT spokesman William Boynton Secretary of Transportation Jim said that NH had entered into operations. Aloisi sent a letter urging support talks with Amtrak which could be for extending rail into the Granite One region, one voice a potential operator for service State. between Boston and Concord The federal government has Plowing forward made it clear that states need to It was four and half years ago that regionalize their efforts with Burling headed to DC to meet with Pan Am Railways started to regard to rail, something the the New Hampshire congressional engage the state in negotiations Midwest has done especially well. delegation, Amtrak and other key regarding track improvements and “We cannot expect to succeed in passenger rail. Talks progressed legislators. New England if we have a bunch to the point where the Rail Transit Mark Brewer, president of of states individually pursuing Authority and the state filed a pre- Manchester-Boston Regional Air- their individual desires,” Burling application with the federal port, said they are fully on board said. He’s hoping for a New government for stimulus money with bringing rail back to New England rail consortium of sorts designated for planning and Hampshire and specifically to the with an executive director to construction.. Three days after the airport. monitor the process, but “We’re pre-application was filed, Pan Am not there yet.” Railways broke off negotiations. Jay Minkarah, Manchester’s Without Pan Am on board, the economic development director, Along with the Concord project state could not proceed with the said he doesn’t think rail and Maine would like to complete application. current bus service are mutually renovations on the Downeaster exclusive; he thinks they would line that would shave 15 or 20 Burling said the Authority hasn’t complement each other. minutes off the travel time from been able to entice Pan Am back Portland to Boston, while to the bargaining table. “I still don’t Minkarah said about 20 percent of extending the line further north. understand what the issue is. The Nashua’s labor force commutes to Massachusetts wants to make Downeaster runs over their Massachusetts, with about 6 needed improvements to the trackage. All we want to do is percent commuting to Boston. Boston-Worcester line, and replicate the Downeaster pack- About 5 percent of Manchester’s would like to revive a rail age. labor force commutes to the Bay line from Brattleboro south to New

State. More locally, officials also Haven, Conn. All we want to do is replicate point out there could be a much Do people want what almost the Downeaster package higher rate of inter-city use between Nashua, the airport and every society on the face of the Manchester. Officials say the globe has to move them around Burling was clear the Authority is project is as much about bringing for jobs, vacations?” Burling said. not working toward commuter rail people to New Hampshire as it is “The overwhelming answer is yes. but is pushing for inter-city high- about dropping people off in Maybe in 1952, people wanted a speed rail. The distinction is Boston. place to drive, but the important since federal funding circumstances have made it much can pay for up to 100% of the cost Minimally, the state is looking to less appealing." President of qualified high-speed rail extend rail to Nashua — a plan Obama is pushing rail in much the projects, but will only pay for up to that wouldn’t require reliance on same way as President Eisen- 50% of commuter rail projects. Pan Am. Boynton said officials are hower promoted the interstate looking at a potential stop just “We are going forward until the highway system Burling said. across the Massachusetts border. legislature and the governor tell Once rail is extended to Concord, Excerpted from Hippo Press Burling said, the train would cost Jeff Mucciarone

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Rhode Island purchases requirements of the Americans property for 'South County' with Disabilities Act.

commuter-rail station In addition, it provides convenient

The Rhode Island Department of access to the downtown area and Transportation (RIDOT) recently will be open one hour prior to purchased property for the scheduled arrivals and departures Wickford Junction commuter-rail of Ethan Allen Express trains that operate between Rutland and station and parking garage for $3.2 million, Rhode Island Gov. C. Parker 2 Photos New York via Albany, NY. The Green Mountain Country Depot Don Carcieri announced on Dec. The southbound Ethan Allen deli, bakery and coffee shop also 31. Express, train #292 arrived is located in the building. The Wickford project, along with a Saturday, January 2, 2010 on Warwick, R.I., intermodal facility schedule at 11:02 AM as the first Amtrak and the Vermont Agency that’s now under construction, will train to officially stop at the of Transportation will be working support the initial start up of the station. to enhance station parking capacity and upgrade the existing South County commuter-rail The historic refurbished Castleton service. That service would platforms at the renovated facility. Depot, originally built in 1850, is extend the MBTA line beyond replacing the small outdoor Fair "Amtrak is delighted to have a Providence 20 miles. Rail service Haven stop, which continued to new station stop in Castleton that to Warwick is expected to begin accept passengers through provides area residents direct by year’s end and service to January 9. access to rail transportation and Wickford Junction is slated to start visitors a connection to area "The new station is beautifully in 2011. attractions", said Michael remodeled and will offer Amtrak DeCataldo, Amtrak General The new service would provide an passengers first-class accom- alternative to congested Interstate Superintendent NE Division. modations," said Vermont Agency 95 and the Route 4 corridor, the of Transportation Secretary David The Depot will be unstaffed, but state’s fastest-growing region, as Dill. "Castleton is a perfect passengers have several different well as provide access to major location for a train stop as the options for making reservations employment, retail and recre- college is right down the street and purchasing tickets. ational centers in Providence and and picturesque Lake Bomoseen Excerpted from Railway Track & Boston, said the governor. is just a stone's throw from the Structures The $30 million Wickford Junction village." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Station will feature a platform and Brunswick Station a Reality! 1,100-space parking garage. Tenants have moved into Maine RIDOT expects the project to take Street Station Buildings 1 & 3 16 months to complete.

Progressive Railroading ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Vermont Opens Castleton Amtrak Station

As a result of growing and The Castleton Depot is privately anticipated demand for passenger owned by Mary Ann and Val rail service to Castleton State Jakubowski, whose family Located in Brunswick, ME, Maine College and Lake Bomoseen, purchased the property from the Amtrak and the Vermont Agency Street Station anxiously awaits Delaware and Hudson Railroad in the arrival of the Downeaster of Transportation said that state- 1966 and began renovations in supported Ethan Allen Express extension as a mixed-use 2005. The rehabilitated station development featuring retail/office trains will make twice daily stops offers passengers an indoor at the recently renovated space, an inn, residential waiting room, complementary condominiums, and a train station. Castleton, VT station. parking and meets accessibility This prime piece of real estate is

5 located at the steps of Bowdoin Main Street. L.L. Bean held a Best" list for 2006, cited for College and will be a stop on lengthy and extensive competition performance, leadership, innova- AMTRAK's Downeaster route. and selected Berenson tion and execution. Associates to develop the project Phase I, featuring approximately from a field of approximately 10 Over three million people visit 40,000 square feet of retail/office developers. Freeport each year, drawn space, was completed this past primarily by the shopping and the summer. great outdoors. Many national

A charming New England-style retailers have stores in Freeport, inn comprises Phase II. Designed and the Town has become a to provide a warm welcome to destination for both full-price and Brunswick and Bowdoin visitors, outlet shopping. Sales per square the exterior facade will foot average among the highest in complement the New England New England. Freeport Village charm of downtown. Station will enhance the already exciting Freeport experience while Planning for Phase III, a 16-unit maintaining the Town’s character. condominium complex is also underway. The condos will feature According to Freeport Town one-floor living in a secure Manager, Dale C. Olmstead Jr., building with easy access to “Freeport Village Station will lead beautiful downtown Brunswick. a 21st century revitalization in Freeport to ensure that the area not only continues to attract millions of visitors each year, but thrives as a premiere Northeast destination for years to come.”

Excerpted from Berenson Associates ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“We are honored to have been Dover Station Sports a new chosen by L.L. Bean to develop Entryway Vestibule

Doug Lavallee of Scarlet such an exciting project in their Begonias Restaurant opened to hometown and believe our record crowds during mid October experience and integrity were as and Bowdoin's College Store important as our development opened to the public on October plan and concepts in winning the 30th. Bowdoin's dance studio is opportunity.” open and the train station space is nearing completion. Since its opening in the spring of 2009, Freeport Village Station has Courtesy Maine Street Station worked to feature approximately ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 40 retail factory outlet stores,

Freeport Village Station also restaurants, three elevators pro- The City of Dover, NH has Open for Business! viding accessibility, a 550 car recently completed the addition of parking garage and other public a beautiful new glass vestibule to Freeport’s newest retail develop- amenities. the station’s main entrance. ment and lifestyle center is a 120,000 square foot state-of-the- Berenson Associates kicked off its The heated vestibule provides an art multi-level complex on a 3.6 leasing program with the signing added buffer from cold air coming acre site in the shopping mecca’s of the Phillips-Van Heusen into the station and gives COAST downtown. Corporation for four of its premier bus riders and other patrons a outlet stores – Calvin Klein, IZOD, place to stay warm and out of the The site is particularly prominent Van Heusen and Geoffrey Beene. elements during the winter given its location across from L.L. Forbes magazine named Phillips- months. Bean’s famous flagship store on Van Heusen to its "Best of the

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The Quik-Trak ticket machine has Philadelphia, and finally landed in caused 70% of delays for the been moved into the vestibule to Oakland, Calif., where just three period. allow for all-day access, our hope trains to and from Sacramento ran Travel between Portland and since the bus company formerly daily. Under his leadership, the Boston, which represents nearly operating the station moved out in Capitol Corridor grew to 16 daily 30% of all ridership, has August of 2008. Since then, the trains. increased about 8%. TrainRiders Northeast volunteer Skoropowski's smiling portrait and Dover Station Hosts have been About 75% of Downeaster message in each timetable routinely opening the station passengers traveled on welcomed riders aboard "your building ½ hour before each train weekdays, an average of 1,448 Capitol Corridor," and thanked departure. per day, generating 69% of all them for riding on "your trains." revenue. An average of 1,085 This spirit of partnership worked passengers per day traveled on as he effectively bridged the gap weekends/holidays. between Union Pacific and Amtrak. The Capitol Corridor, About 34% of all passengers which stretches from Auburn to traveled using a multi-ride pass. San Jose, CA, ultimately achieved At an average of fare of $6.91, a 90 percent on-time performance passholders generated 16% of record, one of the best in the total revenue. nation [competing each month, of The Downeaster continues to course, with the Downeaster]. His philosophy, Skoropowski said, is excel in customer service and Now, the first host unlocks the this: "Provide a decent service, satisfaction scores compared to vestibule door at 5:15 AM (6:30 run it frequently, reasonably and Amtrak’s national average. AM on weekends) and the last reliably, and people will ride." host locks it up at 9:00 PM when Customer Satisfaction Sep-Nov 2009 the last southbound departs town. David Kutrosky, longtime deputy DE Amtrak director of the Capitol Corridor The doorways are also now ADA Overall Satisfaction 93 84 Joint Powers Authority, has been accessible with pushbutton Value for Price Paid 93 77 made the new Executive Director. activators for wheelchair patrons. Conductor Friendliness 96 83 Overall Cleanliness 90 75 Excerpted from Railnews ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Café Experience 95 71 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Food Service 89 82

Downeaster Performance Quality of Food 77 66 Gene Highlights in 2010 Skoropowski To date, the Downeaster has Moves On The Downeaster has maintained carried 2,772,332 passengers solid performance through the first 227,635,606 passenger miles, two quarters of Fiscal Year 2010. and has generated $38,602,574 in One of TrainRiders and the Downeaster’s biggest supporters farebox revenues. A total of 246,082 passengers has officially retired after 10 years generating $3,511,524 in revenue Courtesy NNEPRA at the helm of California's Capitol travelled on the Downeaster Thank you all for continuing to Corridor. He began his career as during the 6 month period an architect who commuted to ride the Downeaster! exceeding budget projections by Boston on the Boston & Maine about 3% and contributing to a Railroad in the 1970s, and cost recovery of 59%. became an early advocate for improved passenger rail service. * Avg Daily Ridership: 1,337 * Avg Passenger Fare: $14.27 Skoropowski left his architectural * Avg Daily Miles per Passenger: 80 job in hopes of playing a part in improving commuter service in the On Time Performance is improved Boston area. He successfully at 85%, but challenges still managed commuter operations remain. Infrastructure deficiencies J. Mayo Photo full time in Boston, then and track capacity constraints

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Heads Up!

Our 22 nd Annual Meeting will be held this year the first week of May at the Holiday Inn By the Bay in Portland. We sure hope to see you there!

(Guest speakers to be announced)

TrainRiders Northeast Board of Directors

Wayne Davis ME (Chair) Andrew Hyland ME (Vice Chair) Robert Kahn ME (Secretary) F. Bruce Sleeper (Clerk/Counsel)

Don Briselden NH Ellen Fogg ME Robert Martin ME Eve Reed MA Elizabeth Buckley ME Robert Hall NH James Oikle ME Robert Rodman ME Marybeth Burbank ME Valarie Lamont ME Christopher Parker VT Paula Boyer Rougny ME Mike Duprey NH William Lord ME Stephen Piper NH

Janet Brown CA (At Large) Benjamin Kirkland NC (At Large)

THE TRAINRIDER NONPROFIT ORG. Box 4869, Downtown Station U.S. POSTAGE Portland, ME 04112 PAID PORTLAND, ME (207) TRY-RAIL (879-7245) PERMIT NO. 654

Return Service Requested

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