TRAIN RIDER

THE NEWSLETTER OF TRAINRIDERS/NORTHEAST

Chairman’s Late last year NNEPRA 2) Construct a new bridge Update Executive Director Patricia GOING BEYOND over Back Cove to And the news does Quinn was given the task PORTLAND: accommodate a line that indeed "get better" of finding ways to extend would run roughly parallel to …some of you may the to points TWO PROPOSALS I-295 through Deering, north. The job came Yarmouth Junction, Freeport remember that way for the back in our infancy in straight from Governor and Brunswick. The 1989, we stated that Baldacci as part of his DOWNEASTER estimated cost is $61 million three things were commitment to provide and would be ready for essential for the more rail service to the citizens of . operation in 12 to 15 years. proposed service to be a success. As part of In an effort to inspire more interest the next Although the second option has the our original passenger logical step, Quinn made presentations to city advantage of capitalizing on the anticipated rail restoration proposal managers, planners, members of the increase in condo development in Portland’s to state and federal counsels of economic development and other Bayside district, such development remains officials, we asked for 6 officials and interested parties in Brunswick just that – in the future. While it is improbable round trips, 80MPH and Freeport. She also spoke with members that condos will not be built (and people show speeds and the best of TrainRiders/Northeast. There are two up to populate the area), it also may never equipment Amtrak had options: happen. for the startup. What TRAINRIDER’S OPINION IS THAT MAINE dreamers we were. We 1) Upgrade and operate on Pan-Am Railway’s NEEDS AN EXTENSION TO FREEPORT were offered 3 round existing freight corridor that runs from AND BRUNSWICK AS QUICKLY AND trips at 60MPH with Portland through Yarmouth Junction and INEXPENSIVELY AS POSSIBLE. supposedly rebuilt Freeport to Brunswick – at an estimated cost Amtrak Metroliner cars. of $31.5 million. It could be completed in two We held out for 4 trips years. and the promise of 80MPH "in time" and "as is" Metroliner cars. Well, hang on because the Northern Passenger Rail Authority has announced the beginning of a 5th round trip each day - knocking another 5 minutes off the operating schedule. on August 17 th . This is the result of cooperative efforts amongst NNEPRA,

(Cont’d on Page 6)

Volume 17, Number 1, Spring-Summerr 2007 ♦ 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

Amtrak is now transitioning to major ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ capital items. Between FY ’04-’06, 42 miles of concrete ties were laid for a NARP’S total now of 159 miles and 111 new track switches have been replaced. “GROW RAIL” Waterproofing NY tunnels has been completed and tunnel floodgates CAMPAIGN renovated. The National Association of The Acela is cash-flow positive on a Railroad Passengers released its day-to-day operational basis (123% "Grow Rail Campaign" on June farebox recovery), but this does not 25. Coinciding with NARP's 40th L-R: Amtrak President Alex Kummant, include capital costs. anniversary, the campaign NNEPRA Executive Director Patricia Quinn, TNE Chairman Wayne Davis, The Downeaster supports the Association's vision of passenger rail growth over the Capital Corridor JPA Managing There were 338,000 riders in FY ’06 Director Gene Skoropowski at the next 40 years. NARP aims to shift Annual Meeting. and on-time performance was among the system’s best at 94%. Ridership the national discussion from "What passenger train gets cut TrainRiders/Northeast 19th Annual was up at all stations. [ Editor’s Note: Meeting was held In April at the The Downeaster actually showed the next?" to "Which routes do we Portland Holiday Inn By The Bay, highest ridership and revenue add and how quickly can we add where we listened to talks by Patricia percentage increases of any Amtrak them?"

Quinn, Gene Skoropowski and service ] Of equal importance, NARP seeks Amtrak President Alex Kummant. Federal Participation to reinforce national efforts to

What follows are excerpts from Mr. The states need a strong federal increase U.S. railroad track Kummant’s speech: capital funding partnership. The capacity to permit speedy, reliable Lautenberg-Lott Reauthorization bill passenger and freight service.

Where is Amtrak going? would advance such a partnership. NARP President, George Chilson Amtrak’s last reauthorization expired Amtrak is in the community-building in 2002 and there has been no real states "our vision proposes a business, working every day on federal policy discussion for a comprehensive ‘grid and gateway’ growth, sound service and continuous decade. The current system of network that will increase the improvement. Northeast Corridor annual staggering is dysfunctional. scope of America's passenger ridership is about 10 million per year, Workforce recruiting is always subject train network from 22,000 to and it is up due to highway to concerns about funding. 45,000 route miles, connecting congestion and a socio-economic 237 of the nation's 292 trend back to older city centers. National Issues metropolitan areas and state Rail traffic is outpacing capacity. capitals”. Profitability and Investment Freight railroads will ultimately have Show me a transportation system to decide if they want federal Editor’s note: We are pleased to anywhere in the world that turns a investment. What is the state of the report that NARP has included in its profit. Amtrak’s farebox recovery is entire rail network? Return on capital proposed passenger rail map over 70%. Amtrak operates nearly is very low. Many employees have TrainRiders/Northeast's 1989 22,000 route miles in 46 states and been without a contract for five years. proposals for extensions from serves over 500 stations. In 2006 Amtrak needs to refresh the fleet. Portland to Bangor via Freeport, there were $240M Amtrak/Federal Passenger cars average 22 years old Brunswick, Augusta, and Waterville funds plus $112M third party funds (age range 5 to 56) and have a useful as well as the extension from invested in the Northeast Corridor. life span of 40-50 years. Portland to Bangor via Since FY ’03, Amtrak has invested Locomotives average 11 years old (5 Auburn/Lewiston and Waterville, with $1.36B in NEC infrastructure. to 25) and have a useful life span of the direct service to Montreal from 25-30 years. Auburn/Lewiston over the existing tracks of the St. Lawrence & Atlantic “Many thanks go to former Alex Kummant is a native of Ohio. RR, serving many points in NH and President David Gunn, who He earned his B.S. in Mechanical VT enroute. Also included is our long insisted on a state of good Engineering, his Masters in time goal to restore the route to repair and good feelings in Manufacturing Engineering and Montreal from , through NH another Masters in Business and VT points. We applaud NARP'S Congress.” Administration. He worked for the vision. Union Pacific 1999 to 2003.

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MEET THE DOVER, NH ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ He is a long time supporter of STATION HOSTS William Congo TrainRiders even though he moved was in born out of the area in 1981. Bob has

Hartford, CT in since moved back to the area and The Dover Station Host August of 1937 lives in Rochester. Program was initiated on but has lived September 21, 2004 when TNE from one end of ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ held an informational meeting on MA to the other. Steve Piper grew site with prospective candidates. He graduated up in Keene, NH The true success is due to the from Tufts University in 1959 and and moved to the dedication and sincere enthusiasm went immediately to work for Liberty seacoast in 1980 Mutual. After a period in the US to go to school at of the following individuals, who UNH. Today he have signed on to take this Army he returned to Liberty, lives in Dover with station’s charm to a higher level. transferred to the Dover Home Office his wife and son and works for the in 1991 and retired in 1999. He now NHDOT. He currently hosts Train ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ resides in Dover with his wife. 690 on weekends and holidays and is William “Ed” the liaison between Amtrak and ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Wentworth is a NNEPRA for maintenance of the NH Bill Croft has Quik-Trak ticket machines. He also retired journalist also lived in sits on the Board of Directors at TNE. who simply loves Dover all his being a Dover life and has ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Station Host been our host of Steve Covert is a because of all the the evening native of the Dover different people he meets and the help trains and most area and at 18 years he is able to give to those who need recently the Downeaster substitute old is the youngest information or assistance with the bus for the fifth round trip. He member of the station Quik-Trak ticket machine. Ed modestly states his reason for hosting host program. When maintains the weekly Dover Host is simply that he enjoys helping the Downeaster made Program schedule on a color people. Whereas the station is closed its first run through Dover, he was spreadsheet he developed and often by the time Bill shows up for duty, he there to see it. He enjoys hosting communicates with city officials maintains a much-needed presence because it gives him the experience regarding maintenance. out on the platform waiting with he’ll need when he applies to work

passengers headed out and greeting for the railroad someday. He loves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ those arriving and making sure they helping people and making them feel Paul Richards have a ride to their destinations. comfortable when they travel through had the luxury Dover. He attends NH Technical of growing up ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ College. right around the Bob Jaffin has corner from the been a train ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dover Station. rider since he PUSH IS ON FOR A REGIONAL He was born in was six when RAIL STATION February of 1935 and has always he got to ride lived in Dover. He took the train on a the Erie RR "We're like Paul Revere, regular basis for five years to from Hoboken shouting to anyone that will commute to the Perkins School for NJ to upstate New York each year to listen, 'The baby boomers are the Blind in Boston. Upon his return go to summer camp. While in high coming, the baby boomers are he went to work at the Star Market on school in New York City, Bob spent coming!'" jokes Charline upper Central Ave for the next 35 many weekends exploring every Oelfke. years. When the store closed, Paul subway line in the city - riding to hired on at the new Wal-Mart in both ends of every line. He has The couple, who live in Shirley, Somersworth in 1991, where he always loved trains and got to take MA, have been lobbying for worked for the next 14 years until his the train from New York to transportation improvements in retirement. California for his advanced Naval their region for 15 years and as

Electronics training in the mid 60s. Ayer, their neighbor to the east,

3 proceeds with plans to build a recommends linking the received support from Shirley, parking garage for its proposed station with regional Groton, Littleton, and Pepperell downtown train station, they bike paths to reduce traffic. to keep its garage downtown. are lamenting that an important Putting a new garage "in the opportunity is being lost. middle of the field" would stunt LINK THE RAIL STATION the smart growth planned for Given the number of baby downtown, he said. boomers who will become WITH A NETWORK OF dependent on public "We have one of the highest BUSES AND BICYCLE PATHS transportation over the next 10 walk-up ridership rates in the to 15 years, the Oelfkes argue, regional system because our Ayer should be looking more Oelfke's plan has been aired at neighborhoods are downtown," regionally. "The town has an several public meetings and said Suhoski. "Around 3,000 opportunity to control its will be brought up at a future people live within a 1-mile destiny", John Oelfke said. selectmen's meeting. radius of the station. It is part of Ayer's heritage." But Ayer leaders don't see it Ayer has a long history tied to that way. They say it has its train service. For 150 years Elizabeth Falk, Assistant taken years of planning and freight and passenger trains Administrator of the politicking to get $5.1 million in have bisected the community Montachusett Regional Transit state and federal dollars for and today the MBTA's Authority, said the door is not improvements and expansion Fitchburg commuter rail line closed on any ideas quite yet. of the existing 80-space runs directly through. She said she had heard of a garage. Earlier this year the similar plan to regionalize the Town of Ayer voted by a 3-to-1 It is a well-traveled route: 300 Ayer station in the past. margin to keep a station to 400 people a day board the "We are still open to ideas," downtown and the town's train in Ayer for Boston's North said Falk. "Nothing has been selectmen have been lobbying Station or Fitchburg, which has designed yet and quite a few hard to have the money comparable ridership numbers to Ayer. ideas have been batted released so design work can around." begin. Given those numbers, John Oelke said, a regional station Oelfke, who said he isn't would bring in more revenue interested in leading an effort $5 MILLION IN SUBSIDIES and efficiency. Instead of a to force Ayer to act, wants

FOR EXPANSION OF AN small garage, Ayer could officials to keep the discussion become a transportation hub open. "This is a proposal that 80-SPACE PARKING that allows for continued has died despite an active

GARAGE growth. process", he said. "I'm hoping that it's a phoenix that can "It's never too late to stop a bad once again rise from its own decision," said Oelfke. "This ashes." The Oelfkes and other regional isn't a new idea, it's just a transportation advocates say better use of resources." Excerpted from the Boston Globe, by it's a mistake. John Oelfke Ayer Town Administrator Melissa Beecher, August 19, 2007 says plans should be made to build a regional rail station near Shaun Suhoski disagrees. He Says WAYNE to the EDITORS: the Devens Verbeck Gate in said Ayer has been working Ayer with a much larger garage with surrounding communities "The train out of Portland turns right and with a network of shuttle and the Montachusett Regional at Lowell Junction to Ayer and on to Transit Authority for years to Worcester, Providence, New London buses to bring in riders from and New York - without the Boston area communities. He also fine-tune the current plan. transfer ." Ayer, he said, has already

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Costs don’t stop drivers "It just grew, and we just added House subcommittee people and vans to meet that growing from going it alone demand," said Hughes, executive approves Amtrak director of the Kings County Area funding for ’08 More than ever commute Public Transit Agency.

solo as suburbanites can’t FUNDING FOR AMTRAK AND According to the American change habits. SEVERAL FEDERAL HOUSING Automobile Association, the average GRANTS WOULD REMAIN INTACT price of regular unleaded gasoline WASHINGTON: MORE PEOPLE as part of a proposed fiscal 2008 increased from $1.50 a gallon at the THAN EVER ARE DRIVING ALONE spending bill, despite a request from start of the decade to $2.28 a gallon TO WORK AS THE NATION'S President Bush to cut funding for the in 2005. During the same period, the COMMUTERS BALK AT CARPOOLS programs. share of people carpooling dropped AND MASS TRANSIT. from 12.2 percent to 10.7 percent. The bill was approved unanimously The nation's public transportation Regardless of fuel prices, housing without amendment by the House systems report that ridership is up, and work patterns make it hard for Appropriations subcommittee on but the share of commuters using suburban commuters to change their Transportation, Housing and Urban transit stayed the same at 4.7%, gas guzzling ways. Development and related agencies. according to the Census Bureau.

For most commuters, "it's hard to find Money for the programs is part of Gasoline prices have since topped $3 someone to ride with, and it's hard to $50.7 billion in discretionary funds for gallon and miles driven by Americans find public transportation," said Alan agencies including the Transportation have increased through 2006, though Pisarski, author of "Commuting in Department, Housing and Urban they leveled off in the first three America." "There aren't always a lot Development Department, National months of 2007. of options.” Transportation and Safety Board and

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit The report on commuting came as People have been flocking to the Authority — $2.8 billion more than the the Senate started debating a recent suburbs since the end of World War president requested and a 7 percent energy bill that would raise auto fuel II. Jobs have followed, enabling increase over fiscal 2007’s spending economy standards for the first time commuters to move even farther from level. in nearly 20 years. Democratic central cities — and public leaders in both the Senate and House transportation systems. “The subcommittee was forced to flat- say they wanted broad energy fund or cut numerous programs,” said legislation passed before the Fourth Mass transit is most popular in older Rep. John Olver, D-Mass. “However, of July congressional recess, though cities such as New York, San we have restored the president’s President Bush has opposed Francisco, Washington and Chicago, deepest cuts and were able to mandatory increases in fuel according the Census Bureau. continue some important investments efficiency. Midwesterners are the most prone to in housing and transportation.” solo driving — half of the top 10 AAA spokesman Geoff Sundstrom metro areas for driving alone to work The president’s request included said commuters are willing to drive are in Ohio. significant cuts to Amtrak subsidies. more fuel-efficient autos but are loath The bill as passed by the to give up the keys entirely, Carpooling is most popular in the subcommittee includes $1.4 billion regardless of gas prices. He said West, driven in part by immigrants. for the agency — the president many people equate carpooling and Seven of the top 10 metro areas for requested $800 million. mass transit with “a decline in their carpooling are in California. Most are personal standard of living.” He in the center of the state, where Olver said the bill includes slight added, "The freedom of mobility that immigrant farm workers share rides. staffing increases to air traffic control comes with the use of a personal personnel and airport safety automobile is something we are very, Ron Hughes runs a ride-sharing engineers and inspectors, but also very reluctant to give up as program in central California. In includes slight staffing cuts within individuals”. 2000, the program started supplying multiple agencies and programs. vans to transport farm workers from Excerpted from the Associated Press the suburbs to the fields, he said. It Exactly which agencies will has since grown to more than 300 experience those cuts will not be ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ vans and includes workers in other known until the text of the bill is industries, operating much like a rural In 2005 there were 43,443 released. It will be available for mass transit system. Riders pay $25 fatalities on America’s review at the full committee’s markup or more weekly. highways next week.

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The bill also contains $3.6 billion for on relatively short routes of 500 miles the airport improvement program for or less. upgrades at airports across the FUEL-SIPPING TRAINS country, $850 million more than the Amtrak recovers about 67 percent of its operating costs through sales, but president’s request; and $40.2 billion WITH ENERGY PRICES HIGH AND for highways, $600 million more than the rest requires a taxpayer subsidy - LIKELY TO GO HIGHER, it would much in the same way that highways, requested. make sense for the nation to embrace bridges, airports, transit buses and Excerpted from FederalTimes.com a transportation policy that puts a other forms of transportation premium on energy efficiency. infrastructure are subsidized. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Transportation, along with electrical Chairman’s Update (Cont’d from What passenger rail really needs is power generation, is the country's billions of dollars in additional Page 1) biggest consumer of fossil and capital investment to replace aging renewable fuels. So what is the most equipment and upgrade track so Pan Am Railway, Amtrak and the fuel-efficient form of transportation MBTA and the Maine DOT during the that Amtrak may better compete available in the U.S. today? with airlines. past 6 months. A $6M upgrade, AMTRAK. including over $1.5M from NH makes From China to Germany, other all these improvements possible. According to a recent study published countries are making that kind of Just think, when the service began on by the U.S. Department of Energy's investment in the future while the 12/15/01 the trip took two hours and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. sits on the sidelines. High- 45 minutes at speeds no greater than Amtrak uses less energy per speed rail has enormous potential, 60MPH. Thanks to the elimination of passenger mile than cars, airlines or but it first requires government many original "slow orders", the even subways and commuter rail support. Downeaster service now makes the systems. In fact, the relative trip in 2 hours and 25 minutes, disadvantage of commercial airlines and cars is particularly pronounced - Excerpted from the Baltimore Sun servicing 8 intermediate stops at ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ speeds of up to 80MPH using both use more than one-fifth more Amtrak's rebuilt "capstone" series energy per passenger mile than THINGS ARE GETTING cars that were designed for the Acela Amtrak's trains. BETTER ALL THE TIME

Regional Service between Boston The study doesn't take into account and Washington. So, as of August Paula Rougny th rail's many additional environmental 17 , 2007 the Downeaster Service benefits. Passenger trains tend to consists of 10 trips per day between It came as good news that the June 21 support pedestrian- and transit- passage of LD 1790, "An Act To Portland and Boston. oriented development, for instance, Secure Maine’s Transportation Future," while emissions from aircraft have a included language for (not funding for) We apologize for the lateness of this far worse impact on global warming newsletter - it was kept on hold in the Downeaster service. It will begin because of the high altitude. July 1, 2009, when CMAQ funding anticipation of news of the settlement ends, and come out of the General of the permanent funding issue for Fund. Like other public monies, it is the Downeaster (still unsettled), as US DEPT. OF ENERGY: "permanent" until the next state well as the proposed extension to election, when a new Legislature will be Freeport, Brunswick (and AMTRAK IS THE MOST required to approve it.

Auburn/Lewiston too) - also still FUEL EFFICIENT FORM We wish the Legislature had included unsettled. We'll have to wait for the next newsletter for ongoing word on some of the practical recommendations OF TRANSPORTATION made by the governor’s Executive these issues. However, we're all still Committee on Passenger Rail, but it did here doing what we've been doing not and we must rest content with a since 1989 as volunteers - giving Yet Amtrak continues to be treated as little more than an afterthought in modest beginning to what we trust will citizens in the northern New England become an extension of the national energy and environmental region transportation choices. We Downeaster’s run to Brunswick within policy discussions and President appreciate your support for our efforts two years. and your timely membership Bush proposed spending a half a renewals. billion dollars less than was spent It is hard for rail advocates to be content when passenger rail is funded the year before. in the billions of dollars ($16 billion for Wayne E. Davis, Chairman, TNE The public has been more supportive. one project, $17 billion for another) in Ridership has increased each of the other countries, where trains that have ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ last four years and it's up again this easily cruised at 150 mph for many year. The biggest gains were posted years now edge up to 200 mph. Such trains are so supersonic with their long

6 sleek nosecones and uninterrupted brought to court and slapped on the lines that they look like fantasies out wrist. adventures. People who live in sci-fi. Wiscasset and Rockland want Many years ago I read that new cars Downeaster service to come to Have you seen the DVD of Casino out of Detroit were shipped around the Brunswick because when it does the Royale with Daniel Craig? Cool shots country by rail. In the middle of the seasonal excursion train out of of a train as it races silently through night, paint would be dumped off Rockland will run year-round and Montenegro in the dark of night. overpasses onto the lines of cars as the coordinate schedules with the train passed. The cars were ruined, no Downeaster. Back to Maine: When the Legislature one was ever caught, and cars were reconvenes in January it will determine soon shipped by truck. But that was a Where is the holdup in more trains for where in the General Fund the funding minor criminality in the overall pattern of Maine? The Catch-22s run the gamut for the Downeaster will come from. And conspiracy. from bureaucratic turf-guarding to balky let’s get something straight. People who municipalities that, in one case that should know better call government Almost 60 years later our country has shall go nameless, fear that a train will support for highways and airways not recovered from the blow of ruin the town’s looks. They have it "funds" but support for railways sacrificing its "green" mode of backwards, as the verdict has been "subsidies." Subsidy is a word that transportation to the heavily oil- returned to show without a doubt that a carries a faint connotation of ineptitude, dependent modes of highways and train is a powerful incentive for people as if the recipient should work harder airways. We deal with the costs of to move downtown, condoize old and not depend on others. It is with polluted air, lost work hours, lost profits, buildings, build vestpocket parks, jog, respect and good humor that we the despoiling of the countryside, and walk babies, open new markets and suggest to members of the Maine the costly maintenance of a military cafes and otherwise lift the economy Legislature that they refer to funds presence in oil-producing countries. out of the doldrums it sank into after the when they discuss railways just as they This leads back to Maine’s burning of the trolleys. do when addressing highways and transportation dilemma: you can’t get The most difficult Catch-22 for airways. there from here unless you drive.

Governor Baldacci in expanding rail What follows is a breakdown of the service may be the perverse attitude USA’s transportation funding dollar: that persists in Washington. President The Legislature owes it to every Highways 52¢ Airways 22¢ Coast citizen of Maine and every Bush has tried to kill Amtrak. To be fair, Guard 9¢ Other 5¢ Railways 1¢. tourist for whom Maine is a he is one in a string of Presidents to dream destination to fund rail sweep gridlock under the rug. The federal DOT itself has tried to kill rail. This unbalanced state of affairs was travel and fund it again and Why? Look to the same oil-greedy criminally wrought in the late 1940s again. industries as sixty years ago. when giants of the auto and oil industries schemed to eliminate long- Their lobbies are so powerful as to be distance trains and local trolley cars in The Legislature owes it to every citizen well nigh omnipotent. They are super favor of private cars and public buses. of Maine and every tourist for whom rich, and they are as anti-rail now as Cities across the country lost their Maine is a dream destination to fund they were in the early 20 th century. If streetcars during an infamous night rail travel and fund it again and again. they weren’t, railways would be funded when trolleys were stacked like giant It should fund expansion beyond with more than 1¢ on the transportation sticks of firewood and torched. (A Portland until every person who prefers dollar. Rail would receive an amount of documentary called The Torching of the to leave the car at home for a day can funding appropriate to its use by the Trolleys records the events.) step off a train and be somewhere public. between walking distance and a thirty- Simultaneously, old city neighborhoods minute ride to his destination. But how can a poor rural state like had their hearts cut out to Maine hold up its end of support for accommodate new highways. Long- In the Scottish Highlands you can passenger rail if the federal government distance trains lost favor to private detrain in the tiny fishing village of does not hold up its end? How can vehicles and beautiful new super Mallaig, walk around the corner to the Governor Baldacci find room to think highways that eventually replaced ferry whose schedule is coordinated, creatively and act positively when the farmland with homes, schools, ride it to the Isle of Skye, walk a few big petroleum guns have willfully shopping centers, industrial "parks", feet and catch the local bus whose brought Amtrak to its knees? schedule is also coordinated. traffic lights and additional roads. How can the governor, the Maine If the explosion of new housing evolved I recognize that Governor Baldacci Legislature and the Maine people get by degrees to serve an expanding wants trains to run. He wants the around Washington’s overwhelming population, the well-planned killing off Downeaster to reach Freeport and attachment to oil? How can we hope to of passenger and freight trains and Brunswick as much as the people who look to five trains a day in towns all over streetcars was an act of corporate live in those communities do. The the state (connecting with Canadian rail greed. The companies (General Bicycle Coalition of Maine wants trains service) when trains are not even being Motors, Firestone and Standard Oil of to go there for additional opportunities made in the ? California, among others) that in their popular conspired to wipe rail off the map were (See THINGS cont’d on page 8) take-the-train-one-way-cycle-the-other

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THINGS (cont’d from page 7) WE CAN SUCCEED WITH YOUR HELP When the federal government doesn’t I want to join TrainRiders/Northeast and provide funds for new infrastructure? When rail is tossed 1¢ and told to go away? help extend Amtrak’s great Downeaster I’ll tell you one thing. We did it with a service beyond Portland. Boston/Portland train. We did the impossible . In the 1980s we faced political opposition, media ridicule, dirty tricks, and many sayings Enclosed is my contribution of $______of the old saw, "The trouble with trains is they

have to be subsidized." It took 15 years of Name______hard work to bring Maine out of its position of being one of only three states that did not Phone______Date______offer Amtrak service.

(Thank you Wayne Davis; thank you Address______Senators George Mitchell, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins; thank you Governors E-Mail______Angus King and John Baldacci, thank you Congressmen Tom Allen and Mike Michaud; Please make checks payable to: than k you former MDOT director John Melrose, thank you NNEPRA director Patricia TrainRiders/Northeast Quinn; thank you Victor Salemme of Amtrak; thank you every single member of Box 4869 / Downtown Station TrainRiders Northeast.) Portland, ME 04112 We did it then, and we’ll do it again. We still Don’t forget – TrainRiders/Northeast is a 501(c)(3) need everybody’s help, and we need the serious regard of the Maine Legislature. nonprofit organization. Contributions may be tax deductible. Please Paula Rougny is the former editor of the TrainRider . She lives in Bangor and sits consult a tax advisor. on the Board of Directors at TNE.

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

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