Now, if we could just get some light rail for the greater #PortlandMaine area (instead of building more highways through woods and farmland)!

Federal funding will allow #Downeaster to explore expansion to Rockland, add Falmouth station

The money comes as ridership from Boston to Brunswick has rebounded to pre-pandemic levels.

By Eric Russell, December 8, 2023

"The #Amtrak Downeaster will receive a half million dollars under a new initiative from the Biden Administration to improve and expand #PassengerRail service across the country.

"The $500,000 in funding for the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, which operates the Downeaster, will explore building a new station in Falmouth and extending train service from Brunswick to Rockland, something that has long been considered.

"The award to the Downeaster, which runs daily from #Boston to #BrunswickMaine with several stops along the way, was part of $8.2 billion in funds announced Friday under the Federal Railroad Administration’s Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program. It’s the largest federal investment in passenger rail transportation since Amtrak was created in 1971.

"The largest portion of those funds – $3 billion – will help pay for a new rail line from Las Vegas to Los Angeles that is supposed to be finished before the 2028 summer Olympics in LA. The trip will take about two hours, or half the time it takes to drive.

Also receiving funds are a #LosAngeles - to - #SanFrancisco train; a rail expansion between #WashingtonDC, and #RichmondVirginia; and other upgrades in #Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and other states.

“'Passengers from across America will be thrilled to read about the funding agreements announced today,' said Jim Mathews, president and CEO of the Rail Passengers Association. 'These grants will support the introduction of daily Amtrak service in regions that currently have to make do with trains that only come through their town three times per week; they will help expand popular Amtrak services in rapidly growing parts of the Southeast; and they’ll plant the seeds for scores of new routes across the nation.'"

https://www.pressherald.com/2023/12/08/federal-funding-will-allow-downeaster-to-explore-expansion-to-rockland-add-falmouth-station/

#Maine #Massachusetts #NewHampshire #Trains #CommuterRail #MoreTrainsLessCars

It’s #Amtrak day for me. We're zipping up the Northeast Corridor on the #Acela today, as the last leg of our 8 day trip around the US visiting family.

Of the three possible First class menus we lucked into geting the options we most wanted. Creme Brulee french toast was great this AM, and I'm looking forward to Lasagna later.

Great high speed link north from Washington, DC, avoiding any rough air from tropical storm #Ophelia, and then we’ll ease into town this evening on the #Downeaster.

Nice, relaxing trip back to New Hampshire from Boston on Amtrak’s Downeaster. The train is pretty full, which is great to see. And, as always, the staff is excellent.

We may not be doing Acela speed anymore, but the seats are still nice and we have plenty of space to relax. Neat to see the food options on this route, which are a bit nicer than other similar routes.

#Amtrak #trains #Downeaster #Travel