$2.1M in federal funding will help Downeaster get back on track during pandemic

File photo Courtesy / Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority The Amtrak Downeaster, which runs from Brunswick to Boston, has implemented new safety protocols in response to the pandemic, some of which are being funded by the federal CARES Act.

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By Staff

The quasi-public organization that operates the Amtrak Downeaster train service between Boston and Brunswick has been awarded $2.1 million in federal funding to cover operating and preventative maintenance expenses during the pandemic.

Funding for the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority was announced Monday and allocated through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act.

The news comes more than a month after the Downeaster sought to get back on track from a reduced schedule during the pandemic, with the addition of four round-trip passenger trains between Brunswick and Boston as of July 20.

Trains are running with new health and safety protocols, including enhanced cleaning and disinfecting measures, a face covering requirement for crews and passengers, onboard air filtration systems with a fresh air exchange every 4-5 minutes and station signage promoting physical distancing.

The CARES Act directs $48.5 billion to support transportation and housing programs.

“Passenger rail systems are facing significant financial pressures due to the ongoing pandemic. The Downeaster serves as an economic engine for Maine, providing good jobs, supporting local vendors of goods and services, and strengthening our tourism industry,” U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said in a news release.

"This critical investment will allow the Downeaster to make important improvements to its rail line in Maine, enhancing safety, efficiency, and reliability for the hundreds of thousands of passengers who use this service each year."

Collins is running for reelection in November against Democrat Sara Gideon and two Independent challengers, Lisa Savage and Max Linn.

The Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority is a public transportation authority created in 1995 by the state Legislature to develop and provide passenger rail service between Maine and Boston.

Another recipient of federal funding under CARES is the Casco Bay Island Transit District, which runs Portland's quasi-municipal ferry service to seven islands.

It was recently awarded another $1.9 million in federal funding to keep its vessels, facility and equipment in service and in good working condition during the pandemic.