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Poll results

The revival of passenger rail service in Maine continues to make headlines. A study released on Tuesday examined the potential costs and opportunities for launching a train link between Portland and neighboring Westbrook. Public discussion continues about proposed service between Portland and Lewiston, an idea first floated in 2015. Other communities want to get on board, too. For example, there's been strong support for a seasonal extension of the Amtrak Downeaster train service from Brunswick to Rockland, although plans have been delayed by safety and legal issues.

Meanwhile, the Downeaster continues to enjoy popularity, having added the Brunswick stop in 2012 and recently increasing the number of trains to Boston. There's also been talk of bringing back passenger trains to Bangor, where they last ran in 1954. That possibility seems remote, however.

Indeed, some of the hopes for renewed passenger rail service in Maine may be mere pipe dreams. (Or heavily subsidized pipe dreams.) Beyond the Downeaster, which makes six stops in the state, it's unclear how long Mainers will be waiting for a train.

How do you feel about the potential expansion of passenger rail service in Maine?
Passenger rail definitely can and should be expanded statewide. (57%, 85 VOTES)
New service to Westbrook or Lewiston might be feasible, but that's it. (13%, 19 VOTES)
Expanding beyond the current service won't be practical anytime soon. (9%, 13 VOTES)
Passenger rail expansion is a southern Maine goal, not a state one. (7%, 11 VOTES)
New train service would divert resources from more pressing needs. (14%, 20 VOTES)
Poll Description

The revival of passenger rail service in Maine continues to make headlines. A study released on Tuesday examined the potential costs and opportunities for launching a train link between Portland and neighboring Westbrook. Public discussion continues about proposed service between Portland and Lewiston, an idea first floated in 2015. Other communities want to get on board, too. For example, there's been strong support for a seasonal extension of the Amtrak Downeaster train service from Brunswick to Rockland, although plans have been delayed by safety and legal issues.

Meanwhile, the Downeaster continues to enjoy popularity, having added the Brunswick stop in 2012 and recently increasing the number of trains to Boston. There's also been talk of bringing back passenger trains to Bangor, where they last ran in 1954. That possibility seems remote, however.

Indeed, some of the hopes for renewed passenger rail service in Maine may be mere pipe dreams. (Or heavily subsidized pipe dreams.) Beyond the Downeaster, which makes six stops in the state, it's unclear how long Mainers will be waiting for a train.

  • 148 Votes
  • 3 Comments
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3 Comments

  • July 31, 2019
    We should plan for a rail service that looks considerably different 10 years from now than it does today, as part of overlapping options for transport from bicycles to Uber-like services, to regional buses, and still including personal automobiles (albeit more hybrid and electric). Just building the same type of option for Westbrook and Lewiston, and hopefully Rockland and Montreal as well, may indeed seem expensive unless we transform rail's role in our transportation options, thus changing the context for the analysis.
  • July 31, 2019

    As it has already been so many years as a conversation, I wish they would make rail service to Lewiston a reality. Enough talking and not enough doing! There is too much red tape and bureaucracy. Just get it done. It will help people in the second or third largest area in Maine. Then once this is up and running, look at the benefits to run it up to Bangor. This could be a godsend to people up in the county as this way they would only have to get down to Bangor to then be easily connected to the southern part of the state and beyond.

  • July 31, 2019
    I am a person who lives with lung problems. Today I'm in my house all day because of the air quality alert prompted by high levels of ozone. It is unsafe for me to spend any prolonged period of time outside. The predominant cause of ground level ozone is due to heat/sun combined with high levels of vehicle traffic. I am all for anything that will help reduce the number of vehicles on the road. I also happen to love trains, and I love to ride them. Driving is so stress inducing - but a train ride is quite relaxing. I'll gladly ride the train anywhere!