BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 26, 2026
Maine is currently served by one passenger rail service: Amtrak’s Downeaster, managed by the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority between Boston and Brunswick. Extending the Downeaster further north to Augusta or to Orono could provide benefits beyond serving as merely a transportation option. A study commissioned by the Maine Rail Group and conducted and published by the Rail Passengers Association reported that extending two round trips of the Downeaster could deliver $61.7 million in economic benefits to the state and projected that the extended service would attract 260,000 additional riders in the first year of operation. With service improvements underway and new equipment coming online, now is the time for the Downeaster to be extended to better serve the people of Maine. ~ Michael Johnson, Bucksport