Is Passenger Rail Service To And From Bangor A Good Idea? [POLL]

What would you think about the Amtrak Downeaster, the passenger rail service that runs between Brunswick and Boston, making its way all the way to Bangor?  It just may happen someday.

Rep. Michelle Dunphy, D-Old Town, has sponsored a measure that would explore extending passenger rail service to the Bangor area.

In a press release today, Dunphy said, "“Expanding rail service represents a unique economic opportunity for our part of the state.  Passenger rail is fuel efficient, relieves pressure on our roads and provides an affordable alternative for commuters and visitors alike.”

Passenger rail service to Bangor and beyond was once very popular back in the late 19th to mid 20th century.  The last passenger train departed the old Union Station in 1960.  Union Station once stood proudly where the Penobscot Plaza now stands.

The Bill, LD 1174, would direct the Maine Department of Transportation to analyze the cost and feasibility of extending passenger rail service to Bangor.

Much of the old line between southern Maine and Bangor may need to be replaced.  Patricia Quinn, executive director of the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority recently said in a Bangor Daily News article that it may cost up to $100 million to bring service back to Bangor, depending on the condition of the existing track.

In 2012, the popular Amtrak Downeaster expanded service to both Freeport and Brunswick from Portland.  The comfortable and affordable service has exceeded projected ridership by roughly 50 percent.

The measure has been forwarded to the Committee on Transportation and will be reviewed in the near future.