Downeaster completes track repairs, restores full service
Amtrak’s Downeaster passenger train service has returned to its full schedule of five daily round-trips between Portland and Boston following completion of track repairs that have led to months of delays and cancellations.
The Bangor Daily News reported that the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority restored the full schedule on Friday.
Rail damage caused by a harsh winter and heavy snow melt on about 27 miles of Pan Am Railways track — running from the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border to Maine — prompted the Federal Railroad Administration this spring to issue an order requiring slower train speeds in that stretch of track. That resulted in cancellations and delayed service, contributing to July ridership being down by almost 5,000 one-way trips and June ridership down by 1,500 trips. The repairs severely impacted the train’s on-time performance, which dipped to about 19% in June, compared to its normal 80% or better on-time performance.
Despite those problems, the Downeaster reported a new record for ticket revenues in fiscal year 2014, which closed last month: $8.6 million, a 6.2% increase over last fiscal year's $8.1 million. The passenger train service also saw a 4.6% increase in passengers to 536,524 one-way trips for FY 2014.
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