Rail authorities have approved a pilot program for this summer that would extend Amtrak service to Bath, Wiscasset, Newcastle and Rockland for three weekends.
The Bangor Daily News reports that the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority board of directors voted Monday to approve the seasonal extension. Amtrak’s Downeaster now runs between Brunswick and Boston.
The pilot program originally was scheduled to run for 10 weeks this summer, but the board voted to scale back the program because of funding problems.
Maine Transportation Commissioner David Bernhardt said the department won’t approve additional state or federal funds for rail service extension in the 2019 fiscal year. Patricia Quinn, the rail authority’s executive director, says ridership fees can sufficiently fund the upcoming pilot program.
The program still needs approval from the Maine Department of Transportation.
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