BOSTON/PORTLAND, Me. - An old tradition was observed December 14 in announcing restoration of passenger rail service to Maine from Boston's North Station. All along the corridor, with its upgraded foundation, track and highway crossing gates, those fortunate enough to be on board this historic trip were greeted by peeling church bells, high school bands, community leaders and cheers of "Welcome Back!" Thousands of well wishers, from rail buffs recording the historic event, to school children and townsfolk, lined the new track.
On the campus of the University of New Hampshire, where the New England Center is providing shuttle service to the station for its many conferences, the bell in Thompson Hall was rung while a football marching band struck up "I've Been Working on the Railroad."
It's been 31 years since the last passenger train departed Portland for the 114-mile run into Boston.
Despite lukewarm support from New Hampshire state transportation officials, and a hammering received in some of the state's newspapers, there were many who felt the return of rail to the state's seacoast region was long overdue. In fact, the state is the beneficiary of three stops; at Exeter, Durham on weekends and at Dover, where an award-winning station is still under construction. Until now New Hampshire has only had one Amtrak stop at Claremont Junction, a part of Vermonter rail service to New York City.
It took a grueling 13 years to bring back rail service on the other side. Advocates had to overcome every conceivable obstacle placed in the way of it ever happening ranging from resistance by the rail industry itself, labor unions, competing bus service, government regulators, the reluctance of New Hampshire, a spectacle press and local officials wary of an inattentive motoring public.
"But a great deal has been learned through all of this process." explained Wayne Davis, chair of TrainRiders Northeast, a rail advocacy group. "The next time will be easier."
The "next time" for New Hampshire will be in 2005 when, explained NH Congressman John Sununu, Mass. Bay Transit Authority rails reach Nashua for the start of commuter service into Boston via a different route.
On board Friday's train at one time or another was Maine's entire Congressional delegation, their Gov. Angus King, Jeanne Shaheen, chief executive of New Hampshire, Sununu, and others including regional planners, selectmen, state and federal transportation officials.
Gov. King, addressing one trackside gathering, exclaimed, "To get train service back required the four "Ps" -- planning, partnership, perseverance and passion." Others in the crowd added a fifth -- Portland, where support among the business community has been especially strong.
"To those who say the automobile still can make it to Boston in less time," noted Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority chair Jonathan Carter, "I say that may hold true as far as the Tobin Bridge. From here on it is a crap shoot. I think you're better off on rails." He noted the ease with which rail riders could access the Fleet Center for sporting events and Fenway Park for Red Sox games.
Gov. King compared the cost of riding the train to what it costs just to park in Boston.
Friday's jovial celebration was held against the backdrop of a Nov. 9 report to Congress by the Amtrak Reform Council, by a 6-5 vote, that the nation's passenger rail corporation should start to planning for its own reorganization or liquidation. Under the Amtrak Reform and Accountability Act the council was created and must report by Feb. 7. Because Amtrak is not entirely self supporting financially it options are spinning off rail service to the states, breaking up into a series of regional rail corridors, dropping long-distance intercity service, separating Amtrak operations from the high cost of infrastructure maintenance, or leaving the system as is.
The Council and Amtrak will consider these and other options during January. The White House is also expected to come forward with its own plan for Amtrak as well. To concerns that the Republican executive branch might scuttle passenger rail service, Maine Senator Susan Collins responded, "This will not be an option."
Observers recalled that Pres. Bush's brother, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush's first act after taking office was to kill all funding for the cross Florida high-speed rail project as "far too costly for taxpayers."
Acting Amtrak Board chair Michael Dukakis noted at more than one stop, "We spend $33 billion on highways each year, $12 billion to subsidize the airlines -- and this was before Sept. 11 -- and a paltry $313 million to rail. I don't even want to discuss the Big Dig! So what is needed is a Rail Trust Fund like that for highways and airways."
