MAINE MONITOR • November 8, 2021
it’s a near unicorn hunt in Maine public policy and state politics to find critics who question the wisdom of expanding the Downeaster train to Lewiston, Augusta, Rockland, Bangor — or 150 miles beyond that to Aroostook County. But as the Maine media regularly reported that the Downeaster set ridership records from 2010 to 2019 — which was true — operating costs were climbing much faster. Looking ahead, the Downeaster’s forecast is one of uncertainty. The biggest hurdles facing passenger rail include a new, critical look at whether office workers need to commute on a daily basis; “green” competition from environmentally friendly hybrid and electric-powered passenger cars; and an old but still relevant fact that in many markets, traveling by bus is more convenient than trains for scheduling and drop-off locations.