SUN JOURNAL • June 10, 2023
Passenger rail service is rearing its expensive and terribly outmoded head again as a transportation option between Portland and Lewiston. Construction estimates have the cost of upgrading the rails, bridges, signaling, safety systems and one-time purchase of equipment at well over $250 million, and that estimate was built on pre-COVID dollars. It’s likely $300 million now and climbing, as federal spending will continue to push inflation to whatever levels. Estimates as to how many people would ride a train that would get very few of them to their ultimate destinations are pathetically low. Annual operations and maintenance costs have been projected in the $15 to $20 million range. Common sense says “kill this idea” now, once and for all. ~ Bob Stone, former Auburn representative to the L-A Passenger Rail Study Committee