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Downeaster

                  Downeaster Page

      

Amtrak's Downeaster runs from Boston's North Station to Portland, Maine, four times a day, stopping at several Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine towns. The train started running on December 14, 2001, and carries standard Amfleet coaches and cafe car. We haven't ridden it yet, but have had an opportunity to do some photography since its inception. We've been impressed by the small transportation centers springing up in towns like Dover, NH, and Wells, Maine., as well as by surveys which show high customer satisfaction.We're less impressed by  the exterior cleanliness of the of the train, which is affected negatively by  poor cleaning facilities at North Station. It was a struggle to get the train running, what with endless roadblocks created by Guildford Transportation, which owns the old Boston and Maine tracks over which the train runs.  Fortunately, TraiinRiders/Northeast kept on the pressure through its RailVision PAC to collect signatures (close to 90,000)  in Maine to force state government to spend no less than $40 million dollars to get things on track. Happily, with this help Amtrak and the train's sponsor, the New England Rail Passenger Auuthority, have prevailed and it is expected that trip times will soon be shortened and  two round trips have been added. We hope they figure out how to always wash the windows so passengers can enjoy the beautiful views.

Here are some of our photos. Click on each to enlarge.











The first six photos above were taken in Dover, NH, in late December 2001 and a year later. The next three in December 2001, and the last at the new Wells, Maine, station in May, 2004.

          
        









The first two photos above were taken in the Wells station, and the next two of trains coming and going. The final five were taken in Haverhill, Mass., in the winter and summer of 2005.







The above were taken in Dover, NH, in July, 2005. The photos below were taken in Durham, New Hampshire, in January 2006







Below is a photo taken in Kennebunk on a beautful late autumn day in November, 2007. It shows a Downeaster speeding through on its way from Boston to Portland.

    



We'll keep photographing this train so check back. To see The Downeaster's dedicated website, click here. For TrainRiders/Northeast, click here.
         
                                                                               

This page was created on August 5, 2005 and updated February, 2008
               


                                                                   



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