The Downeaster train will carry passengers from Brunswick to Boston beginning on Nov. 1 with two daily round-trips, but some Midcoast Maine residents hope more rides are in store further down the proverbial track. 

“I think it's a wonderful opportunity,” Lisa Garmon at the Wiscasset Town Office said. She is the executive assistant and manages general assistance in Wiscasset. “I think we need to broaden public transportation.”

A handful of people from Wiscasset and other towns in Midcoast Maine responded the same way; they are excited about the new train service from Brunswick to Boston and hope it is a sign of increased passenger rail service in the near future.

Garmon said that from the general assistance standpoint, Wiscasset has a real public transportation issue that needs to be addressed. A regular service stop in town could translate to more work opportunities for those who can't afford an automobile.

In terms of economic development, additional train service could also bring in more business through tourism. Misty Gorski, Wiscasset's planning and development director, said the seasonal rail service from Rockland to Brunswick offers future potential for the region. 

“The expansion of the Downeaster is an excellent example of how FRA (Federal Railroad Administration), the state of Maine, NNEPRA and Amtrak worked together to reconnect Brunswick and Freeport to Portland and Boston for the first time since 1959,” FRA administrator Joseph Szabo said. 

“It also serves as an example of how intercity rail can serve as a catayst for a new wave of residential, retail, and hospitality development creating more than $400 million of new economic development.” 

Frank Sprague, owner of Sprague's Lobster stand on Creamery Pier, said he plans on taking the train for a family excursion at some point in the near future. “It's very exciting.” 

For many residents north of Brunswick, that is what the new train service means: a day-trip to Boston or an overnight excursion. Gorski said she believes there is enough interest in the region to keep the conversation going. 

Janice Bradford, who works in the Woolwich town office, said she is looking forward to taking the train from Brunswick.

“The prices are good,” she said. “And it's a lot less stressful than driving.”

For older residents living in the Damariscotta area, taking a coastal bus from downtown is more convenient. 

“At this point, it's not especially important to the retirement community (in the Damariscotta area),” Scott Shott, vice president of development at Lincoln County Healthcare said. However, he added that the new train service is a good thing for Brunswick and for the rest of Midcoast Maine. “I really hope people use it. I think it's great.”

Gordon Page is the vice president and director of passenger operations of Maine Eastern Railroad, which runs freight and excursion passenger rail service between Rockland and Brunswick. Regarding an expansion of passenger service in the future, he said, “the possibility always exists.”

There are currently five round-trips from Portland to Boston and Page said people had been hoping for a long time the same amount of service would come to Brunswick. 

“Under the current circumstances, we're looking at a fairly lengthy layover,” he said.

Maine Eastern Railroad will not be adding additional passenger rail service through the winter, but Page said he would be keeping his eye on the Downeaster schedule.

“It's going to take a little while for people to get used to riding in Brunswick,” he said.

By spring of next year, the schedule could change, but Page said it is just too early to tell. They want to provide good train service from Rockland to Boston at some point, but service schedules have to align with one another first. The excursion train's Fall Foliage schedule runs until October 21. After that, there are special holiday train service runs in November and December. The Maine Eastern Railroad schedule can be viewed at www.maineeasternrailroad.com. 

According to NNEPRA, the new train service from Brunswick is expected to draw about 30,000 new passengers annually.

Current Downeaster schedule:

There will also be an early morning and late evening trip between Brunswick and Portland to position trains bound for Boston, according to the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA). 

One-way fares will be under $30 per person, but multi-ride passes will also be available. Reservations can be made at www.amtrakdowneaster.com.