CSX, Amtrak Reach Pact on Pan Am Merger

Amtrak and CSX reportedly have reached an agreement that will remove the passenger carrier’s opposition to the freight carrier’s plans to acquire Pan Am Railways.

Although the two railroads have reached agreements on several items, Railfan and Railroad reported on its website that Amtrak said there are still some sticking points.

On Jan. 3 Amtrak had said it would oppose the CSX-Pan Am merger unless it received some specific concessions that deal with existing and potential new intercity rail passenger service in New England.

In the latest development, Amtrak said CSX has accepted six of the conditions Amtrak is seeking.

These include a CSX promise to give priority to Amtrak trains when dispatching; a CSX agreement to cooperate with potential service expansions on the former Boston & Albany line between Worcester, Massachusetts, and Albany, New York; upgrading the current Downeaster route in Maine with positive train control and allowing expanded service; and allowing operation of the new Berkshire Flyer to Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

The Flyer would use the B&A route, which also hosts the Boston section of Amtrak’s Lake Shore Limited, as part of its trek between Pittsfield and New York City on weekends.

A 1,000-foot siding will be constructed in Pittsfield.  Planning for the Berkshire Flyer has been underway for years but been stymied by lack of an agreement between Amtrak and CSX.

Trains magazine reported that the Flyer could operate as a special service pending construction of the Pittsfield siding.

The Trains report also said CSX agreed to ensure that Norfolk Southern intermodal and automotive trains using the B&A route would not interfere with proposed or existing Amtrak service.

NS trains now use Pan Am Southern tracks between Mechanicville, New York, and Ayer, Massachusetts, but would shift to the B&A after the merger is completed.

In recent weeks CSX has reached agreement with other railroad systems that had initially opposed or raised concerns about the merger.

However, two carriers, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation/Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and Canadian Pacific, still have concerns about the merger that have yet to be addressed.

Track Work Affects Valley Flyer Service

Track work being performed by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and Pan Am Railways will result in cancellation of some Valley Flyer service between June 29 and July 1.

The service suspensions will occur between Northampton and Greenfield, Massachusetts with alternate transportation being provided.

During the period train 471 will originate in Northampton. Shuttle bus 3471 will operate between Greenfield and Northampton, departing Greenfield at Train 471’s normal departure time of 7:35 a.m.

Train 471 will hold at Northampton for shuttle passengers.

Train 494 will terminate at Northampton. Shuttle bus 3494 will operate between Northampton and Greenfield, holding at Northampton for shuttle passengers.

Passengers will be required to show their ticket/e-ticket to board the shuttle bus.

Track Work to Disrupt Downeasters

Track work being performed by Pan Am Railways will affect some Downeastern trains on April. 29.

Train 682 will terminate at Durham, New Hampshire. Non-stop alternate transportation will be provided between Durham and Boston North Station.

No alternate transportation will be provided to the missed stations of Exeter, Haverhill, and Woburn.

Train 685 will originate at Durham. Non-stop alternate transportation will be provided between Boston North and Durham but no alternate transportation will be provided to the missed stations of Woburn, Haverhill, and Exeter.

Trains 681, 683, 684 and 686 are cancelled with no alternate transportation being provided.

In a service advisory Amtrak said passengers on the affected trains may choose other Downeaster service or alternate dates of travel.

Downeaster Service to Resume June 15

Amtrak will begin restoring Downeaster Service on June 15 with one roundtrip between Boston and Brunswick, Maine.

The weekday service will involve No. 680, which departs Brunswick at 4:15 a.m. and arrives in Boston at 7:50 a.m., and No. 685, which leaves Boston at 5 p.m. and is scheduled to arrive in Brunswick at 8:15 p.m.

Track work by host railroad Pan Am Railways led to a schedule change for No. 680 and passengers on No. 685 should expect delays of up to 15 minutes north of Haverhill, Massachusetts.

The Downeastern website said the train was being reinstated to provide commuting options for essential workers and those who are traveling for essential purposes.

Track Work Disrupts Downeasters

Track work being performed today (Nov. 19) by host railroad Pan Am Railways disrupted the operations of some Downeaster service.

Train 681, terminated at Wells, Maine, with alternate transportation provided between Wells and Brunswick, making intermediate stops at Portland and Freeport. No alternate transportation was provided to Saco.

Train 684 originated at Wells with alternate transportation provided between Brunswick and Wells, making intermediate stops at Freeport and Portland. No alternate transportation was provided at Saco.

Pan Am Track Work to Disrupt Downeaster Service

Track work being performed by Pan Am Railways will affect Amtrak’s Downeaster Service in Maine between Oct. 25-28.

On Oct. 25, Trains 687 and 689 will terminate at Wells with alternate transportation provided between Wells and Brunswick, making intermediate stops at Portland and Freeport. No alternate transportation will be provided to Saco.

On Oct. 26 and 27, Trains 691, 693, 695, 697 and 699, will terminate at Wells with alternate transportation provided between Wells and Brunswick, making intermediate stops at Portland and Freeport. No alternate transportation will be provided to Saco.

Trains 690, 692, 694, 696 and 698 will originate at Wells with alternate transportation provided between Brunswick and Wells, making intermediate stops at Freeport and Portland. No alternate transportation will be provided to Saco.

Track Work Affects Downeaster Service

Track work by host railroad Pan Am Railways will disrupt Downeaster Service on Tuesdays and Thursdays on Aug. 29 and Sept. 10 and 12.

Train 681, which normally operates between Boston North Station and Brunswick, will originate at Durham with Bus 3681 will connect with this train at Wells.

Train 689, which normally operates between Boston North and Brunswick, will terminate at Portland on Sept. 11.

No alternate transportation will be provided to the missed station stops of Freeport and Brunswick.

Train 1689 will terminate at Portland on Sept. 9.

Train 681, which normally operates between Brunswick and Boston North Station, will terminate at Durham. Bus 3682 will connect with this train at Wells and operate nonstop between Wells and Boston North.

Trains 683, 684 and 686 will be cancelled with no alternate transportation provided.

Additional Passenger Service Being Eyed in Maine

A study released earlier this year identified a potential new rail passenger route within the State of Maine that could be funded by a combination of fare revenue, state funding and federal funding.

The Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority is overseeing the development of the possible new routes

The Rail Authority currently manages the Amtrak’s Downeaster service between Boston and Brunswick, Maine.

“I think the time has come to look at alternative mass transit to help get people around,” said Patricia Quinn, executive director of the Rail Authority in an interview with Trains magazine.

The agency’s passenger rail service plan released in May said potential new services could include diesel multiple-unit equipment would between Lewiston and Auburn, connecting with the Downeaster at Portland or Yarmouth.

The study identified three possible routes for the Lewiston-Auburn service, including an existing Pan Am Railways freight route, an inactive railroad right of way owned by the state that runs parallel to the Pan Am Route, and an abandoned route of way.

Capital costs range from $189-295 million to ready either of those alignments for high-frequency passenger service through to Portland, or $143-184 million to terminate at Yarmouth.

Quinn views the Lewiston-Auburn service as “more of a commuter-type connectivity” that would provide connections for longer trips to the Downeaster.

Another potential service change would involve extending the Downeaster further up the Atlantic coast to Rockland via a rail line owned by the state whose last seasonal weekend passenger trains ended in 2016.

The line has freight service provided by the Maine Eastern Railroad.
“The thought process there is using our third set of equipment and just extending up to Rockland,” Quinn said.

It would be a weekend only summer operation that Quinn hopes can be implemented next year.

“Starting up a train and have it go back and forth between two arbitrary locations doesn’t necessarily mean that this is going to be an economic success.” Quinn said, adding that additional study is needed to identify specific regional and social benefits.

The Rail Authority is also conducting a study of a new rail passenger station in Portland, where some Downeaster trains originate and terminate.

Amtrak now uses the 20-year-old Portland Transportation Center at Thompson’s Point, which is 10-15 minutes by car or city bus from downtown Portland.

For trains to continue to either Brunswick or Boston requires a reverse move that adds 15 minutes to the travel time.

The Portland station has one rail platform and is at capacity for car parking and bus docks.

The Rail Authority would like to see a new multimodal transit center along the Pan Am main line with a double platform so trains could meet there going northbound and southbound.

The Maine Department of Transportation is studying possible station sites and its report is expected to be released in September.

In a related development, the Rail Authority has estimated it would cost more than $100 million to develop passenger rail service between Portland and Westbrook.

A study found that lowest ticket price to cover costs would be about $12.50 per trip, not including weekend revenue.

The study said the next step will be to work with Portland and Westbrook officials to create an operating plan. That will also need the approval of host railroad Pan Am Railways.

Track Work to Affect Downeaster Service

Track work being performed by host railroad Pan Am Railways will disrupt Amtrak’s Downeaster service between Wells, Maine, and Dover, New Hampshire on June 25.

On that date, Train 682 will operate normally from Brunswick to Wells. No alternate transportation will be provided from Wells to Boston North Station. Train 684 will operate normally from Brunswick to Wells. A bus will depart Wells at 12:40 p.m. to take passengers to Dover. Train 684 will continue from Dover to Boston.

Also, Train 686 will be cancelled with no alternate transportation provided. Train 688 will operate normally from Brunswick to Wells. A bus will depart Wells at 6:55 p.m. to take passengers to Dover. Train 688 will continue from Dover to Boston.

Train 681 will operate normally from Boston to Dover. A bus will depart Dover at 10:35 a.m. to take passengers to Wells. Train 681 will continue from Wells to Brunswick.

Train 683 will be cancelled with no alternate transportation provided. Train 685 will operate normally from Boston North to Dover. A bus will depart Dover at 6:30 p.m. to take passengers to Wells. Train 685 will continue from Wells to Brunswick.

Train 687 will be cancelled with no alternate transportation provided. Train 689 will operate as Train 1689 from Boston to Dover. A bus will depart Dover at 12:55 a.m. to take passengers to Wells. Train 1689 will continue from Wells to Brunswick.

Siding to Allow Downeaster Expansion

Construction of a siding on Pan Am Railways in Maine is expected to enable an expansion of Amtrak Downeaster service between Boston and Brunswick, Maine.

The siding being built at Royal Junction between Falmouth and Cumberland.

Officials said current track conditions limit the number of trains that can operate between Portland and Brunswick.

The siding, which is costing $9 million, has been in the planning stages since Downeaster service was extended to Brunswick in 2012.

“Royal Siding will improve efficiency of service and increase the amount of service to Freeport and Brunswick,” said Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority Executive Director Patricia Quinn.