Brunswick-Rockland train eyed for next year

BRUNSWICK – Passenger trains could start arriving in Brunswick from Rockland as soon as next year.

The Maine Department of Transportation hopes to establish an active rail line on 56 miles of state-owned track between the two communities.

The first evidence of the $30 million effort will appear in downtown Brunswick as soon as September, when state crews begin rebuilding rail crossings and installing new gates and signals.

A town committee will begin developing plans for a new train station later in the year.

The rail work in Brunswick follows the startup of Amtrak’s Downeaster service between Portland and Boston.

The state is hoping to eventually extend Amtrak service north from Portland to Freeport and Brunswick. Amtrak trains will not operate between Brunswick and Rockland, a line that is being reserved for slower trains.

The state has hired Atlas Railroad Construction Co. of Pennsylvania to rebuild the state-owned rail line between Rockland and Brunswick. Atlas also rehabilitated railroad trestles, upgraded railroad crossings and installed new signals along the route.

Russell Spinney, program manager for the DOT’s Multi-Modal program, said that by the time the project is completed the state will have invested about $30 million to make the Rockland-to-Brunswick branch safe for passenger rail and freight services.

The state then plans to solicit bids from private companies that might be interested in providing one or both of those services.

Trains on the line will be allowed to travel up to 50 mph.

The state wants to eventually build a high-speed ferry terminal in Rockland that could take train passengers to destinations such as Bar Harbor.