Before spikes are pulled

At a time when gasoline and diesel fuel prices are nearing their all-time high, when heavy trucks are required to use secondary roads rather than the interstate and Washington County remains isolated from the shopping arenas of central Maine, one has to question what our elected officials are thinking by tearing up the Brewer-Calais rail line.

Granted, the right of way has been neglected for two decades and both regarding and tie renewal will require some hefty investment of public funds, yet doesn’t it make sense to keep the corridor of transportation in place rather than to remove it?

Two rail diesel cars, operated from Calais to Brewer, and met by BAT transportation to the Bangor Mall, would stimulate economic benefits to both areas and possibly increase the visitation of our Canadian neighbors to the greater Bangor region. Operating nostalgic tourist trains at the peak of the summer season between Ellsworth and Machias, would likewise, attract visitors to the Down East region.

Before the spikes are pulled and this lovely, scenic, rural line fades into dim memory, I would ask our local representatives to have the state government re-think the possibilities offered by initiating light rail service between Brewer and Calais.

Richard Glueck

Winterport