Could the Amtrak Downeaster Expand Its Route to Rockland, Maine?

The Amtrak Downeaster set an all-time ridership record in fiscal year 2023–2024, carrying nearly 600,000 passengers between Brunswick and Boston. That's a 4% increase from the record the Downeaster set in 2019.

With a new station set to be built in Portland that will improve travel times by eliminating the need to go off the main line to Tompson's Point station and then reverse back onto the main line to go north to Brunswick, the Downeast will only become more convenient for passengers. It's one of the easiest and most fun ways to travel from Maine to Boston.

According to Railfand & Railroad Magazine the State of Maine is looking to find a new operator for the track that they own from Brunswick to Rockland through the towns of Bath, Woolwich, Wiscasset, Newcastle, Damariscotta  Mills, Nobleboro, Waldoboro, Warren, and Thomaston.

The Finger Lakes Railway ended operation on the Rockland branch when the Dragon Cement in Thomaston, the largest customer on the line and the only one who turned a profit for the railroad, closed their plant.

In addition to the state looking for someone to run freight, they are also considering an expansion of the Downeast to Rockland. It could become a seasonal run during fall foliage and bring tourists to Rockland during the summer. If it goes through, there would be three runs a day between Brunswick and Rockland on Thursday through Sunday from May to October. It would also include two daily runs from Brunswick to Bath, Monday through Friday, to service Bath Iron Works.

This is all just in the proposal stage, so like all big projects in Maine, it will take time, we'll just have to wait and see.