Will Bangor, Maine Get Amtrak Service To Boston?

Having Amtrak would be a huge boost for the Bangor area!

This past Sunday, I went to TD Garden to see the final regular season Boston Celtics game, but instead of taking the normal, stress filled 4-hour drive, we switched it up and tried something new.

The Amtrak Downeaster provides 5 daily trips, between Brunswick and Boston, with several stops along the way, including, Portland, Saco, Exeter, New Hampshire, and Haverhill, Massachusetts, with a final stop at North Station, which just happens to be where the Garden is located.

It was 50 dollars for a round trip ticket, with travel time around 3 hours and 20 minutes, which is a little longer than the normal drive from Brunswick, but so worth the wait.

Not only do you get a beautiful scenic view, the train also provides you with food and beverage, and takes the stress away from the hectic pace of driving.

But the question remains, will the Downeaster ever expand to the Bangor area?

There has been ongoing interest and proposals to bring Amtrak service to Bangor, but for the short term future, it's unlikely to happen.

The problem seems to be that the cost of extending the existing Downeaster line to Bangor, would be very high, and the turnout would be low, which is something I can verify, because more than half of the riders exited the train in Portland, which makes it financially unsustainable.

Fun fact: Bangor has not had passenger train service since 1961. But now that The Queen City has becomne a concert destination in the last several years, it might be enough to re-start the conversation.

The Maine Department of Transportation is pretty dead set against the idea, with high costs, low ridership projections, and the availability of alternative transportation options like buses and personal vehicles.

Efforts to study the idea of passenger rail to Bangor have been voted down by the state legislature, indicating a lack of support for the project.

Either way, if you plan a trip to Boston for a game, or concert, the Amtrak Downeaster is a fantasic way to travel!

You can find out more about the Amtrak Downeaster here