Ten years and 3.5 million passengers later, Amtrak has something to celebrate this week. Thursday marks the tenth anniversary of the Downeaster-passenger train service between Boston and Portland that has exceeded even the most enthusiastic expectations. A celebration that began with a pizza party on Monday for Amtrak employees will culminate Thursday with an anniversary ceremony in Portland. Meanwhile, a short distance up the road in Brunswick, construction workers on Tuesday lowered into place several sections of prefabricated concrete to form the train ramp at Brunswick Station. It’s the next stop on the return of passenger rail service to Maine, projected to expand to Brunswick in late 2012.
Ramp construction underway at Brunswick Station.
3 thoughts on “Brunswick ‘Ramps Up’ for Amtrak (Washington Post)”
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Dec. 13
For the Old Guard (I prefer to call us Golden Bears) the Boston Brunswick train was THE WAY to get to Bowdoin with the Eagle Hotel at the Rail stop and all within walking distance. I would like to be on the First run and hear the Conductor in Portsmouth announce in his Maine accent Kittery, York, Ogunquit, Saco, Old Orchard, S. Portland, Portland , Freeport, Brunswick and Bath. What memories meeting our dates Sat. AM for the weekend festivities.
David”57
My wife and I will never forget the episode, after a winter weekend at Bowdoin,when I put her on the train in Brunswick to return to Boston. It was cold. I left the car running. I hopped on the train with her to say “goodbye” one more time. The train started moving. The conductor would not allow me to get off, and insisted I pay the fare to Portland! By the time I returned to Brunswick on the next train north, my car had run out of gas, and I had a parking ticket!! I was mad as _ell; but we have looked back on that episode many times, with a chuckle!!//Reid
I arrived at Bowdoin as a freshman (not a “first-year”) on the train complete with my bike. Upperclassmen were at the station to help with baggage. I turned my bags over to some kind students and rode my bike up the hill to Winthrop Hall. It was my first day at Bowdoin. Without that train I couldn’t have arrived at my dorm on a bike! I believe that would be the last year of train service to Brunswick till 2012! So glad it’s coming back!
Tony Antolini ’63