BostonHerald.com
Wednesday, July 4, 2001

Feds clear Hub-Maine train service
by Doug Hanchett

After months of disputes and delays, federal rail officials have literally
cleared the track for Boston-to-Portland passenger service to debut at top
speeds this fall.

In a decision issued late last week, the Surface Transportation Board has
ordered Guilford Rail System to allow Amtrak to test the track in Maine and
New Hampshire to ensure it can handle trains chugging along at 79 mph.

Guilford, the owner of the track, argued that it is unsafe to allow trains
to travel any faster than 59 mph and had rejected Amtrak's request to test
the line.

The track testing takes a few days and will be done within the next few
weeks.

Maine rail officials still need to build platforms and a train layover
facility.

Officials at the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority said they're
cautiously optimistic about introducing the trains this fall.

The service will feature four round-trips a day between Portland and Boston,
with one-way tickets costing about $20.


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