"Northern Maine fears loss of lifeline; Struggling region would suffer another blow if tracks to the north are closed" by Brian MacQuarrie, Globe Staff | August 4, 2010
PORTAGE LAKE, Maine — In all his 66 years, Rudy Boutot, a leathery veteran of the logging trade, has never seen the economy this bad....
Anyone tell him we have had roaring growth for three quarters now?
Now, in a potentially crippling loss for the region’s psyche and payroll, the railroad that hauls much of northern Maine’s forest products wants to abandon 233 miles of track that state and county officials say are critical to the county’s economy.
“It would be a permanent blow,’’ said Denis Berube of the Northern Maine Development Commission. “It would just bring the companies here that much closer to the point of no return.’’
The Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway, which owns the freight line that has helped connect Aroostook County with the outside world since 1891, is losing about $5 million per year and cannot ignore the bottom line, company officials said....
Where is THEIR BAILOUT, huh?
BANKS got a HELL of a lot more loot!!
Some folks seem to make money:
"Amtrak posts gains on Downeaster line
Amtrak’s Downeaster, which runs between Portland and Boston, bounced back from a dip last year to finish the fiscal year with its best performance, an official said yesterday. Ridership rebounded after losing ground in the first five months of the fiscal year to finish 1 percent ahead of the previous year, said Patricia Quinn, executive director of the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority."
