Downeaster Train Travel Through Maine, New Hampshire, & Massachusetts Down From Previous Year

Even though, here in Northern New England, we are not as accustomed to riding the rails as people are in some parts of the world, most can see the value of the Downeaster passenger train.

While most people are not going to use the train for business travel, like you might see in Europe, it is a great option for people taking getaways.  It is a lot more convenient to park in Brunswick and take the train to Old Orchard Beach, than it is to deal with paying for parking and traffic, for example.

Also, it is perfect for people who want to go to a Bruins, Celtics, or Red Sox game.  Or, someone who wants to go to Boston for a concert.  For those who don't know, the train stops at a station in the basement of the TD Garden.

Despite how convenient taking the train is, the Downeaster has reportedly seen a drop in passenger numbers in the last year.

According to an article on the WMTW website, while Amtrak overall saw an increase in riders in the last year, the same report shows the Downeaster saw a bit of a dip this past year.  Ridership dropped just over seven percent, coming in at 549,120 passenger trips.  The year before, it was closer to 592,000.

Even with the slowdown, the Downeaster hit a big milestone in 2024 when it welcomed its ten millionth passenger.

The service has been running since December of 2001 and has seen steady growth over the long haul. In fact, ridership climbed eighty five percent between fiscal year 2006 and fiscal year 2019.

It is important to note that, wile Amtrak ridership was up, most Amtrak routes in the Northeast also saw fewer riders this year.  The only ones that managed to grow were the Adirondack in New York, the Vermonter through Vermont, Massachusetts and Connecticut, and the Keystone and the Pennsylvanian in Pennsylvania.

Personally, I have never had the chance to ride the Downeaster, but I have had many friends and family use the train for trips to Boston.

If you have ridden it, please share your experience with us.