Proposal for train from Montreal to Boston gains steam

Old Orchard Beach is seen as a key stop in a proposed train service that would travel from Montreal to Boston.

More than 60 governmental and business leaders from the United States and Canada met last week in Coaticook, Quebec Canada to discuss the proposed train service, said State Rep. Lori Gramlich, D, of Old Orchard Beach, who attended the meeting.

The proposed train would run overnight, leaving Montreal at 6 p.m., making stops in Canada, Vermont, and New Hampshire before stopping in Bethel, Auburn, Portland, Old Orchard Beach, then heading further south to Durham New Hampshire and arriving at Boston, its final destination, at 8 a.m. The average speed would be around 35 miles per hour in order to utilize existing freight train tracks, said Francois Rebello, a businessman and former politician from Montreal and director of Canadian non-profit, Fondation Trains de nuit, or Night Trains Foundation.

Rebello referred to the proposed train as a “train-hotel.” Travelers could board the train, eat dinner, go to sleep in a private roomette and then wake up in the morning and arrive at their destination. He envisions it as a seasonal service, with overnight trains in both directions.

“Old Orchard Beach really is the economic driver for this project,” he said, noting the popularity of Old Orchard Beach as a vacation destination for people living in Quebec.

In 2019, Canadian visitors spent almost $1.2 billion in Maine, according to data from the Maine Department of Tourism.

Rebello and Gramlich said the proposed train could be an attractive way to travel for young adults in Montreal who choose not to drive. Data from Quebec's automobile insurance board shows that young Quebecers are increasingly opting not to own cars, according to a 2018 news report from the Canadian Broadcasting Company.

“From an environmental perspective, it would be great to have more public transportation to decrease our carbon footprint and dependency on fossil fuels,” said Gramlich.

This isn’t the first time the idea has been considered. Discussions on a similar proposal were held several years ago.

Rebello said he believes that the project is in a better position now, as more research has been done and the idea has support from elected officials in both Canada and the United States. He noted the bi-partisan support for the project in Maine from Gramlich and St. Rep. Grayson Lookner of Portland, both Democrats, as well as State Senator Rick Bennett, a Republican from Oxford.

He said there will have to be negotiations with the multiple companies that each own a stretch of the tracks along the route, and support from the communities where the train will stop. Federal and private money is being sought for upgrades needed on a stretch of tracks in Canada. Rebello said if all agreements and funding are secured, the train could start service in 2025.

Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.