The Brunswick area was especially hard hit by the storm last week, with widespread, long-lasting power outages. Side offices were without power for nearly 6 full days, and had no internet or phone services for most of that period. Fortunately, nealy $500 worth of propane kept our standby whole house generator humming along nicely during that entire period
The Downeaster, on the other hand, did not fare as well as we did. Here’s a report from the NNEPRA web site: http://www.nnepra.com/press/october-2017-storm
One of the network channels carried some info a day or two after the storm hit:
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/latest-hampshire-schools-power-50862051
Then we found this update on the NNEPRA web page on Thursday, Nov. 2, at 5pm.
Alert
Friday, November 3, 2017 - Modified Service Plan
Due to continuing power outages on the northern end of the Downeaster route, please anticipate minor delays.
The following service modifications have been made for Friday, November 3 :
Morning southbound trains 680 and 682 will operate between Wells station and Boston North station serving all intermediate stations.
Passengers travelling from Brunswick, Freeport, Portland and Saco will be provided service via motor coach to Wells.
Morning northbound train 681 will operate between Boston North station and Wells station serving all intermediate stations.
Passengers travelling to Portland and Saco will be provided service via motor coach from Wells.
Afternoon trains (683, 684, 685, 686, 687, 688 & 689) will operate- we will evaluate the need continue a similar bussing/modified service plan in the morning.
Alert
Thursday November 2 Service- 9:45am Update
Due to continuing power outages on the northern end of the Downeaster route, please anticipate delays. The following service modifications have been made for Thursday, November 2 :
Train service will operate between Wells station and Boston North station serving all intermediate stations.
Passengers travelling to/from Brunswick, Freeport, Portland and Saco will be provided service via motor coach to/from Wells.
No service from Saco to Portland or Portland to Saco.
Train 688 and 689 are cancelled.
Alert
Track work being performed by Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), will affect Downeaster service as described below:
Saturday and Sunday November 4 and 5
Downeaster trains will operate to and from Haverhill on November 4 and 5. Customers will be provided bus service between Haverhill and Boston North Station only. Service will not be provided to or from Woburn.
Southbound Service: Southbound trains will operate normally between Brunswick and Haverhill. At Haverhill, customers will transfer to a bus that will operate nonstop to Boston North Station.
Northbound Service: Northbound trains will be replaced with buses operating nonstop from Boston North Station to Haverhill. At Haverhill, customers will transfer to Downeaster trains, serving all remaining stations on the route.
As you can see, passenger rail is not your best choice in stormy conditions, or, we might project, when the coming months visit upon us another “unexpectedly cold and harsh winter,” as NNEPRA is likely to rationalize more delays, terminations, and tie-replacement operations in the spring.
Note in the above that “rubber-tired” bus service was operating normally, and able to pitch in to mitigate the disabled Downeaster service. Our guess is that Concord Coach and the Metro Breez service operated normally during the storm. Which reminds us of how singular in purpose railroad tracks are, and how vulnerable the rights of way are to the vicissitudes of weather. There is no detour, there is no alternate lane, there is no backup. Passenger rail is a classic example of a single point failure system design. Mess up a half mile of a 140 mile train route, and the train can not make it through. It’s that simple.
Turns out we have a close friend involved in operation of the Maine Turnpike. He tells us it operated just fine duing the storm, without skipping a beat. Not to mention that it is financially self-supporting; it has no operating deficits, and requires no subsidies.
Not that such details matter if you’re a foamer.
We’re guessing your own motor vehicle and streets operated nearly problem free, unless you were unlucky enough to have a felled tree or telephone pole blocking your way. We recognize some of you probably had this happen, as did we.
The simple fact is that the passenger rail system is the most vulnerable of our surface transportation alternatives, bar none. While at the same time running at a 50% deficit so that a very small segment of the population can pleasure themselves at the expense of the entire population.
Which is why this is such a great country, right?
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