AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine Switching Services, the freight operator on the state-owned Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad, has been selected by the Maine Department of Transportation to operate and maintain the state’s Rockland Branch, a 57-mile former Maine Central line.
However, a pilot program to test passenger service on the route, in coordination with the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority-sponsored Downeaster, is not part of the proposal. The state had previously appropriated $3 million for that project.
The state announced the decision in a press release today (Jan. 9, 2025). In addition to its involvement with the Belfast & Moosehead Lake, the company provides switching at two paper mills and railcar repair.
The operator was chosen for its freight experience. In a statement, Maine DOT Commissioner Bruce Van Note says, “We believe Maine Switching Services has the experience necessary to provide high-quality freight service for customers … and we look forward to growing our partnership with MSS as we work together to overcome the challenges created by the closure of the major freight shipper on the line — Dragon Cement in 2024.”
Dragon’s decision to close triggered the decision by the previous operator, Finger Lakes Railway subsidiary Midcoast Railservice, to withdraw from the branch last summer. It abandoned plans to operate a connection to the Downeaster with leased Rail Diesel Cars [See “Midcoast Railservice to exit …,” Trains News Wire, June 12, 2024]
The DOT press release says Maine Switching Services “intends to resume freight service to existing rail customers on the Rockland Branch this spring and offer scenic train rides and rail excursions by this fall. This will preserve active rail service while Maine’s DOT continues to evaluate significant bridge infrastructure needs on the line. The proposal does not involve providing host railroad services for an Amtrak Downeaster extension on the Rockland Branch.”
A lease and operating agreement will be negotiated over the next 60 days while Maine Switching Services “obtains operating rights from the Surface Transportation Board and other required certifications.”
