Annual National Train Day

[Atlantic Birches Inn - Ray Deleo]

Discover the Rail Way. On May 7, 2011, the 4th will be a free coast-to-coast celebration.  Take the Amtrak Downeaster from Boston Mass. to Old Orchard Beach Maine, and enjoy your stay at the Atlantic Birches Inn, an elegant Southern Maine Bed and Breakfast.  Stay two nights during the week of May 7, 2011 show us your train stub at our Southern Maine Bed and Breakfast and we will pay for half your fare from Boston to our Old Orchard Beach Inn.  

Old Orchard Beach Maine trains are now traveling eight times daily between Boston to Portland. Old Orchard Beach is a seasonal stop that is open from mid April through late October. There is some talk of making Old Orchard Beach a Year Round stop.  

 

 

National Train day was first celebrated on Saturday May 10, 2008 as a result of high gas prices, environmentalists seeking to lower their carbon footprints and  Amtrak’s  increase of ridership by 12 percent for the year. On May 1, 2011, Amtrak will celebrate 40 years as America’s Railroad, providing vital intercity and high-speed passenger rail service from New York to Los Angeles and offering critical transportation choices for both urban and rural communities. From steam to diesel-powered engines travelers have had a long love affair with trains. 

 

Long before Amtrak began operations in 1971, people were riding the rails.  Amtrak was created to ease congestion on highways and at airports, and to restore the efficiency, attractiveness and convenience of train travel. Amtrak’s original passenger cars were acquired from private railroads and came in all different colors, which is why the public and the media called them “Rainbow Trains.  

 

Train service first began to Old Orchard Beach over 159 years ago in 1842 and continued until the mid 1900’s. After nearly 50 years, train service was resumed to Maine. In 2002 The DownEaster Train resumed its seasonal scheduled stop in Old Orchard Beach. Trains are now traveling eight times daily between Boston to Portland. 

Old Orchard Beach is a seasonal stop that is open from mid April through late October. There is some talk of making Old Orchard Beach a Year Round Stop. 

With high-speed rail access from Washington D.C. and New York to Boston, vacationers and weekenders now enjoy a speedy trip to Boston and then connect for a 2 hour train ride from Boston to the  Old Orchard Beach Maine  train station stop, adjacent to the new Visitors Welcome Center and Chamber of Commerce Building, is just 100 yards from the beach and a 2 minute walk to the Atlantic Birches Inn an Old Orchard Beach ME. Bed and Breakfast.