Sandy Forces Amtrak Route Shutdown

As Hurricane Sandy makes its way northward, Amtrak service in New Hampshire has shut down. 

Amtrak’s Downeaster line connects Northern New England to Boston.  Passenger Rail Authority Executive Director Patricia Quinn says the agency was forced to shut down service early this afternoon. 

“There was a train, left Boston at 1:00 this afternoon, got as far as Lawrence, Massachusetts, there were wires down, and that train actually had to return back to Boston."

Quinn says at this point, the Rail Authority is more concerned about downed wires than flooding.  She says the Downeaster route will be closed at least through tomorrow morning.  The Rail Authority has yet to decide whether to resume service tomorrow afternoon with the 12:35 train leaving from Portland, Maine.