At the March 26 board meeting of the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, held in Portland, Executive Director Patricia Quinn said Amtrak “is unable to perform the required risk assessment of the Rockland branch this year due to the need to assess all their existing routes because of PTC (Positive Train Control) and 'dark territory' issues. Brunswick to Rockland would be a new route.”

A news release posted at the TRNE website said: “Quinn pledged to work closely with Amtrak so that a ‘more robust’ proposal for Midcoast service can be accomplished next year.”