Saco Transportation Center

Saco Transportation Center, also referred to as Saco or Saco–Biddeford in some timetables, is a passenger transportation station in Saco, Maine served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system, and other transportation providers. On average, about 110 passengers daily board or detrain Amtrak's Downeaster service at the station, making it the third-busiest stop in Maine.[2] The station is located next to the Pan Am Railways mainline, formerly the Western Route mainline of the Boston & Maine Railroad.

Saco, ME
New station which opened in 2009.
Location138 Main Street, Saco, ME 04072
Coordinates43°29′46″N 70°26′57″W
Owned byCity of Saco
Platforms1 side platform
Tracks1
ConnectionsBSOOB Transit
Construction
ParkingFree
Disabled accessYes
Other information
Station codeSAO
History
Opened2001 (platform)
2009 (station)
Passengers
201949,650[1]  3.23%
Services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station
Wells
toward Boston North
 Downeaster Old Orchard Beach
toward Brunswick

The train platform was constructed in 2001, and the station building was constructed in 2008 and opened in 2009. The station, at 138 Main Street, is owned by the city of Saco.[3] The station is notable for being the first green design train station in the U.S.; when it was built, it featured a wind turbine for electricity, geothermal heating and cooling systems, and a roof made from recycled soda bottles.[4][5] However, the wind turbine, which cost the city of Saco about $200,000, did not produce the expected amount of electricity, and was shut down in 2006 after safety concerns.[6] It was removed in November 2018.[7]


References
  1. "Saco-Biddeford, ME (SAO)" (PDF). Amtrak. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  2. "Amtrak Fact Sheet, FY2010, State of Maine" (PDF). Amtrak. November 2010. Retrieved 2011-01-06.
  3. Gotthelf, Liz (17 July 2019). "Saco Main Street, part of Shuttlebus, to move into train station". Press Herald. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  4. "Wind-Powered Station Opens in Saco" (PDF). Amtrak Ink. Amtrak. April 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-05-20.
  5. "Saco has four bidders to build environmentally friendly station".
  6. Quimby, Beth (21 July 2010). "Saco finds turbine is a turn for the worse". Press Herald. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  7. Gotthelf, Liz (30 November 2018). "Down wind: Saco removes wind turbine". Press Herald. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  • The wind turbine at the Station used to offset power use.
  • The new station from the parking lots


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