BRUNSWICK

It’s still wait-and-see as far as how the authority overseeing passenger rail service deals with the problem of idling trains in the Cedar Street neighborhood in Brunswick.

The Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, which oversees Amtrak’s Downeaster service, has been in discussions over the past month with town officials, neighbors and Amtrak personnel regarding the noise, vibration and pollution caused by idling engines.

The Brunswick Town Council has advocated installing a power supply to draw electricity from nearby Central Maine Power lines in order to deliver enough power to keep the diesel electric engines from idling.

Interim Town Manager John Eldridge on Monday said NNEPRA has recalculated the cost of such a power supply and determined that it is a cost-efficient solution.

The bad news is the power supply won’t be a portable solution, and would be used until such time as a controversial maintenance layover facility could be built.

“ You have to consider where you want it,” said Eldridge told the council. “ If we wind up with a head- end power installation, you have to be clear where it’s going to be, because that’s where it’s going to be year-round.”

It will take up to two months for NNEPRA install the power supply, said Eldridge.

Other alternatives include rotating the locations of where the trains idle in different parts of Brunswick. However, Eldridge acknowledged that simply moves the problem from one neighborhood to another. The train could also be “shuttled” to Freeport or return to Portland, or Brunswick could give up its place as the last stop on the 12:25 p.m northerly run.

Meanwhile, Cedar Street neighbors are suffering, according Town Councilor Jane Millett.

“ My concern is the health” of neighbors affected by idling engines, said Millet on Monday, and added that it was “ very unfortunate there is no sense of urgency” on the part of NNEPRA to move forward with a solution.

“I don’t know if any solution is going to make everyone happy,” Eldridge said.

Trains idle now in order to provide power to air brakes as well as systems including refrigerating and air conditioning.

Even with an external power supply, trains idle in colder months in order to warm lubricating fluid.

Trains would be able to power down completely once a 60,000-square-foot facility is constructed on track between Church Road and Stanwood Street. However, that plan, approved by the Federal Railroad Administration, has faced stiff opposition by many residents in the West Brunswick neighborhood.

NNEPRA Executive Director Patricia Quinn on Monday said the rail authority plans on moving forward with its plans to construct the facility there, once an environmental permit — recently voided by a Maine judge — is reapplied for and approved.

jswinconeck@timesrecord.com