Everything in this article is absolutely, positively true (“Let’s not squander our chance to expand passenger rail,” April 1).

My first ride on a train was in 1944 when we were at the beautiful station in Augusta saying goodbye to my father, who was being deployed to Germany. I went on a full-length train to Detroit to a Girl Scout Roundup from Boston in 1954, to North Carolina in 1958; and in 2021 to Boston with two friends to see a play, a first for me.

Imagine if I could at 83 be able to go to Portland to my eye doctor on a train? Visit my grandchildren in Bangor? Go to Rockland maybe? I also have a doctor in Lewiston. Lastly, my daughter and husband flew to Washington, D.C., from Oregon last August then took the train to Freeport. My four girls rented a house in York at the beach for a week.

I live in the Cony Flatiron Building in Augusta. I do have a car but my eyesight is failing and I will have to give up my license; I don’t drive after dark now. There are 50 people here in the building and 90% are over the age of 55. It would be simpler and cheaper to get a cab to catch a train on both ends.

I cannot believe I am alone. How many more like myself would use a train?

People my age and in the same circumstances should be informed about all possibilities for us. This state is the oldest in the nation; let’s make it easier for us to get around. Over 55 complexes are being built everywhere, it has to be a win-win situation.

Jean Carney Gallant

Augusta