Saco Transportation Center

{{Short description|Train station in Saco, Maine}}

{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox station

| style = Amtrak

| name = Saco, ME

| image = Saco Train Station 5.27.09.JPG

| image_caption = New station building, shortly after opening in 2009

| address = 138 Main Street

| borough = Saco, Maine

| country = United States

| coordinates = {{coord|43.49622|N|70.44913|W |format=dms |region:US-ME_type:railwaystation |display=inline,title}}

| owned = City of Saco

| platform = 1 side platform

| tracks = 1

| connections = {{bus icon}} BSOOB Transit

| parking = Yes

| bicycle =

| accessible = Yes

| code = {{Amtrak code|SAO}}

| opened = 2001 (platform), 2009 (station)

| rebuilt =

| mpassengers = {{Rail pass box|system=Amtrak|passengers={{Amtrak ridership|Saco-Biddeford}}{{Amtrak ridership|citationME}}|pass_year={{Amtrak ridership|date}}}}

| services = {{Adjacent stations|system=Amtrak|line=Downeaster|left=Wells|right=Old Orchard Beach}}

| other_services_header = Former services

| other_services_collapsible = yes

| other_services = {{Adjacent stations|system=Boston and Maine Railroad|line=Main Line|left=Biddeford|right=Old Orchard Beach}}

| mapframe = yes

| mapframe-marker-color = #{{rcr|Amtrak}}

}}

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 alight Amtrak's Downeaster service at the station, making it the third-busiest stop in Maine.{{cite web |title= Amtrak Fact Sheet, FY2010, State of Maine|publisher= Amtrak |date= November 2010 |url= http://www.amtrak.com/pdf/factsheets/MAINE10.pdf |accessdate= 2011-01-06}} The station is located next to the Pan Am Railways mainline, formerly the Western Route mainline of the Boston & Maine Railroad.

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.{{cite news |last1=Gotthelf |first1=Liz |title=Saco Main Street, part of Shuttlebus, to move into train station |url=https://www.pressherald.com/2019/07/17/saco-main-street-part-of-shuttlebus-to-move-into-train-station/ |accessdate=15 February 2020 |work=Press Herald |date=17 July 2019}} 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;{{cite magazine |title=Wind-Powered Station Opens in Saco |magazine=Amtrak Ink |date=April 2009 |publisher=Amtrak |url=http://www.amtrak.com/pdf/ink/AmtrakInk-040709.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090520200041/http://www.amtrak.com/pdf/ink/AmtrakInk-040709.pdf |archive-date=2009-05-20}}{{cite web |url=http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=147523&ac=PHnws |title=Saco has four bidders to build environmentally friendly station |access-date=2007-11-15 |archive-date=2007-12-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071208053000/http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=147523&ac=PHnws |url-status=dead }} however, the wind turbine, which cost the city about $200,000, did not produce the expected amount of electricity, and was shut down in 2006 after safety concerns.{{cite news |last1=Quimby |first1=Beth |title=Saco finds turbine is a turn for the worse |url=https://www.pressherald.com/2010/07/21/saco-finds-turbine-is-a-turn-for-the-worse_2010-07-21/ |accessdate=15 February 2020 |work=Press Herald |date=21 July 2010}} It was removed in November 2018.{{cite news |last1=Gotthelf |first1=Liz |title=Down wind: Saco removes wind turbine |url=https://www.pressherald.com/2018/11/30/down-wind-saco-removes-wind-turbine/ |accessdate=15 February 2020 |work=Press Herald |date=30 November 2018}}