Amtrak's Downeaster service between Boston, Massachusetts and Portland, Maine will soon see the addition of a fifth train to the schedule through a deal reached with New Hampshire.

New Hampshire's transportation committee approved routing $1.6 million of federal dollars to a project that would see the construction of a new siding outside Dover, New Hampshire. The additional siding will make possible the expansion of the Downeaster service through increased capacity and Guilford Rail System's ability to handle the added traffic.

Guilford says the siding will make possible the passage of both freight and passenger trains on its mainline and says without it there is no way of handling any more Amtrak service.

In addition to New Hampshire's contribution, Maine is putting up $400,000 towards the siding. Amtrak projects that the additional service will fill in major gaps in its schedule and potentially boost revenue by 30 percent.