The York County Community Action Corporation has announced that the Shoreline Explorer trolley service has been suspended.
With an ongoing shortage of workers with commercial driver’s licenses, the organization said it has not been able to hire enough drivers to operate the summer trolley service, according to a post on its Facebook page.
Typically, the five Blue 4 Line trolleys run a 30-mile route between the Ogunquit town line at the Majestic Regency Resort and Lower Village Kennebunk. In addition to Ogunquit, the service offered stops at Wells Beach, Wells Harbor, and the Kennebunk Beaches.
A shortage of drivers is not only a problem in Maine, but elsewhere in the country. School districts have scrambled to find enough bus drivers and have had to cancel routes on some days, or consolidate routes.
The national bus driver shortage was exacerbated by the pandemic and recruitment has been difficult because of drivers retiring, low pay, irregular hours, and the time commitment required to get the appropriate driver’s license.
This season’s lack of qualified drivers “continues to be an unprecedented situation, and we are very disappointed to have to cancel this service,” according to a statement from the YCCAC. However, the organization will add a second vehicle to the Orange line for the summer, which will allow hourly service between Sanford and Wells Beach seven days a week, beginning June 24 and through Sept. 3.
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