Amtrak · Brunswick, ME – Boston, MA
Downeaster Cell Service & Coverage Map
Modeled coverage on board the Downeaster, Brunswick, ME to Boston, MA. On the train, AT&T has the most solid coverage at 83% of the route, ahead of Verizon (71%) and T-Mobile (64%). Amber stretches are spotty: signal often works but may drop. AT&T's longest true dead zone runs about 0 miles near Exeter, NH.
The whole line at a glance
Boston, MA on the left, Brunswick, ME on the right. Scroll sideways on a phone. Hover a band for its mileposts. Verizon, on the train.
Carriers compared on the train
| Carrier | Coverage mix | Solid | Spotty | 5G | Dead-zone miles | Longest gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Best on board | 83% | 16% | 48% | 1 | 0.5 mi | |
| Verizon | 71% | 29% | 13% | 0 | 0.0 mi | |
| T-Mobile | 64% | 34% | 58% | 2 | 0.7 mi |
Coverage summary
Verizon · On the train (in-vehicle model)
of the route has solid Verizon service on the train, plus 29% spotty
has modeled 5G; 10% at the faster 35/3 Mbps tier
longest dead zone (no signal in either model), near Brunswick, ME
longest unbroken covered stretch, near Haverhill, MA
- 5G NR · 35/3 Mbps 10.4%
- 5G NR · 7/1 Mbps 3.0%
- 4G LTE 58.1%
- Spotty (outdoor-strength only) 28.5%
Verizon · Outdoor model
of the route has solid Verizon service outdoors
has modeled 5G; 41% at the faster 35/3 Mbps tier
longest dead zone (no signal in either model), near Brunswick, ME
longest unbroken covered stretch, between Wells and Dover
- 5G NR · 35/3 Mbps 40.7%
- 5G NR · 7/1 Mbps 7.1%
- 4G LTE 52.2%
AT&T · On the train (in-vehicle model)
of the route has solid AT&T service on the train, plus 16% spotty
has modeled 5G; 35% at the faster 35/3 Mbps tier
longest dead zone (no signal in either model), near Exeter, NH
longest unbroken covered stretch, near Dover, NH
- 5G NR · 35/3 Mbps 35.3%
- 5G NR · 7/1 Mbps 12.4%
- 4G LTE 35.7%
- Spotty (outdoor-strength only) 16.0%
- No modeled coverage 0.6%
AT&T · Outdoor model
of the route has solid AT&T service outdoors
has modeled 5G; 51% at the faster 35/3 Mbps tier
longest dead zone (no signal in either model), near Exeter, NH
longest unbroken covered stretch, near Portland, ME
- 5G NR · 35/3 Mbps 51.1%
- 5G NR · 7/1 Mbps 26.8%
- 4G LTE 21.5%
- No modeled coverage 0.6%
T-Mobile · On the train (in-vehicle model)
of the route has solid T-Mobile service on the train, plus 34% spotty
has modeled 5G; 46% at the faster 35/3 Mbps tier
longest dead zone (no signal in either model), between Freeport and Portland
longest unbroken covered stretch, near Haverhill, MA
- 5G NR · 35/3 Mbps 46.3%
- 5G NR · 7/1 Mbps 11.3%
- 4G LTE 6.7%
- Spotty (outdoor-strength only) 34.1%
- No modeled coverage 1.6%
Plan downloads and calls around Freeport–Portland (1.6 mi without coverage), Wells–Dover (0.6 mi without coverage).
T-Mobile · Outdoor model
of the route has solid T-Mobile service outdoors
has modeled 5G; 80% at the faster 35/3 Mbps tier
longest dead zone (no signal in either model), between Freeport and Portland
longest unbroken covered stretch, between Exeter and Haverhill
- 5G NR · 35/3 Mbps 80.0%
- 5G NR · 7/1 Mbps 13.4%
- 4G LTE 5.1%
- No modeled coverage 1.5%
Plan downloads and calls around Freeport–Portland (1.6 mi without coverage), Wells–Dover (0.6 mi without coverage).
Station to station
In timetable order from Brunswick, ME. Distances are along the track. Follows the carrier and model selected on the map.
| Segment | Miles | Coverage mix | Solid | 5G | Longest gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brunswick → Freeport | 9 | 79% | 6% | — | |
| Freeport → Portland | 20 | 63% | 5% | — | |
| Portland → Old Orchard Beach | 12 | 78% | 10% | — | |
| Old Orchard Beach → Saco | 4 | 56% | 10% | — | |
| Saco → Wells | 16 | 50% | 0% | — | |
| Wells → Dover | 17 | 72% | 21% | — | |
| Dover → Durham | 5 | 100% | 0% | — | |
| Durham → Exeter | 11 | 61% | 0% | — | |
| Exeter → Haverhill | 17 | 57% | 18% | — | |
| Haverhill → Woburn | 21 | 94% | 31% | — | |
| Woburn → Boston | 13 | 86% | 26% | — |
| Segment | Miles | Coverage mix | Solid | 5G | Longest gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brunswick → Freeport | 9 | 100% | 7% | — | |
| Freeport → Portland | 20 | 100% | 44% | — | |
| Portland → Old Orchard Beach | 12 | 100% | 64% | — | |
| Old Orchard Beach → Saco | 4 | 100% | 12% | — | |
| Saco → Wells | 16 | 100% | 22% | — | |
| Wells → Dover | 17 | 100% | 46% | — | |
| Dover → Durham | 5 | 100% | 27% | — | |
| Durham → Exeter | 11 | 100% | 12% | — | |
| Exeter → Haverhill | 17 | 100% | 49% | — | |
| Haverhill → Woburn | 21 | 100% | 86% | — | |
| Woburn → Boston | 13 | 100% | 89% | — |
| Segment | Miles | Coverage mix | Solid | 5G | Longest gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brunswick → Freeport | 9 | 78% | 18% | — | |
| Freeport → Portland | 20 | 86% | 28% | — | |
| Portland → Old Orchard Beach | 12 | 93% | 71% | — | |
| Old Orchard Beach → Saco | 4 | 92% | 61% | — | |
| Saco → Wells | 16 | 68% | 22% | — | |
| Wells → Dover | 17 | 75% | 43% | 0.4 mi | |
| Dover → Durham | 5 | 100% | 59% | — | |
| Durham → Exeter | 11 | 92% | 47% | — | |
| Exeter → Haverhill | 17 | 66% | 40% | 0.5 mi | |
| Haverhill → Woburn | 21 | 90% | 77% | — | |
| Woburn → Boston | 13 | 100% | 74% | — |
| Segment | Miles | Coverage mix | Solid | 5G | Longest gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brunswick → Freeport | 9 | 100% | 49% | — | |
| Freeport → Portland | 20 | 100% | 42% | — | |
| Portland → Old Orchard Beach | 12 | 100% | 97% | — | |
| Old Orchard Beach → Saco | 4 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Saco → Wells | 16 | 100% | 75% | — | |
| Wells → Dover | 17 | 98% | 67% | 0.4 mi | |
| Dover → Durham | 5 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Durham → Exeter | 11 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Exeter → Haverhill | 17 | 97% | 80% | 0.5 mi | |
| Haverhill → Woburn | 21 | 100% | 90% | — | |
| Woburn → Boston | 13 | 100% | 97% | — |
| Segment | Miles | Coverage mix | Solid | 5G | Longest gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brunswick → Freeport | 9 | 70% | 66% | — | |
| Freeport → Portland | 20 | 48% | 43% | 0.7 mi | |
| Portland → Old Orchard Beach | 12 | 57% | 57% | — | |
| Old Orchard Beach → Saco | 4 | 42% | 42% | — | |
| Saco → Wells | 16 | 47% | 41% | — | |
| Wells → Dover | 17 | 64% | 54% | 0.6 mi | |
| Dover → Durham | 5 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Durham → Exeter | 11 | 50% | 41% | — | |
| Exeter → Haverhill | 17 | 53% | 48% | — | |
| Haverhill → Woburn | 21 | 88% | 78% | — | |
| Woburn → Boston | 13 | 98% | 85% | — |
| Segment | Miles | Coverage mix | Solid | 5G | Longest gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brunswick → Freeport | 9 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Freeport → Portland | 20 | 92% | 89% | 0.8 mi | |
| Portland → Old Orchard Beach | 12 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Old Orchard Beach → Saco | 4 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Saco → Wells | 16 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Wells → Dover | 17 | 96% | 89% | 0.6 mi | |
| Dover → Durham | 5 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Durham → Exeter | 11 | 100% | 87% | — | |
| Exeter → Haverhill | 17 | 100% | 77% | — | |
| Haverhill → Woburn | 21 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Woburn → Boston | 13 | 100% | 100% | — |
Downeaster cell service FAQ
Does the Downeaster have cell service?
For most of the trip, yes. Inside the train, solid coverage (the FCC's in-vehicle model) reaches 83% for AT&T, 71% for Verizon, 64% for T-Mobile of the 144-mile route from Brunswick, ME to Boston, MA. Much of the rest is spotty rather than dead: AT&T has some signal on 99%, Verizon has some signal on 100%, T-Mobile has some signal on 98%.
Which carrier is best on the Downeaster?
AT&T has the most modeled on-train coverage (83%), with 5G on 48% of the route. Verizon covers 71% and T-Mobile covers 64%.
Where is the longest dead zone on the Downeaster?
AT&T: about 0 miles near Exeter, NH. Verizon: about 0 miles near Brunswick, ME. T-Mobile: about 1 miles between Freeport and Portland.
Does Amtrak Wi-Fi work on the Downeaster?
Amtrak Wi-Fi relies on cellular networks, so it generally weakens or drops in the same places your phone does. Expect it to be unreliable through the dead zones shown on this map.
How accurate is this coverage map?
It reflects carrier-reported modeled coverage published by the FCC (data as of Dec 31, 2025). It is not an onboard measurement. BarTrakr shows the FCC's in-vehicle model by default; the outdoor model is available with the Outdoor switch.
Can I use BarTrakr on the train without signal?
Yes. Tap “Save for offline” before you board. The route, coverage data and map background up to zoom 10 are stored on your device, and live tracking uses your phone's GPS, which works without cell service.
About this data
- Coverage: FCC Broadband Data Collection mobile coverage for Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, release D25 (as of Dec 31, 2025, published Oct 13, 2026).
- Route: U.S. DOT / BTS National Transportation Atlas Database, Amtrak Routes. Stations and stop order: Amtrak GTFS.
- On the train: colored where the FCC in-vehicle model shows coverage; amber (spotty) where only the outdoor model does; red where neither does.
- Stretches shorter than a quarter mile are merged into their neighbors; at train speed they last only seconds.