PORTLAND, Maine — The Amtrak station at Portland's Thompson's Point could be moving to a new location.
The Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, which operates the Amtrak Downeaster, says it's looking at three possible sites along St. John Street.
The current station is located on a branch off the main rail line, according to the authority. After stopping in Portland, the train has to back up about a mile to the main line so it can continue north.
"The same happens with trains coming in the other direction," Patricia Quinn, executive director of the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, said. "It takes 15 minutes for every train that we operate."
Quinn told NEWS CENTER MAINE that time adds up, which prevents the possibility of additional stops along the rail line being added in the future.
"It ties up too much of the railroad," Quinn added. "It also restricts the movement of freight through the area. We really want to put the station on a main line location that provides maximum flexibility and allows us to operate efficiently and as effectively as possible.”
The three sites being looked at will be presented next Thursday night during a virtual meeting from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
A link to the meeting can be found here on the authority's website.