Maine rail authority may relocate Portland station, add round trip to Boston

The Maine Department of Transportation has released a study of options for a new Portland train station. They include relocating the station and adding another round trip to Boston, according to an article on the Maine Public Radio website.

Transportation officials outlined the state’s findings recently to the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, which aims to expand Amtrak Downeaster train service to Boston by late May, according to the article.

Amtrak’s Downeaster trains that run between Boston and Brunswick now must get off the mainline track to reach the existing Portland station, which adds 15 minutes to each run.

The study found it would be ideal to locate a new station along Saint John Street in Portland between Congress Street and the entrance to the Veterans Memorial Bridge.