OXFORD — The town may get a train station off Number Six Road, if passenger rail is established through Oxford County.

Selectmen appointed Town Manager Michael Chammings to the Western Maine Economic Development Council’s Rail Committee on Thursday at the request of Council Director Glen Holmes.

Chammings said it’s a good opportunity to bring more people to Oxford’s commercial areas. He said Oxford Plains Speedway and Oxford Casino are the town’s big draws, and the railroad could be another way for people to reach them.

The proposed passenger rail would run from Portland, through Lewiston and Oxford County up to Montreal. The Oxford and Coos County Corridor Coalition, a group of Maine and New Hampshire towns, along with the WMEDC, has been formed to show that the project has support from towns along the route.

The proposed project has been discussed since a 2010 study on the feasibility of passenger rail from Portland to Montreal. 

“They are looking at Oxford being a stop,” Chammings said. He said the town has a right of way behind the public safety building on Route 26. He said the land would have to be surveyed to see if there’s room for a train station there.

The board voted unanimously to appoint Chammings to the committee.

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