According to those present at a recent public forum in Standish, the future of rail through the Lakes Region looks like a popular possibility.

The second in a series of forums discussing the Route 113 corridor was held Wednesday, Sept. 16, at Standish Municipal Center.

Approximately 50 residents from Standish and surrounding towns attended the forum that focused on reactivating passenger and cargo trains in the area. Many of the attendees were on board with the idea of reintroducing rail travel, in the forms of commuter and commercial operations, back to the Lakes Region.

Fryeburg selectman David Knapp introduced the evening’s panel consisting of business, government and community leaders, each there to give an alternate view on the future potential of a rail line.

Caroline Paras of the Greater Portland Council of Governments opened the forum by giving a brief history of the Mountain Division rail line.

Started in 1875 the purpose of the Mountain division rail line was to connect the Portland with the ports of the Great Lakes area in New York. The train offered both freight and passenger services often dropping tourists off at Pleasant Mountain in Bridgton for a day of skiing.

The hope of the Route 113 Corridor Committee and those that live along the corridor is that the train will reactivate and bring tourists to the area once again.

“From ports to peaks,” said Knapp. “Getting off a cruise ship and going to the mountains. It’s the whole package.”

Paras pointed out that trains would also be a great option for commuters.

“Over 10,000 people commute from corridor towns to Westbrook and Portland daily,” said Paras. “If we could get one out of 10 of those people to ride the train, that would equal the number of people that ride the Downeaster daily. That’s huge.”

According to DOT rail manager Nate Moulton an economic and engineering assessment needs to be made before reactivating the rail line.

“To sell this project, we would need a good solid engineering study on the current condition of the lines, and what it would cost to get the current line at certain service levels,” said Moulton.

Town managers and council members from towns along the Mountain Division rail line had a chance to ride the rails last week from Gorham to Baldwin and Standish to Windham to inspect the current condition of the rails.

The rails have been damaged by natural overgrowth and weather as well as heavy ATV traffic. It is hard to estimate the costs of repair without a professional study.

Wayne Davis, chairman of Riders Northeast, offered his insight from his work at the Downeaster.

“The first thing we did at the Downeaster was an engineering study to determine costs,” he said. “But we operated on the ‘build it and they will come’ theory, we built it and they did come.”

Standish resident and Downeaster conductor Brian Labreque agreed.

“When the Downeaster first opened, we were dropping off 3 people in Wells a day,” said LaBreque. “Now we drop off 50 people. That’s not a weekend day, that is a regular week day. It’s the same with Old Orchard. We used to drop off four or five people now we drop off 50 or 100.”

Davis cautions that though passenger trains will be good for businesses and tourism, passenger trains will not make the towns money, and that they may not even break even on what they spent.

“Passenger service will never make money,” said Davis. “And the cost will not necessarily be covered, but we don’t cover our costs on the highways either.

Paras agreed pointing out that Gorham, a Mountain Division border town, will be spending $20 million on the Gorham bypass project. It is a three-mile bypass which breaks down to a cost of $6,000,000 a mile.

The bottom line according to Davis is wanting the train.

“If you want a train, you can have it,” said Davis. “You will need legislation and support, but you can have it.”

The Route 113 Corridor Committee will have its next meeting at the Hiram Train Museum from 3 to 5 p.m.

For more information on the committee visit www.smprc.org/transporationcorridor.