KENNEBUNK -The last time a train stopped at the station on Depot Road in Kennebunk, Lyndon Johnson was president. That same year “Downtown” by Petula Clark, and The Beatles’ “Ticket to Ride” were at the top of the Billboard charts. 

Fifty years have passed since riders were able to hop on a train in Kennebunk. But now that a seasonal stop on Amtrak’s Downeaster line has been approved for the town, passengers will soon be able to ride the rails and visit downtown and neighboring areas from Kennebunk once again – providing, supporters hope, a welcome seasonal economic boost.

Plans to bring the train back are well under way, according to Mat Eddy, Kennebunk’s economic development director. 

“We got the green light from Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (in May 2014) and hired Sebago Technics to do a conceptual drawing,” said Eddy. “We will have a 300-foot platform (that) will allow for bicycles to be loaded and unloaded at the stop.”

When the train does stop, it will do so at Kennebunk’s original station, which is now home to Dietz Associates, a design and advertising firm. The building and the business are owned by Tim and Kathy Dietz of Kennebunk. The town is negotiating a lease with Dietz Associates, which will continue its operations from the depot, but will offer space in the building for ticket sales and a waiting room for passengers. Tim Dietz is onboard with the project.

“We do want it for the town and for us,” said Dietz. “Kathy and I are delighted to have the building come back to its original use. We love this building. It’s exciting for it to be the focus of activity, and everyone involved has been working well together.”

Dietz, who is a bit of a history buff, did a considerable amount of research on the building to find out as much as he could about its history. 

“The foundation for the station was laid in 1872,” said Dietz, “which was discovered at the Brick Store Museum while reading the day-to-day diary of Andrew Walker (Kennebunk’s town clerk during the mid-19th century). And at one time the stationmaster here was given an award for the most beautiful garden of any train station. Kennebunk was spelled in flowers in the garden.”

Maine’s rail system has seen considerable change in the half century since the last passenger train rolled into Kennebunk, which, according to the Boston & Maine Historical Society, was on Jan. 3, 1965.  With ridership trending down and more people than ever relying on the automobile as primary transportation in the 1970s and 1980s, it may have appeared that passenger rail service was all but dead.

But in the early 1990s, Maine began to take another look at rail transportation, urged, in part, by the nonprofit volunteer organization TrainRiders/Northeast, which was founded in 1989 with the goal of bringing passenger service back to Northern New England. Between the efforts of the grassroots group and other interested parties, revitalizing rail service became a priority. The state ordered a report on ridership and lobbied Amtrak to conduct a study of costs. In 1995, the Maine Legislature created the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority to develop and provide passenger rail service between Maine and Boston.

According to the authority, it now contracts with Amtrak to provide equipment and crews to operate the Downeaster rail service and works closely with Pan Am Railways, owner of the rail system, to ensure that trains operate efficiently and that the line remains in good repair. The Downeaster travels between Boston and Brunswick, with 11 stops. The Kennebunk stop would be the 12th. It also collaborates with train-stop communities, helping with station management and offering information and investment to support private development and job creation.

Eddy and Town Manager Barry Tibbetts presented their plan for a seasonal Kennebunk stop at the rail authority’s May 2014 meeting. The group voted unanimously to proceed with assistance for the financial and feasibility analysis of seasonal Kennebunk Downeaster service, with Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority Executive Director Patricia Quinn describing the project as a win-win for passengers and the town of Kennebunk.

In December, Quinn reiterated her support for the project. 

“Kennebunk will be a great addition to the Downeaster service,” she said. “It provides a lot more product for us to sell both in and outside of the state. A stop in Kennebunk will provide lots of options to visit many areas. We’re excited about what it offers.”

Tibbetts is excited, too.

“This is a tremendous opportunity that opens the door on many levels in the two village centers and downtown,” said Tibbetts. “Not only for tourism, but it opens doors for the business community, as a starting point to go deeper into Maine.”

Although there is a chance that service could begin in 2015, Eddy said it may make more sense to push the start until mid-2016. For one thing, a 2015 start could create problems for the town in being reimbursed by the Maine Department of Transportation if money is spent ahead of the state’s schedule.

With project costs of approximately $1.16 million, the town isn’t looking to take any chances on losing its funding, which includes $300,000 from a tax-increment-financing plan approved by Kennebunk voters in June 2014, and $60,000 for sidewalks from the Department of Transportation’s CMAC (Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality) program, all of which is available now. The CMAC program will provide an additional $800,000 for the train platform in 2016. In October, Kennebunk’s Board of Selectmen unanimously approved spending $183,000 from the TIF to purchase a property across from the station on Depot Street to provide space for parking.

“Timing is a big issue. We could open in July 2015, if we put up a temporary structure that meets (federal handicapped-accessible) requirements and Amtrak’s approval,” said Eddy. “We also have extensive environmental reviews to do. We may want to wait. The project is definitely a go. It’s just a matter of when.” 

The decision is slated be made this month at the first full meeting of the year of the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, the town and other players involved in the project.

While the idea of train service returning to town may have been in Kennebunk’s collective thought process for some time, a proposal for a seasonal Downeaster stop made by a group of residents four years ago provided the spark needed to get the wheels in motion. 

David Gould was one. He is the owner of the former B.F. Emery property, also known as the Grain Station, which sits along the tracks a short distance from the planned platform. At that time, Gould envisioned that the stop would be in front of his building, but was open to other options.

Four years later, Gould is happy the project is moving forward. While Gould said restoring train service will have very little impact on his building, which he leases to several small businesses, he “absolutely supports” the seasonal stop.

“What a great opportunity it is for every part of our area,” said Gould, who lives in Kennebunk. “There has been a tremendous wellspring of support, and everyone is so enthusiastic about it.” 

Gould believes a train stop in Kennebunk will benefit the entire area. 

“It will bring people up from Boston for the weekend who will visit shops and restaurants and with the trolley and other ways to get around not have to use a car,” said Gould. “And there is access to the Bridle Path and the Eastern Trail. People will also be able to bring or rent bikes and head to the beach (from the station).”

Several local companies will be providing transportation services to and from the station and for tours of the area, including the Intown Trolley and Hydi Drive. Hydi Dixon, owner of Hydi Drive and Hydi Wave professional driving and water taxi services based in Kennebunk, is looking forward to the train stopping in town.

“It’s awesome. We welcomed the idea a long time ago, and it’s finally here. We’re going to be able to move people around, and the train is a great way for people to come and see a fantastic part of the world,” said Dixon. “It also takes pressure off the roads. We’re happy to drive visitors around and show them the area.” 

Like Gould, Dixon thinks the train will be good for small businesses and tourism. 

“Anything we can do to make people feel good about this area is great,” said Dixon. “Kennebunk has been updated. It is so beautiful, and the town worked hard to do it so we need to showcase it, and Kennebunkport, however we can. I’m honored to be part of the team.”

Gordon Collins and his wife Joanne live across the street from the train depot. The couple moved to town 14 years ago. They are in favor of the train stopping in Kennebunk once again.

“Interestingly, having a train station across the street was described as a negative aspect when we looked at our house,” said Collins. “But frankly I’m glad to see the trains. Having a stop again will be good for the town. It will enhance the experience for visitors.”

Collins said that both the town and Tim Dietz have kept him informed on the project’s status from the beginning. 

“Barry and Mat did meet with us to go over specifics, which Joanne and I are very appreciative of,” said Collins. “They listened to our concerns. We were very pleased with the outreach. It’s a big plan done the right way. The town has been smart and respectful about it.”

Although hopes are high that the Kennebunk stop will become year round, the town is concentrating on getting the seasonal stop operational.

“We think it will be a relatively easy construction project. The house we purchased across the street will go for a parking lot with plantings and a wall to soften the view for neighbors,” said Eddy. “We want to do the project in such a way as to be least disruptive to Dietz Associates and the neighborhood. We’re going the extra distance to put in a platform that allows bikes, which can connect people to the Bridle Path, Eastern Trail, down to Lower Village. This process will really integrate the area. We’re looking at energizing growth for our community.”

But does a seasonal stop deliver the business boost so many in the area are counting on?

Old Orchard Beach Town Manager Larry Mead thinks so. At present, Old Orchard Beach is the only seasonal Downeaster stop in Maine.

“It’s a great move for Kennebunk, and any community that has a tourist-based economy,” said Mead, who knows the area well after serving as Kennebunkport’s town manager for nearly seven years before taking the position in Old Orchard. “Of course Kennebunk has both a tourist base and is engaging in economic development work. What could the downside be?” 

Mead said train traffic is a small percentage of the total for Old Orchard Beach, but that people who enjoy train travel want to take it. 

“It’s a convenience for people, too, especially if they are coming and staying. We get good day use of the train,” said Mead. “We have people who come up from Massachusetts to spend the day at the beach. Having the seasonal train stop here has been a positive addition to the community.”

Quinn agrees. She said Old Orchard Beach has proven to be a great stop, and ridership is growing. 

“It’s a good selling tool for us. We hear from Chamber of Commerce folks that it provides an alternative to offer to the tourists. It gives them something to do, one more amenity. People can come and stay in the area for four or five days and are able to take a day trip to Boston or other places in Maine. The train stop puts the location on the map – it’s good for us and for Old Orchard Beach. It has elevated the area’s profile.”

While Old Orchard Beach has done well with its station, other towns have had some issues. Eddy said Kennebunk is well aware of errors others have made and will take those factors into account as the project develops.

The town plans to work with local transportation companies and hire greeters for the station. Annual operating expenses are estimated between $45,000 and $75,000, including staff, depending on whether the station is seasonal or year round.

Eddy believes the town will break even on the station. He said if the town finds that more funds are needed to oversee the operation, he will look for grants and other opportunities.

Tibbetts is certain that the addition of rail service to Kennebunk offers potential for growth. 

“The stop can become an attraction for business from Boston to Portland and up and down the coast. The hospitality industry will do very well with this, as it will really help the shoulder season,” said Tibbetts. “After the city of Portland we are the next most popular destination area for Downeaster passengers. We know we have a home run waiting at bat.” ν