Man dies after being hit by train in Old Orchard Beach

A 51-year-old Old Orchard Beach man died Thursday after being hit by a train, police say. The Old Orchard Beach police and fire departments responded to the railroad tracks near 133 Temple Ave. around 2:15 p.m., Deputy Police Chief David Hemingway said in a news release. First responders determined the man had been hit by a northboundAmtrak train, Hemingway said. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials identified the deceased as a 51-year-old man from Old Orchard Beach, but did not provide his name, pending notification of family. Based on interviews with witnesses, police believe the man was walking alone near the railroad tracks before he was hit, and alcohol is believed to be a factor, Hemingway said. Old Orchard Beach, Saco and Amtrak police are investigating the incident. Advertisement In an alert around 3 p.m. Thursday, the Amtrak Downeaster said a hold on rail traffic in Old Orchard Beach would result in lengthy delays to afternoon and evening trains. Amtrak initially said the 683 Downeaster train to Brunswick was canceled, but said around 5:20 p.m. that it would continue its intended route. It had been delayed more than three hours, according to Amtrak’s train status tracker, and was expected to arrive in Brunswick around 6:30 p.m. The 686 train from Brunswick to Boston expired in Portland, however, and the 687 train from Boston to Brunswick was canceled. Amtrak encouraged those who were on the 686 to seek refunds and take the 688 south, which departed Brunswick around 5:45 p.m and was set to depart Portland around 6:30 p.m., according to the tracker. For those set to take the 687 train north, Amtrak said one express bus would run from Boston to Exeter, New Hampshire, while four buses would run the train’s route from Boston to Brunswick, only skipping stops in Woburn and Haverhill, Massachusetts. Copy the Story Link Tagged: [amtrak downeaster](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/amtrak-downeaster/), [pedestrian accident](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/pedestrian-accident/) [](https://www.pressherald.com/author/drew-johnson) [Drew JohnsonStaff Writer](https://www.pressherald.com/author/drew-johnson) Drew is the night reporter for the Portland Press Herald. He previously covered South Portland, Scarborough and Cape Elizabeth for the Sentry, Leader and Southern Forecaster. Though he is from Massachusetts,. [More by Drew Johnson](https://www.pressherald.com/author/drew-johnson)