Oxford Continues Push to Become Amtrak Stop

Potential ridership in Oxford, Ohio, is strong enough to merit establishing a station there to serve Amtrak’s Cardinal, city officials say.

The city of Oxford and Miami University will continue to lobby Amtrak to stop the Chicago-New York train in this city located 25 miles northwest of Cincinnati, the nearest station.

Miami University, which has more than 1,400 students from Illinois alone, has been working with the city to pursue the stop for Amtrak’s tri-weekly Cardinal.

Alan Kyger, the city’s economic development director, said the costs for the station would be covered by the city, so it is expected to be little more than a station with overhead canopies.

City officials have not yet projected how much the shelter will cost. “The eventual decision-makers are going to be city council and Miami University,” Kyger said.

Amtrak has asked for information showing the proposed station site, including property ownership information, whether there will be other uses of the facility and what funding has been obtained.

A committee is expected to have recommendations on the station by the end of summer.

Tags: Amtrak, Amtrak stations, Amtrak's Cardinal, Miami University, Oxford Ohio