RR crossing and private roads

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Maine

I live on a street with 12 other houses. There is a RR crossing at the begining of the road. The St Lawrence & Atlantic RR company considers our road to be a private road. There is quite a bit of daily traffic on the road. There are many public vehicles using this road every day. The only way we can access our homes is to cross the RR tracks.

The RR company recently contacted the homeowners and said that from now on we must each pay the RR company to cross the tracks and access our homes.

Can they force us to pay them to access our homes?

Can they keep us from driving to the homes that we have lived in for the last 10 - 15 years?

Here is a googlemaps link to see the RR crossing:

11 Farms Edge Rd, North Yarmouth, ME 04097 - Google MapsWhat is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

You'll need to band together and have a lawyer investigate because it all depends on the nature of the right of ways involved. However, it is quite possible that the railroad is within their rights to start charging you to maintain the crossing.