DOT funds Amtrak Vermonter reroute
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-ChiefThe Department of Transportation has awarded $72.8 million to Massachusetts to rehabilitate 50 miles of track in the Bay State, allowing Amtrak service to Vermont to return to an earlier and potentially speedier route.
Amtrak’s Vermonter, which runs during the day from Washington, D.C. to St. Albans, Vt., on the U.S-Canadian border, at present straddles the eastern border of Vermont and New Hampshire, serving Amherst, Mass., Brattleboro and Bellows Falls, Vt., and Claremont, N.H., among other municipalities. The Vermonter was launched in 1995 following the termination of Amtrak’s Montrealer, an overnight train which provided service to and from its namesake city and Washington.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the improvements to the Vermont would trim up to 30 minutes of travel time by upgrading 50 miles of track between Springfield, Mass., and East Northfield, Mass. New Massachusetts station stops are planned for Greenfield, Northampton, and possibly Holyoke.
“Thanks to President [Barack] Obama’s commitment to create jobs and strengthen our manufacturing sector, these dollars are delivering more than 200 new jobs along with the purchase of 50 miles of American-made steel rails,” said LaHood in a statement.
Last year Vermont’s agency of Transportation was awarded a $50 million grant to upgrade 190 miles of track between St. Albans and Vernon, Vt. Ridership on the route reportedly increased 16% in 2010.
Christopher Parker, executive director of the Vermont Rail Action Network, said, “Anyone who has ridden the train knows about the Palmer [Massachusetts] backup move and that adds time to the trip and it is very noticeable.”
