Ridership on Amtrak’s Vermonter is at its highest level ever.
Vermont rail officials say track improvements have cut travel time to New York, which has helped attract riders. There are also plans to restore service to Montreal.
According to Dan Delabruere, rail program director for the Agency of Transportation, Vermonter ridership has been on the rise for the past 20 months, since work was completed that shortened the trip to New York by about 30 minutes. He says the work, coupled with marketing efforts accounts for the increase.
During the 12-month period ending in September, 83,351 riders took the Vermonter, a 6.6 percent increase from the year before.
There were 49,137 riders on the Ethan Allen Express, which travels up the western side of Vermont, a 0.9 percent decline from the previous year.
Delabruere says future track work south of Vermont will further shorten travel time to New York on the Vermonter.
Efforts are also underway to restore service to Montreal.
Delabruere says both countries are currently working on a treaty that would allow the train to continue to Montreal for customs clearance without making a border stop.
He says the treaty is a major hurdle facing Montreal service, but it could be settled early in the new year.
Other, less significant issues will also need to be resolved. There is no specific timeline for the resumption of Montreal service.
