Hi friend, Amtrak has not returned to Vermont after suspension due to the virus. Rail advocates are concerned about this. Lets discuss this and what our response should be. Join us over zoom on Wednesday August 26th at 1:00 pm. Read more…
Hi friend, Maine has chosen to resume some Amtrak Downeaster service from Boston. I talked with Patricia Quinn, Executive Director of Northern New England Rail Authority, which manages the service. There are lessons here about what we might expect of Read more…
Amtrak now has capped capacity at 50% and the trains are sparkling clean. Temperatures are checked at Penn Station before boarding. Onboard HVAC changes the air 44 times an hour and the nature of trains is there is always outside Read more…
Hi friend, The train chasers were out this week. I even joined them! (I’m not usually that much of a “foamer” as they say, meaning one who foams at the mouth at the sight of a locomotive, but this time Read more…
Hi friend, I’m pleased to share that we have an intern helping this summer. Would you consider a contribution to help fund her stipend? Isabella Wolfsdorf is a student a UVM. Her primary effort will be to build us a Read more…
Hi friend, As travel resumes and the economy starts moving more trains are running – but no Amtrak in Vermont yet – and Amtrak is proposing slashing it’s national network to run only 3 days a week (a horrible idea). Read more…
I’ve been moving forward with two projects: the new VRAN website and a zoom celebration of the return of Amtrak service to Vermont. I’d like to get the Governor to participate in the zoom celebration. Who is the right person Read more…
Hi friend, As we’ve all hunkered down and stopped traveling, life has changed – and railroad traffic has diminished. Amtrak’s “Vermonter” and “Ethan Allen” remain canceled – as is the “Adirondack” across the lake in New York and the “Downeaster” Read more…
Hi friend, Work on the Middlebury tunnel project has stopped for now, in conformance with the Governor’s order to stop all construction projects in the state to maintain social distancing to limit CoVid-19 spread. The project was about to ramp Read more…
Hi friend, Effective tomorrow, March 26th, Amtrak’s Ethan Allen and Vermonter are suspended in Vermont, in conformance with Governor Scott’s stay at home order. Wishing you the best, Christopher Parker, Executive Director