12 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

Vermont Public Radio, 3/16/15:

 

A Step Closer To Train Service From Vermont To Montreal

 

A significant hurdle to the resumption of Amtrak rail service through Vermont to Montreal was cleared Monday when the United States and Canada signed an agreement allowing the creation of a U.S. Customs facility in Montreal.  

 

This story

[KevinKorell]

VTDigger, Montpelier, VT, 5/24/15:

The Vermontrealer? It’s a long way back for passenger rail to Montreal

 

 

The Montrealer was a colorful train. During Prohibition, when the Boston and Maine Railroad operated the Montreal-Vermont-Washington, D.C., service, it became known as “The Bootlegger” because its southbound version carried plenty of well-hidden illegal liquor across the border.

 

Story

[KevinKorell]

CBS Boston, 7/19/15:

 

Former Vermont Transit Chief To Push Montreal Train Route

 

A former Vermont transportation secretary is coming out of retirement to help plan resumption of passenger train service between the northeastern United States and Montreal.

More

[KevinKorell]

CJAD Radio in Montreal, QC, 8/31/15:

 

 

The Montreal to Washington train may soon make a comeback

 

 

The Montrealer — the Amtrak train which ran between Montreal and Washington, D.C. until 1995 — may be back on track in the near future.

 

This article

 

Still ignored is the horrible schedule in Montreal that would result from simply extending the Vermonter to Montreal.  In its old vain, the Montrealer was an overnight train between New York and Montreal, and it occupied a regular Northeast Corridor slot between Washington and New York.  And, will it happen without either Canada or the Province of Quebec being asked to contribute funding?  Or could there end up being two trains, including a restored overnight Montrealer and the current Vermonter day train?

[KevinKorell]

Burlington, VT Free Press, 3/29/16:
 

Amtrak Montreal train service could take three years

Amtrak's Vermonter train could resume passenger service to Montreal within three years, lawmakers were told Tuesday morning.

Update here.

I am assuming that the construction the consultant speaks of would be mainly border facilities at Montreal Central Station. The tracks are used by freight trains and were used by the Montrealer when it ran through. Three years seems like a lot for just track improvements.

The Vermonter brought passengers to Montreal from 1972 to 1995...

It was the Montrealer then, and it was a different kind of train, with sleepers and diner, and it ran on an overnight schedule through Vermont.

He said Amtrak would schedule four trains through Montreal daily, or one round trip each for the Vermonter and the Adirondack.

Except that Amtrak already "schedules" one round trip through Montreal daily, as the Adirondack always has crossed the border.

[Sloan]

 

 

Border deal may help VT Amtrak

 

ESSEX JUNCTION - A proposal to allow rail passengers to go through customs in Montreal before crossing into the United States would be a boon for passenger rail in New England, said officials gathered outside Vermont’s busiest Amtrak station Friday.

http://www.burlingto...mtrak/83108638/

[CNJRoss]

VTDigger.org, 1/16;
 

Pre-clearance deal advances Montrealer train

 

With the recent enactment of a federal law penned by U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., Vermont is one step closer to reviving Amtrak train service between Burlington and Montreal.

 

 

“Vermonters regularly talk to me about improving the travel experience between Canada and the United States,” Leahy said shortly after the law was signed. “We still have more work to do, but with President Obama signing this into law, we removed the biggest hurdle standing in the way of improved air and rail travel between our countries.”

 

The Promoting Travel, Commerce, and National Security Act will allow the U.S. to expand the number of pre-clearance customs facilities in Canada, including two potential projects that would streamline transportation between Vermont and Canada.

 

Continue here.

[KevinKorell]

Vermont Biz, 4/20/18:

 

 

​

Vermont-Quebec partnership drives progress on passenger rail service to Montreal and electric vehicle initiatives

 

 

Plans for restoring Amtrak Vermonter passenger rail service to Montreal, electric vehicle initiatives, and other critical Vermont-Quebec border transportation projects made headway today, driven by a long-standing partnership between the governments of Vermont and Quebec.

 

Update

[steve4031]

It will be great when this is done. Thats a great circle trip between nyp and Montreal. I did it years ago on the Montrealer.

[KevinKorell]

VTDigger, 8/15/19:

 

 

 

Preclearance issues extend wait for rail service to Montreal

 

 

 

 

The upcoming Canadian federal election has derailed efforts to establish a customs facility that would allow for the return of passenger train service from Vermont to Montreal. 

 

 

Update

 

Interesting concept here.   Not only extend the Vermonter back to Montreal, but also once the Ethan Allen Express is extended to Burlington, fix the track between there and Essex Junction allowing that train to get to Montreal as well.  That would thus be two frequencies between Essex Junction and Montreal, which of course means two sets of US and Canadian customs inspections which hopefully can all be done at Central Station in Montreal.  Vancouver should provide a good example of two round trips handled daily.