2 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

Vermont Transit, operator of the Thruway motorcoach connection between the VERMONTER at St. Albans, VT and Montreal, has for the second time eliminated the bus, effective with the autumn timetable change later this month. The bus was originally discontinued when Amtrak decided to experiment with earlier departure times from St. Albans southward (Trains 55 weekdays) and 57 weekends). The 6:20 AM departure from SAB would have meant a 4 AM Montreal departure for the connecting bus, so that move was understandable. When Amtrak went back to the 8:30 AM SAB departure in April, Vermont Transit reinstated the bus. Its current 5:45 AM departure is still at an unfriendly time, so it is doubtful that is was successful. Ditto for the northbound, which is scheduled to arrive in Montreal at 11 PM, that is, if extra delays are not encountered crossing the international border.

So Vermont Transit has once again pulled the bus, although Amtrak is retaining the schedule is has operated since April.

FWIW, Vermont Transit is a subsidiary of Greyhound, which itself has cut a lot of services and stations in the past year which resulted in the cancellation of other Amtrak Thruway motorcoach runs.

The official word from Amtrak:

MONTREAL - ST. ALBANS THRUWAY TO BE DISCONTINUED
..
AMTRAK HAS RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM VERMONT TRANSIT, OPERATOR OF THE THRUWAY MOTORCOACH PROVIDING CONNECTING SERVICE BETWEEN MONTREAL AND THE VERMONTER AT ST. ALBANS, THAT THIS SERVICE WILL BE DISCONTINUED EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 31, 2005, DUE TO INCREASED OPERATING COSTS.  THE LAST DAY OF OPERATION FOR THIS SERVICE, SHOWN IN ARROW AS THRUWAY SERVICES 8054, 8055, 8056 AND 8057, WILL BE SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2005.  ARROW HAS BEEN UPDATED.

source: AMTRAK

[NickG]

From the Rutland Herald, 10/30/05:

Amtrak ridership up in Vt.

The Amtrak bus connection between St. Albans and Montreal will end today, a victim of a too few passengers, but the number of train passengers is increasing.

The full story is here. As you will discover, the headline is a little misleading.

[KevinKorell]

The Montrealer, the predecessor of the Vermonter, made the entire run through to Montreal. However, Miller said Canadian labor agreements, the cost of using Canadian National tracks, and access to the station in Montreal are obstacles to restoring through service.

The MONTREALER used the same station that the ADIRONDACK uses now and used back when the former existed. So why are there access issues when Amtrak already serves Central Station?

I did ride the MONTREALER in its later years, when the train was routed through Williamantic and New London rather than Springfield and Hartford. IIRC the southbound train could not seat anyone for dinner until the train was cleared by US Customs at the border.