Amtrak Reform In Northeast Needed.
Vermont could have one of the best passenger rail systems in the country.
It isn't to be and the reason is politics and chaos on both sides of the river.
During the last 30 years I've watched Vermont taxpayers throw millions of dollars in financial subsidy at Amtrak in exchange for empty seats and an unclear direction for the future. Nothing has ever changed.
The Amtrak Vermonter train which truncates at St. Albans is politically supported by Senator Patrick Leahy and more recently, New Hampshire's Senator Maggie Hassan.There is an expensive proposal to bring this train back to it's original namesake, Montreal. Nothing is ever said about ridership numbers for this idea.
"They are so critical for our state's and businesses." Sen. Hassan said in support of Amtrak. She hasn't said which New Hampshire businesses and how Amtrak running up and down the Connecticut River Valley could be considered "critical."
It doesn't get any better than this. Vermont taxpayers are pouring in at least $2.7 million dollars a year, plus the federal subsidy into the Amtrak Vermonter when the whole situation could be much better.
The Amtrak Vermonter could be re-routed from Boston to Burlington via Brattleboro and Bellows Falls and terminate right on the Burlington waterfront. The ridership would be from the bookend cities and the growing destinations enroute such as Killington and Rutland. Vermont already owns the rail line north of Bellows Falls and the operating costs of this train would likely be much less than they are now including going into Canada.
Vermont would get better Amtrak service at a lower cost. Which should make good sense but it really doesn't. Especially when politicians are involved. I'm convinced from what I've seen in White River Junction is that Senators Leahy and Hassan don't support anything on Amtrak except chaos, and somehow this chaos leads to the next election.
It isn't to be and the reason is politics and chaos on both sides of the river.
During the last 30 years I've watched Vermont taxpayers throw millions of dollars in financial subsidy at Amtrak in exchange for empty seats and an unclear direction for the future. Nothing has ever changed.
The Amtrak Vermonter train which truncates at St. Albans is politically supported by Senator Patrick Leahy and more recently, New Hampshire's Senator Maggie Hassan.There is an expensive proposal to bring this train back to it's original namesake, Montreal. Nothing is ever said about ridership numbers for this idea.
"They are so critical for our state's and businesses." Sen. Hassan said in support of Amtrak. She hasn't said which New Hampshire businesses and how Amtrak running up and down the Connecticut River Valley could be considered "critical."
 |
| Amtrak In Northeast Needs Reform. |
It doesn't get any better than this. Vermont taxpayers are pouring in at least $2.7 million dollars a year, plus the federal subsidy into the Amtrak Vermonter when the whole situation could be much better.
The Amtrak Vermonter could be re-routed from Boston to Burlington via Brattleboro and Bellows Falls and terminate right on the Burlington waterfront. The ridership would be from the bookend cities and the growing destinations enroute such as Killington and Rutland. Vermont already owns the rail line north of Bellows Falls and the operating costs of this train would likely be much less than they are now including going into Canada.
Vermont would get better Amtrak service at a lower cost. Which should make good sense but it really doesn't. Especially when politicians are involved. I'm convinced from what I've seen in White River Junction is that Senators Leahy and Hassan don't support anything on Amtrak except chaos, and somehow this chaos leads to the next election.
Comments
Post a Comment