Ethan Allen Express
- ️Sat Aug 14 2010
| Ethan Allen Express | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Train #291 enters the Croton Harmon station, en route to Rutland. |
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| Overview | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service type | Inter-city rail | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Locale | Vermont | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First service | December 1996 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current operator(s) | Amtrak | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Average ridership | 149 daily 54,376 total (FY12)[1] |
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| Route | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Start | New York | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| End | Rutland, Vermont | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distance travelled | 241 miles (388 km) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service frequency | Daily | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Train number(s) | 290-293, 296 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| On-board services | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Class(es) |
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| Catering facilities | On-board cafe | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Baggage facilities | Carry-on only | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technical | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rolling stock | Amfleet coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track owner(s) | CP | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Ethan Allen Express is a 241-mile (388 km) passenger train operated by Amtrak between New York City and Rutland, Vermont, via Albany. The total trip is scheduled to be completed in 5.5 hours. Its operations are subsidized by the State of Vermont, and the train is popular among vacationers travelling to the ski resort area of Killington. The Ethan Allen Express is named for the American Revolutionary War hero Ethan Allen.
Contents
History
When Amtrak's Vermonter began operating in the central and eastern portions of the state with state funds in 1995, the western side of the state pushed for train service to Rutland as well. Federal funds were secured to rebuild the Clarendon and Pittsford Railroad to permit speeds up to 59 miles per hour (95 km/h). Service was initiated in December 1996. It was the first train on that route since 1953. The Rutland—Whitehall segment had not seen a passenger train since 1936.[2]
Until May 2002, the train carried a baggage car in which passengers could bring skis and unboxed bicycles as well as checked baggage.[3]
In October 2008, citing budgetary pressures, the Vermont Agency of Transportation proposed eliminating the train and replacing it with a bus. This was not accepted by the appropriate legislative committee.[4]
The Vermont Agency of Transportation again proposed ending the service in January 2009. 200 people rallied at the Rutland station against the proposed cut.[5] Rail advocates, led by the Vermont Rail Action Network[6] and area political leaders[7] organized to fight the cut and plans to drop the service were abandoned.[8]
On February 23, 2011, the Vermont Agency of Transportation began an investigation into the Vermont Rail System's (VRS) handling of the Ethan Allen Express between Whitehall, New York and Rutland after Amtrak notified the state that track conditions meant the train was frequently delayed. Amtrak evaluated the line as the worst in the nation.[9] During the summer of 2011, VRS conducted work to improve the track in question, planned to result in an eighteen-minute reduction in travel time by the end of the year, with additional work planned for the summer of 2012.[10] The project was funded by both the railroad and the state of New York at a cost of $3.25 million, and involved rebuilding about 8 miles (13 km) of track and eight grade crossings.[10] By February 2012, the trackwork had resulted in a 15-minute southbound and 25-minute northbound reduction in travel time between Rutland and Whitehall, while the total time the Ethan Allen Express operated behind schedule fell to 135 minutes in December 2011, from 11,068 minutes a year earlier.[11]
Proposed extension to Burlington
Plans have existed to extend the Ethan Allen to Burlington from at least 2000.[12] A $30 million earmark was obtained by Senator Jim Jeffords in 2005, partially to fund the work, of which $19 million remained by 2011, the remainder having been used for other projects such as a new spur for freight traffic.[12][13]
Advocates, led by Chambers of Commerce and the Vermont Rail Action Network renewed the push for an extension to Burlington.[14] Advocates believed that service to Burlington (an hour and 40 minutes north of Rutland and the state's largest city) would secure the long-term sustainability of the service by generating much more ridership than Rutland is capable of.[15]
The Vermont Agency of Transportation applied for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 funds to rebuild the tracks to passenger standards (59 mph) which would enable the extension.[16] While the initial application was not approved, the state subsequently entered a second US$70 million application for similar grants,[17] and later a third, all of which were rejected.[13]
Route details
The Ethan Allen Express operates over Clarendon and Pittsford Railroad, Canadian Pacific Railway, CSX Transportation, Metro-North Railroad, and Amtrak trackage:
- CL&P, Rutland to Whitehall (former Delaware and Hudson Railway)
- CP, Whitehall to Schenectady (former Delaware and Hudson Railway)
- CSX Hudson Subdivision, Schenectady to Poughkeepsie (former New York Central)
- MNRR Hudson Line, Poughkeepsie to Spuyten Duyvil (former New York Central)
- Amtrak Empire Connection, Spuyten Duyvil to Penn Station (former New York Central)
The Ethan Allen Express began with stops in Rutland, Fort Edward-Glens Falls, Saratoga Springs, Schenectady, Albany, Hudson, Rhinecliff-Kingston, Poughkeepsie, Croton-Harmon, Yonkers and New York City (Penn Station).[18] Amtrak added Fair Haven in 1997 and discontinued service there in 2010 with the addition of Castleton.[19]
Station stops
References
- ^ "Amtrak Sets New Ridership Record" (PDF). Amtrak. 10 October 2012. http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/636/294/Amtrak-Sets-New-Ridership-Record-FY2012-ATK-12-092.pdf. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
- ^ Lloyd, Barbara (December 19, 1996). "Train Trip to Vermont Offers Some of the Fun". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1996/12/19/sports/train-trip-to-vermont-offers-some-of-the-fun.html. Retrieved 2010-08-14.
- ^ FW: Erosion of Amtrak bike access Posted June 11, 2002
- ^ Ethan Allen Safe . . . Until January Posted Thursday, 18 December 2008
- ^ Hirschfeld, Peter; Stephanie M. Peters (January 20, 2009). "Amtrak rally draws 200 people". Rutland Herald. http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20090120/NEWS04/901200368/1004/NEWS03. Retrieved 2010-08-15.
- ^ Vermont Rail Action Network 2009 Accomplishments January 5, 2010
- ^ [1] Rutland Herald: State panel, county delegation speak against Amtrak bus service]January 10, 2009
- ^ Hirschfield, Peter (February 26, 2009). "Rutland Herald: Agency Soften Stance on Amtrak". Rutland Herald. http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20090226/NEWS04/902260393/1004/NEWS03. Retrieved 2010-08-15.
- ^ "Amtrak ranks Vermont last as worst railroad". Burlington Free Press. February 24, 2011. Archived from the original on February 24, 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/5wkd0adOe. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
- ^ a b "Vermont Rail System posts progress on trackwork for Amtrak's Ethan Allen service". Progressive Railroading. August 12, 2011. Archived from the original on August 13, 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/60uP870rp. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
- ^ "Vermont Rail System's bolstered track improves Amtrak transit times". Progressive Railroading. 8 February 2012. Archived from the original on 8 February 2012. http://www.webcitation.org/65JKINGRY. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
- ^ a b "Critics question whether money for rail in western Vermont is being well spent". Vermont Public Radio. 15 May 2008. http://www.vpr.net/news_detail/80554/. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
- ^ a b "To Rutland by train: 68 miles and many millions of dollars". Burlington Free Press. 21 August 2011. http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20110821/NEWS02/110820005/To-Rutland-by-train-68-miles-many-millions-dollars. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
- ^ Rutland Herald: Chambers push for revitalized rail system March 26, 2009
- ^ Vermont Rail Action Network: Extending the Ethan Allen To Burington April 6, 2008
- ^ Hirschfeld, Peter (December 28, 2009). "Rutland to Burlington state rail service tied to stimulus". Times-Argus. http://www.timesargus.com/article/20091228/NEWS01/912280344. Retrieved 2010-08-15.
- ^ "State Will Re-Submit Application to Rebuild Track for Ethan Allen to Burlington". Vermont Rail Action Network. 21 April 2010. http://www.railvermont.org/news/93-ethan-allen-to-burlington/222-state-will-re-submit-application-to-rebuild-track-for-ethan-allen-to-burlington.html. Retrieved 26 June 2010.[dead link]
- ^ "Amtrak Northeast Timetable". Amtrak. November 10, 1996. http://www.timetables.org/full.php?group=19961110ne&item=0024. Retrieved 2010-08-15.
- ^ "Castleton revives Amtrak service". WCAX. January 2, 2010. http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=11759945. Retrieved 2010-08-15.
External links
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Public transportation systems in Vermont |
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| Bus transportation | |
| Rail transportation |
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