Regional Rail In Reality Vermonts Role in the Northeast Rail Network

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Regional Rail In RealityVermonts Role in the
Northeast Rail Network

• NEARC 2008 Conference
• Hotel Northampton
• Northhampton, MA
• October 25, 2008
• Charlie Miller
• Rail Planning Coordinator
• Vermont Agency of Transportation

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Vermonts Role in the Rail Network

• Purchase of Rutland Railroad 1964
• Subsequent Purchases
• Green Mountain Railroad
• B M Conn River Line North of WRJ
• Old CP Main Newport to Wells River
• 305 of 600 miles are State owned
• Several other line segments for railbanking and
  trail development

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Rail Operators in Vermont

• Vermont Railway
• Green Mountain Railroad
• Washington County RR Barre-Montpelier
• Washington County RR Conn River Line
• Clarendon Pittsford RR
• New England Central RR
• Montreal, Maine Atlantic RR
• St. Lawrence Atlantic
• Pan Am Railways
• Canadian National (CN) RR
• Twin State RR (inactive)

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Major Rail Initiatives Projects

• Western Corridor (30M)
• ABRBE Passenger Rail Improvements
• Middlebury Rail Spur
• Rutland Railyard Relocation
• Burlington Tunnel Stabilization
• Green Mountain Track Bridge (2.5M)
• Bellows Falls Tunnel Project (2M)
• East Alburg Trestle Project (5M)
• St. Lawrence Atlantic Rail Project (5M)

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Passenger Rail Services

• Montrealer Discontinued April 1995 State
  Service Initiated
• Vermonter - April 2, 1995
• Springfield, MA St. Albans, Vermont
• Throughway Bus to Montreal
• Ethan Allen Express - December 2, 1996
• Albany, NY Rutland, Vermont

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Vermont State Supported Routes

• The Vermonter
• 1 Northbound 1 Southbound Daily
• Washington, DC --- St. Albans, VT
• Springfield, Ma -- Washington (Amtrak)
• The Ethan Allen Express
• 1 Southbound 1 Northbound Daily
• Rutland, VT ----- New York, NY (Penn Stat.)
• Albany, NYNYC (Amtrak)

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Ridership

• Vermonter
• 2006 54,273
• 2007 63,299 16.6 Increase
• 2008 72,655 14.8 Increase
• Ethan Allen Express
• 2006 42,763
• 2007 43,942 2.8 Increase
• 2008 46,881 6.7 Increase

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Revenue

• Vermonter
• 2006 2,947,174
• 2007 3,357,124 13.9
• 2008 3,942,778 17.4
• Ethan Allen Express
• 2006 2,024,865
• 2007 2,190,959 8.2
• 2008 2,407,851 9.9

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Cost of Service (State Support)

• Vermonter
• 2006 2,568,718
• 2007 2,602,280
• 2008 2,663,372
• 2009 3,360,159
• Ethan Allen Express
• 2006 1,410,840
• 2007 1,276,272
• 2008 1,276,662
• 2009 1,544,633

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Vermonts DMU Project

• Purchase of New Diesel Multiple Units from
  Colorado Rail Car Mfg.
• 3 Powered DMUs and 2 Trailer Cars
• Railroad Rehabilitation and improvement Financing
  (RRIF) Loan 23 million
• Amtrak/FRA Corridor Pilot Program Grant 2
  million

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Notable Benefits

• Improved train options for Vermonters
• Vermonter service doubles between White River
  Jct. and New Haven, CT
• Improved Options for in-state traffic between
  White River Jct. and points south
• Reduced operating expenses
• 50 Savings Fuel
• 35 Crew cost
• Reduced emissions
• 75 reduction compared to current equipment

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Knowledge Corridor Project

• Began with a White Paper on the concept in late
  2002 early 2003
• Discussions with Congressional Delegations and
  State DOTs and others 2004-2005
• In 2005 Congressman Olver provided an earmark for
  feasibility study.

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THE FUTURE

• Charlie Miller
• Rail Planning Coordinator
• 802-828-5719
• charlie.miller_at_state.vt.us