Passenger Trains > Vermonter in Essex Jct Vermont

After this mornings flying from Boston back to Burlington, I arrived early enough to get a coffe and bagel and head on up to Essex Junction station in time for the southbound "Vermonter" which arrived and departed on-time. This train was noticeably cleaner. The train would've been shining if the sun was out (aside from engine 109). That being said, where does the swap from diesel to electric happen on this route? Thanks. I will also add some photos of the station and platform. Back to regularly scheduled Chicago programming for the next two weeks. Enjoy the footage.

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What appears to be a brand new platform with new signage. 

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Th Vermonter engine swap takes place in New Haven, CT.

ADB

MNR225 Wrote:
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> Th Vermonter engine swap takes place in New Haven,
> CT.
>
> ADB

Thanks!

I boarded there a decade ago and it was in need of a new platform back then.  WRJ as well.  I know WRJ got a new platform in the fall, Essex Jct was probaby around the same time.  And there is a new station being built in Brattleboro.  I ride from Claremont, NH south a few times a year depending.  Any connection heading south requires an earlier arrival in NYC that that provided by the Vermonter.  Of course, for the second summer in a row, Springfield south has a big gap in departures each weekeday due to infrastructure work.  There is a roughly 6 hour period with nothing.  As a result, the next Savannah trip has me in and out of Boston rather than Springfield.

Nice to see the platform and station restoration!!! It was in need! The Vermonter used to connect to the east/west Lake Shore Limited at Springfield at one time (and bus connection from Montreal to St. Albans) and then southbound from NYP to the Silver Meteor to the south at one time (when the Silver Meteor departed at 7:01 pm from NYP). It truly had MUCH better inter connectivity........in the past........UGH!  Nonetheless, lets be grateful that the Vermonter is still running and on state life support, as that was all nearly in jeopardy in the early 2000's. Even Amtrak staff didn't thing the Vermonter (as a state supported train) would last past year 4). Granted there were state cut costs (e.g. staffed stations for "caretakers" and removal of the baggage car). But the Vermonter has descent to good ridership - beating the odds that were cast against it!!!!

I'm surprised at the number of people that board at Essex Junction-Burlington and make the ENTIRE rail journey to Washington DC......I used to travel the Vermonter to Burlington at least quarterly back in the early 2000's. It was a cool ride......The metropolitan NEC to the countryside of Massachusetts and ultimately Vermont. Very college and "vacation driven" train. One longs for the overnight Montrealer though!!! That was the BEST - leave Washington DC and NYP in the late evening and arrive early morning into central/northern Vermont. The Montrealer's ridership still outperformed the "day-train" of the Vermonter, but at least there's still a daytime "Vermonter." At Essex Junction-Burlington, local Vermont "lunches" used to be loaded onboard for a specialty "cafe" special - north and southbound between New Haven - as late as 2003/2004. But that's now gone......I wish the Vermonter north of New Haven had it's "Business Class" turned to "Touring Class" or something more appropriate for the travel north of New Haven......through in an up-charge for amenities with a value-added approach.......... 

What also surprises me is that there's still a BIG market from Boston to Vermonter via Springfield so passengers can connect with the northbound Vermonter. I think this is hugely overlooked. I remember at one point I suggested an overnight schedule that rode up from Washington DC to NYP with a midnight arrival into Boston; but than the train would continue on via the inland route to Springfield and on up to Vermont to St. Albans.......thus offering like a morning arrival into southern Vermont, and at most, a late morning arrival into St. Albans. Passengers that boarded south of NYP would sleep through the meandering journey to/from Vermont.......

That came from another study that if Amtrak operated a train from Washington DC to Springfield, and then a counter part from Boston to Springfield to "combine" or connect at Springfield it would be a BIG win with various markets served. Again, Springfield being a major turnover for the Vermonter for passengers heading east-west (mostly to/from Boston).

But as we all know Amtrak is limited in money, as are the State's, and combined, how to grow and serve passengers. Amtrak should be the partner with the State DOT's that "sell" this option to the states. Remember the high speed train that was proposed from Boston to Montreal??? On tracks and a ROW that don't even exist any more? Well, how about an incremental connectivity approach! 

THANK YOU for providing the link to these pictures of Burlington-Essex Jct as it brings back a LOT of fond memories I once took on this train and the roller coaster ride it had in its infancy as a day train, and options of "what could be?"