PUTNEY — We are now one step closer to being able to take the train to Montreal after the recent announcement by Vermont's congressional delegation of a successful application by the Vermont Agency of Transportation and the New England Central, owned by RailAmerica, for funds to upgrade track north of St. Albans to the border.
The TIGER IV grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation was given to improve the track structure to speed freight trains and raise weight limits for freight. It also will improve the tracks for freight and can benefit passenger trains, too.
This award shows the confidence in the state of Vermont and the railroad by the Federal Department of Transportation, and the delegation deserves our thanks for their work pushing for this project in Washington.
The Department of Transportation is providing $7 million, and the railroad is contributing $3 million.
The funds will buy 19 miles of new welded rail, ties, ballast, and bridge upgrades that will raise speeds to 40 m.p.h. for freight (and 59 m.p.h. for passenger trains). The weight limit will rise from 263,000 pounds per car to 286,000 pounds, resulting in a competitive benefit for Vermont.
At present, rail shipments are forced to enter or leave Vermont up to 15 percent empty. Rail lines into New England to the south are being upgraded, leaving Vermont routes at a competitive disadvantage.
Strengthening the competitiveness of the Vermont rail network benefits all rail users. If through traffic to other parts of New England were to be routed around Vermont, costs would rise for the remaining Vermont shippers and for passenger trains.
This award checks off one of four steps needed to extend Amtrak's Vermonter to Montreal (raising the track speed to be competitive with driving). Québec is now looking into funding higher speeds north of the border, while Amtrak is working on a service plan in collaboration with the Agency of Transportation.
Progress is happening on the other three items as well, thanks to the delegation's efforts and the work of the Agency of Transportation and Amtrak.
The other steps: creating a workable customs procedure involving pre-clearance in Montreal, actually building the customs facility in Montreal Central Station, and creating a service and staffing plan and working out details involving train crews crossing the border.
Architectural design of the facility in Montreal has been funded, jointly by the state of Vermont, New York and the Province of Quebec.
The U.S. and Canada have agreed in principle to perform customs inspections in Montreal. The congressional delegations from Vermont and New York recently wrote letters to the State Department and Department of Homeland Security urging the speedy completion of these arrangements.
Extending Vermont's Amtrak service to Canada will grow ridership significantly, thus improving the train's financial performance. Like a mall with anchor stores on both ends, the train will start full in Montreal, and as Québécois and Québécoises get off in Vermont to spend their tourist dollars, Vermonters will take their seats going to New York.
It's not far to Montreal, but the short extension offers significant destinations in two directions now. Load factors will be improved.
Having this project funded will make it easier to focus state resources on the Western Corridor upgrade to Burlington, a benefit for all of Vermont.
After this work is complete, the next upgrade for the Vermonter route should be signals north of White River Junction, which will allow speeds on this section to be raised from 59 to 79 m.p.h.
In addition, the short branch line from Burlington to Essex Junction needs investment, which will open the way for heavier shipments to reach Burlington and for Chittenden County commuter trains.