Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I finally did a Rail Map for Vermont and Northern New England and Eastern NY...
It connects Burlington with Boston and Montreal via a New High Speed Rail line....along with extending the Ethan Allen to Essex JCT via Burlington which should open by 2017. The High Speed line would be grade seperated , and require alot of tunneling between Burlington and Boston. There would only be 3 stops in Vermont , St. Albans , Burlington and White River JCT. The Vermonter and Ethan Allen would service the other cities and towns. Another line for some reason fell off the map , it would run from Rutland to Greenfield,Mass via Bennington & North Adams.... Some of this planned as part of each state Rail wish list or Master Plan , the High Speed lines will most likely be done by private all lines in the Northeastern US show they will operate with a Profit. The Amtrak Master Plans show an increase from 1.2 billion in revenue to as high as 7.1 Billion in Revenue....by 2035.
The Main Trunk lines or High Speed Rail - 135-250mph
Coastal Northeast Corridor
New Inland Northeast Corridor
Knowledge Corridor
Empire line
Berkshires Express
The New Yorker HSL
The Montrealer HSL
Intercity or Long Distance Regional Rail
Downeaster
Vermonter
Lewiston Branch
Ethan Allen line
Wildcat Branch
Commuter or Regional Rail
Greenfield/Fitchberg line
Newburyport / Portsmouth line
Rockport line
Concord/Lowell line
Lowell Connector
Danvers/Peabody line
Malden line
Cross Hampshire Line
I-93 Rail Corridor
Portsmouth Connector
Rochester Branch
Frequencies
High Speed Rail & Trunk lines
Inland Northeast Corridor - New York Penn to South Station : Peak : 25 minutes : Reverse Peak : 30minutes : Offpeak :45minutes : Weekend & Holiday : 60min
Coastal Northeast Corridor - New York Penn to South Station : Peak : 30 minutes : Reverse Peak : 45minutes : Offpeak :60minutes : Weekend & Holiday : 60min
Empire line - New York Penn to Albany : Peak : 35 minutes : Reverse Peak : 45minutes : Offpeak : 60minutes : Weekend & Holiday : 60min
Knowledge Corridor - New Haven Union to Brattleboro : Peak : 10 minutes : Reverse Peak : 25minutes : Offpeak : 30minutes : Weekend & Holiday : 45min
Berkshires Express - Albany to South Station : Peak : 25 minutes : Reverse Peak : 35minutes : Offpeak 50minutes :: Weekend & Holiday : 50min
The Montrealer - Montreal to North Station : Peak : 25 minutes : Reverse Peak : 35minutes : Offpeak : 45minutes : Weekend & Holiday : 50min
The New Yorker - Montreal to New York Penn : Peak : 35minutes : Reverse Peak : 45minutes : Offpeak : 60minutes : Weekend & Holiday : 60min
Intercity Rail & Long Distance Regional Rail
Ethan Allen line - New York Penn to Burlington : Peak : 45 minutes : Reverse Peak : 60minutes : Offpeak: 60minutes : Weekend & Holiday : 60min
Vermonter - New Haven Union to St. Albans : Peak : 25 minutes : Reverse Peak : 45minutes : Offpeak : 60minutes : Weekend & Holiday : 60min
Downeaster Express - North Station to Old Town : Peak : 35 minutes : Reverse Peak : 45minutes : Offpeak : 60minutes : Weekend & Holiday : 60min
Lewiston Branch - Portland Union Station to Bangor : Peak : 25 minutes : Reverse Peak : 45minutes : Offpeak : 60minutes : Weekend & Holiday : 60min
Regional Rail
(Greenfield)/Fitchberg line - Greenfield to North Station : Peak : 25 minutes : Reverse Peak : 45minutes : Offpeak : 60minutes : Weekend & Holiday : 60min
Plymouth/Concord/Lowell line - Plymouth > Limited Seasonal Service , Concord to North Station : Peak : 15 minutes : Reverse Peak : 25minutes : Offpeak : 45minutes : Weekend & Holiday : 60min
Portsmouth/Newburyport line - Portsmouth to North Station : Peak : 25 minutes : Reverse Peak : 45minutes : Offpeak : 60minutes : Weekend & Holiday : 60min
Rockport line - Rockport to North Station : Peak : 35 minutes : Reverse Peak : 45minutes : Offpeak : 60minutes : Weekend & Holiday : 60min
Malden line - Salem to North Station : Peak : 15 minutes : Reverse Peak : 25minutes : Offpeak : 45minutes : Weekend & Holiday : 60min
Danvers/Peabody line - Salem to North Station : Peak : 15 minutes : Reverse Peak : 25minutes : Offpeak : 40minutes : Weekend & Holiday : 60min
Inland Northeast Corridor
Boston South Station - Express
Boston Back Bay - Express Providence Central
Danielson - Limited
Storrs - Limited
Manchester - Limited
Hartford HSR - Express
Bristol HSR - Limited
Waterbury HSR - Express
Danbury HSR - Express
White Plains - Westchester Airport - Limited
New Rochelle - Limited
New York Penn - Express
Coastal Northeast Corridor
Boston South Station
Boston Back Bay
Route 128 Providence Central
Kingston
Westerly
New London
New Haven Union
Stamford
New Rochelle Sunnyside JCT
New York Penn
Knowledge Corridor Express
Brattleboro Springfield Riverfront
Windsor Locks
Hartford Union
New Haven State Street
New Haven Union
Knowledge Corridor Local
Brattleboro Greenfield South Deerfield
Northampton
Holyoke
Willimansett
Ferry Lane
Springfield Riverfront
Long Meadow
Thompsonville
Windsor Locks
Windsor North End
Hartford Union Parkville
Newington
Berlin
Meriden
Wallingford North Haven
Fair Haven
New Haven State Street
New Haven Union
Empire Line
Albany-Rensselaer
Hudson
Rhinebeck
Poughkeepsie
Croton Harmon
Yonkers
New York Penn
The New Yorker HSL
Montreal Central Station
Plattsburgh Glens Falls
Troy
Albany-Rensselaer
Poughkeepsie
Croton Harmon
Yonkers
New York Penn
The Montrealer HSL
Montreal Central Station Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu
St. Albans
Burlington
White River JCT
Concord HSR
Manchester HSR
Lawrence
North Station
Berkshires Express
Albany-Rensselaer
Westfield
Springfield Union
Worcester Union Framingham Center
Boston Back Bay
Boston South Station
Berkshires Local
Saratoga Springs
Schenectady Roselleville
Arbor Hill
Albany-Rensselaer Chatham
Pittsfield
Westfield Wakefield Street
West Springfield
Springfield Union East Springfield
Indian Orchard
Palmer
Worcester Union
Framingham
Boston Back Bay
Boston South Station
Intercity Rail & Long Distance Regional Rail
Ethan Allen line
St. Albans
Essex JCT Winnoski
Burlington
Middlebury
Center Rutland
Fair Haven
Whitehall
Fort Edward
Saratoga Springs
Schenectady
Albany-Rensselaer
Hudson
Rhinebeck
Poughkeepsie
Croton Harmon
Yonkers
New York Penn
Vermonter
St. Albans
Essex JCT
Waterbury
Montpelier
Randolph
White River Junction
Windsor
Claremont
Bellows Falls
Brattleboro Greenfield
South Deerfield
Northampton
Holyoke
Springfield Riverfront
Windsor
Hartford Union
Berlin
Meriden
Wallingford New Haven State Street
New Haven Union
Downeaster Express Bangor
Waterville
Augusta
Brunswick
Freeport
Portland Union
Old Orchard Beach
Saco-Biddeford
Wells
Dover
Durham-UNH
Exeter
Haverhill
Woburn
North Station
Downeaster Local Milford
Old Town
Orono
Bangor
Newport
Pittsfield
Fairfield
Waterville
Augusta
Gardner
Brunswick
Freeport Yarmouth
Riverton
Portland Union
Old Orchard Beach
Saco-Biddeford
Wells
Dover
Durham-UNH
Exeter
Haverhill
Woburn
North Station
Rockport Line
North Station
Chelsea
River Works
Lynn
Swampscott
Salem
Beverly Depot
Montserrat
Prides Crossing
Beverly Farms
Manchester
West Gloucester
Gloucester
Rockport
Portsmouth / Newburyport line
North Station
Chelsea
River Works
Lynn
Swampscott
Salem
Beverly Depot
North Beverly
Hamilton/Wenham
Ipswich
Rowley
Newburyport Salisbury
Hampton
Portsmouth
Haverhill Line
North Station
Malden Center
Wyoming Hill
Melrose/Cedar Park
Melrose Highlands
Greenwood
Wakefield
Reading
North Wilmington
Ballardvale
Andover
Lawrence
Bradford
Haverhill Plaistow
Playmouth/Concord / Lowell line
North Station
West Medford
Wedgemere
Winchester Center
Mishawum
Anterson RTC
Wilmington
North Billerica
Lowell North Chelmsford
Tyngsborough
Nashua
Merrimack
Manchester Airport
Manchester
Southern New Hampshire University
Hooksett
Concord
Penacook
Northfield
Laconia
Meredith
Plymouth
Greenfield / Fitchburg line
North Station
Porter SQ
Belmont
Waverly
Waltham
Brandeis/Roberts
Kendal Green
Hastings
Silver Hill
Lincoln
Concord
West Concord
South Acton
Littleton/Route 495
Ayer
Shirley
North Leominster
Fitchburg West Wachusetts
Gardner
Athol
Orange
Greenfield
Cross Hampshire line Concord
Southern New Hampshire University
Manchester
Epping
Greenland
Portsmouth
Malden line
Salem
Swampscott West Lynn
Saugus
Malden East
Malden Center East
Everett
North Station
Danvers/Peabody line
Salem Peabody
Andover Street
West Peabody
Lynnfield
Wakefield-Route128
Greenwood
Melrose Highlands
Melrose
Wyoming Hill
Malden Center
North Station
Lowell Connector
Lawrence
Andover
Ballardville Tweksbury
South Lowell
Lowell Nebnasset
Forge village
Ayer
Shirley
North Leominster
Fitchberg
I-93 Rail line
North Station
Malden Center
Wyoming Hill
Melrose/Cedar Park
Melrose Highlands
Greenwood
Wakefield
Reading
North Wilmington
Ballardvale
Andover Lawrence Centre
Methuen
Main Street - Salem
Derry
Manchester Airport
Manchester
Southern New Hampshire University
Hooksett
Concord
Eastern Hampshire Main line / Rochester Branch
North Station
West Medford
Wedgemere
Winchester Center
Mishawum Woburn
Anterson RTC
Wilmington
Ballardvale
Andover
Lawrence
Bradford
Haverhill
Plaistow
Exeter Newmarket
Durham
Dover Somersworth
Rochester
Portland Metro Gorham
Westbrook
Rosemont
Portland Union
West End
Old Port
East End
East Deening
Cumberland Foreside
Yarmouth
Greenfield/Fitchberg line - DMU Newburyport / Portsmouth line - 15 kV AC, 16.7 Hz Rockport line - 15 kV AC, 16.7 Hz Concord/Lowell line - 15 kV AC, 16.7 Hz Lowell Connector - DMU Danvers/Peabody line - DMU Malden line - DMU Cross Hampshire Line - 15 kV AC, 16.7 Hz I-93 Rail Corridor - 15 kV AC, 16.7 Hz Portsmouth Connector - 15 kV AC, 16.7 Hz Rochester Branch - DMU
Portland Metro - 3 kV DC
What Do you think? It will Probably never happen the way I mapped it....but its good way to start discussing improving the Transportation in Vermont and attracting the younger generations....
I don't think that applies to Rail , which is already being upgraded and expanded as we speak. Rail doesn't really impact traffic or environment as bad as roads do...or Airports.... High Speed Rail might be a challenge but even then if you work with people which Private HSR builders always seem to do you can build it. Usually means more tunnels and soundwalls which is what France and Germany does.
I don't think that applies to Rail , which is already being upgraded and expanded as we speak. Rail doesn't really impact traffic or environment as bad as roads do...or Airports.... High Speed Rail might be a challenge but even then if you work with people which Private HSR builders always seem to do you can build it. Usually means more tunnels and soundwalls which is what France and Germany does.
Act250 does apply to rail. Land Use Panel: Statute Anything that may have an environmental impact applies. There have been several rail projects delayed or shot down in the past decade because of Act 250. It's not that it's an impossible process to work around, it's the extremely expensive environmental studies that have to be done. The state realized over a decade ago that the strict regulations would have an impact on proposed rail projects. Gov. Douglas proposed changing the regulations long ago for this reason, but that never happened.
The way I understand the law (someone correct me if they know better), if the rail line is constructed on land that is not currently a railroad, they need Act 250 approval. What definitely applies are any structures that are constructed for this purpose, ie a rail station.
Vermont could use more rail service. I'd love to be able to hop on a train out of Rutland and head to boston or Montreal. We've used the Amtrak to NYC and it was a great trip. We upgraded to the business class (very reasonable and at 6' 2", much needed) and really enjoyed the trip and highly recomend it. Very comfortable and you can walk around, or hang out in the bar car and play cards or even have a brew or two.
Act250 does apply to rail. Land Use Panel: Statute Anything that may have an environmental impact applies. There have been several rail projects delayed or shot down in the past decade because of Act 250. It's not that it's an impossible process to work around, it's the extremely expensive environmental studies that have to be done. The state realized over a decade ago that the strict regulations would have an impact on proposed rail projects. Gov. Douglas proposed changing the regulations long ago for this reason, but that never happened.
The way I understand the law (someone correct me if they know better), if the rail line is constructed on land that is not currently a railroad, they need Act 250 approval. What definitely applies are any structures that are constructed for this purpose, ie a rail station.
Explains why the first few Private HSR attempts were abandoned or shelved...same with New York state , I can understand the fear of Sprawl but preventing the states economy from growing is counterproductive....and the regional Air Market is strained.... You really can't expand Airports like Montreal , Boston , New York , Philly theres no more room , same with the highways. The only highways that won't be over capacity by 2030 are in upstate NY and Vermont everything else will have at least 15hrs of congestion which will slowly kill the economy. If they loosen up the rules them you will see Wind Farms and other things set up shop in Vermont and New Hampshire.... Your tax system in Northern New England is perfect for job creation but these rules which i'm sure most people aren't aware of are holding you back. You can pass tight land usage or zoning , but holding back Railway Projects which don't even leave that much an impact on the landscape like the pictures below....its about the size of a 2 lane road with no shoulders .... The upgraded lines can also operate at full or half speed in Blizzards and dense fog....along with winds up 70mph and Ice storms...
I love Vermont and I love trains, however it is so sparsely populated that the demand for passenger rail isn't really there.
I agree with you. While I like trains and railroad history, there isn't a compelling reason to invest heavily in rail service in VT. Not to mention the shear change in landscape that would result and have its obvious challenges.
Depends High Speed Rail is about connecting Large cities with small cities and popular destinations. Its good for lengths between 200-500 miles , so that would mean 45 mins to Montreal or less depending how they do the border , and 1hr and 15 mins to Boston from Burlington which would be a huge boost along with connecting South Hampshire to Montreal and Boston which it could use. As for Regional Rail , the state can handle it as long as theres a stop in every major town along all 3 routes , its about connectivity....if you can have roads and Interstates you can have rail it just needs to be priced alot lower and service more frequent...
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
