The agreement marks a long-awaited starting point for the effort to begin in earnest to restore service to Montreal. This year marks 20 years since the Amtrak Montrealer stopped running.
However, many hurdles remain. Most fall to the state – not the federal government – to resolve.
“These are complicated issues. A lot of them will require funding and the state of Vermont is currently going
Hopefully, it would be an extension of the existing schedule, not a reversion to the old, overnight schedule. A train is not going to capture the Montreal to NY business traveller…
For reasons that are not clear to me (a regular rider of the Montrealer/Vermonter in its several incarnations) the overnight train was quite popular despite the challenges in keeping it running. As late as 1995 it drew 3-4 Amfleet II coaches, a food service car and two 10-6 sleepers. It was also a favorite place for Amtrak to try out special equipment, including “Le Pub” and slumbercoaches.
Since the state of Vermont is footing the bill they will probably opt for the current schedule and the current equipment would not have to be upgraded (sleepers) if a MONTREALER like service was tried.
The extension should draw significant ridership from Montreal to Vermont.
I have never in my life been to Vermont, although since I was a lad reading about Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain boys I have wanted to. It’s the only state east of the Mississippi I haven’t toured. But by gosh, if this train gets to running (once more) between NYC and Montreal I will make a special effort to ride it. Vermont needs access if it’s to be a better tourist-attracting state. I hope I’m right in wishing for Vermont’s proposed Montrealer the same success that’s accrued to Maine’s support of the Downeaster.
Personal note: I was on the platform at New Haven that night in 1972 (I believe) when Amtrak’s first Montrealer arrived from Grand Central. I will never forget the wonderful sounds that GG-1 made as it entered the station precincts; it even tooted its funny-sounding horn! This was a very luxurious train, complete with a dining car, lounge, and sleepers!
I missed my chance to ride to Vermont then; I wish Vermont the best of luck. I hope to see you soon!
I have never in my life been to Vermont, although since I was a lad reading about Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain boys I have wanted to. It’s the only state east of the Mississippi I haven’t toured. But by gosh, if this train gets to running (once more) between NYC and Montreal I will make a special effort to ride it. Vermont needs access if it’s to be a better tourist-attracting state. I hope I’m right in wishing for Vermont’s proposed Montrealer the same success tha
Amtrak’ over night montrealer had a great schedule. You departed DC late in the day, diner in the dinner and you could step off on the heart of Vermont’s ski country after an early breakfast. Great over night ski train for the folks in the northeast. Good connections for the silver meoter out of Florida. The train offered day time travel from Vermont to Montreal.
The train was was at times a party train, the lounge car had a " pub " feeling to it.
The Montrealer is shorter than 750 miles, so it is a corridor train. The states are not goung to underwrite the extra costs of a sleeper train that passes thru their state in the wee hours of the AM.
Depending on the schedule and the route, an over night train did and can service the needs of Vermont. One of keys to the train success was pulling passengers from all points south of NYC on the NEC. This not only adds to the viability of the train but enhances tourism for all concerned.
Whether the train would be popular of not is besides the point. I just don’t see any of the NEC states to start paying for trains, or Conn. and Mass. to pay for trains in the middle of the night, and VT seems to have indicated they want a daylight train.
I hope Vermont is successful with any additional train service it decide on. Just don’t refer to it as the montrealer, since historically it was the was- Mon over night train.
I hope Vermont is successful with any additional train service it decide on. Just don’t refer to it as the montrealer, since historically it was the was- Mon over night train.
Vermonters may have referred to it as the Montrealer Night Train, but classically it was the The Montrealer northbound, and The Washingtonian south bound. Under both Amtrak revivals it was simiply The Montrealer, even though officially The Washingtonian southbound. It should be scheduled, at least in the winter, so the overnight portion is between NYCity and Bellows Falls, so the ski areas are served in the morning and the NEC in the evening. That should work in the summer for tourist travel too. I would see a Washington 6:45 pm departure as a regular regional, a New York 10:30 pm departure, New Haven around midnight, Bellows Falls about 6AM, and a noon arrival in Montreal. Returning a 6pm departure from Montreal, midnight from Bellows Falls, 6AM arrival in NY and around 10AM in Washington. This should serve Vermont very well, as well as Western New Hampshire. If Mt. Holyoke and Northhampton get poor service, this should be remedied by extending one of the Springfield shuttles two stops north.
I like the Montrealer because my grandfather Joe MacDonald (1881-1971) drove it, and because my father Joe MacDonald (1914-1978) thought up the idea for Amtrak to run it. Here’s an old article about my father’s friend, Jim Ullman.
Other than the short section from the U.S./Canadian border to the wye at Cantic QC, the entire line has been upgraded. From Cantic north the line was/would be the same as the one used by the Adirondack, so any upgrades for either route would benefit both.
As if Mass. didn’t spend enough on reconstruction the Conn. River route, they will now pay more for a sleeper train to serve that portion of the route in he wee hours of the AM. Of course they will spend even more for another extended shuttle to serve their stations at a time of day that people might actuall use the service.
I lived in Vermont in the late 1960’s and worked to restore this train with letters, etc., including a special trip to visit with our Senator George Aiken. It was thrilling to be at White River Junction station for her first trip. Before this time, I believe it was Vermont Life Insurance Company in Montpelier, VT which was a heavy user of this train to get its people back and forth to NYC & WDC and they liked the sleepers for this reason. If restored to the pre Amtrak schedule, perhaps there are significant numbers of business types who would use it for similar reasons. I have met many business travelers on Amtrak trains and VIA who like to use those trains which allow them restful arrivals in downtown stations…it is the lack of frequency and dreadful arrival/departure times which limit such use.
Northeaster your spot on about the advantages of the former overnight montrealer. It made as much or more sense than a daylight train because of the convenient times in vt/ DC/ NYC and montreal.
Amtrak tried an overnight Montrealer, and has moved on. Recently and ongoing, they have instead put their money into upgrading track speed, capacity and/or reliability over the entire route. With these improvements the transit time between NY and VT will be in the neighborhood of 4 hours. Hardly much time for 40 winks.
