I live a long rock throw from the Vermonter’s route and have been riding it and the Montrealer since 1973. There’s no question that a day train can and does work on this route, but the overnight train was considered very successful as a core route train until the costs of the Canadian portion skyrocketed in the late 1990s. Even the long detour route via New London from 1987 to 1995 was very well patronized, with the sleepers (usually two 10-6s) often sold out. I would venture that even a coach-only overnight train a la 66-67 would be well patronised.
Rc think your onto something.
I rode the Montrealer several times from NJ to both Vermont and Montreal. As an overnight train it was great. On one trip I boarded at Newark, NJ had a cozy sleeper and arrived in St. Albans Vermont the following morning all refreshed and ready to spend the day railfanning the Central Vermont Rwy. I had gotten permission to railfan in the yard and engine facility and after a memorable day of railfanning I had a nice bed all the way home. I left on a Friday night after work and arrived back home on Sunday morning.
Excerpt from Department of Homeland Security press release, Mar. 15
Canada and the United States intend to further strengthen our relationship and enhance our mutual security, prosperity, and economic competitiveness. To that end, we are pursuing a comprehensive approach to preclearance. Preclearance strengthens economic competitiveness by expediting the flow of legitimate travel and trade while ensuring perimeter security and border integrity.
Canada and the United States signed the Agreement on Land, Rail, Marine, and Air Transport Preclearance on March 16, 2015. On March 10, 2016, our two countries announced our intention to support the legislation necessary to bring that Agreement into force. In the United States, the necessary provisions were introduced in the Promoting Travel, Commerce, and National Security Act of 2016 (S. 2612/H.R. 4657), introduced on March 1, 2016. The Government of Canada intends to introduce the necessary legislation in the Spring of 2016.
Excerpt from The Daily News, Mar. 20
A bipartisan bill before members of Congress designed to ease cross-border travel received the endorsement of Canada’s new head of state.
While meeting with President Barack Obama in the White House earlier this month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau signaled his support of legislation titled the Promoting Travel, Commerce and National Security Act of 2016.
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I agree with Robert Willison. The overnight schedule was the perfect
way for me to travel from Philadelphia to Vermont points and Montreal.
It would be great to have it again.
Did this train go thru Willmitatic and New London at one time?
Amen.