Train Service Returns to Burlington for the First Time in Nearly 70 Years

Dear Fellow Vermonter,

Friday, July 29, 2022 was an historic day for Vermont. On that day, train service returned to Burlington for the first time in nearly 70 years. Vermonters can now take the train from Burlington to New York City with stops in Ferrisburgh/Vergennes, Middlebury, and Rutland.

The last regularly scheduled passenger rail service from Burlington ended in 1953. After years and years of work at the local, state, and federal level, we have now restored stations in Burlington and Ferrisburgh/Vergennes and built an entirely new station in Middlebury.

I hope you’ll take a look at the video below to see the expanded Ethan Allen Express in action.

This project is about more than just a train.

First off, and very simply, it gives Vermonters access to more transportation options. For instance, if you’d like to visit New York City and would rather not pay hundreds of dollars for gas and parking, you can take the train. If you’d rather not spend hours waiting in an airport because your plane was delayed or cancelled, then you can take the train.

Second, it is no secret that as a nation we have ignored our infrastructure for far too long a time – allowing railways, roads, bridges, and water systems to fall into disrepair. In terms of rail, we are way behind Europe, Japan, and China. But I am proud to tell you that finally – maybe, just maybe – Washington is waking up. Last year, I was pleased to help pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which provides $66 billion nationally for railway projects like this one, in Vermont and across the country.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly: In Vermont, we understand that climate change is an existential threat to our planet. We know that if we don't get our act together as a nation, then the planet we're going to be leaving our kids and grandchildren will become increasingly uninhabitable. We're already seeing that with our own eyes. Passenger trains are not going to solve all the problems. We need to transform our energy systems away from fossil fuel into energy efficiency and sustainable energy. But improving the quality and efficiency of mass transit – including expanding it to more rural parts of our country – is a crucial step in cutting carbon emissions.

So, let me conclude by saying thank you. Thank you to everyone who helped make this vision a reality. Thank you to former Sen. Jeffords and the late Jeff Munger, whose tireless work helped make this day possible. And thanks to all those Vermonters who, year after year, worked on this important project.

Sincerely,