Advertisement After 50 years, passenger rail returns to Burlington $10M federal grant will continue service from Rutland to the Queen City Share Shares Copy Link Copy

After more than 50 years passenger rail service is coming back to Downtown Burlington.With the help of a $10 million federal grant, service from Rutland to the Queen City will be back in business.Watch this story“We received 627 eligible applications from 50 states and several U.S. territories, including numerous tribal governments. One of the very best plans we received was from your leaders right here in Vermont,” U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx said.It could be "all aboard" Amtrak’s Ethan Allen Express Train Line in as little as five years.”You are not only going to improve infrastructure with this project. You are going to transform communities along the rail line,” Foxx said.Right now, the Ethan Allen line has service from New York City to Rutland. After the total $26 million project fixes 11 miles of track it will be possible to make the Big Apple trip from Burlington. The project aims to improve freight movement in the region. With the goal of helping Vermont businesses grow globally.“These are high-tech innovative projects that we need in the 21st century. They are efforts that will raise the bar on safety, they will support our economy; they will allow citizens in this community have access to a better life,” Foxx said.The rail project includes installing three new passenger platforms in Middlebury, Vergennes and Burlington. As well as new crossing gates in several locations.When the final golden spike is hammered into the new rail line you can expect an hour and a half commute from the Queen City to the Marble City.”There it is. We are going have rail service here in Burlington, the only major community in the region that doesn't have railroad service. This is going to be tremendous," Rep Peter Welch said.