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The new Amtrak passenger train pulls into Northampton on a trial run.

(Fred Contrada)

NORTHAMPTON — It didn't blow a whistle, but the Amtrak train that stopped in Northampton Monday disgorged a bevy of political celebrities long enough to dedicate the city's new stop on the Vermonter passenger line.

The Vermonter will officially begin taking passengers between Burlington, Vt., and Washington, D.C. on Dec. 29. Though it only ran between Springfield and Greenfield Monday, that was far enough for Gov. Deval Patrick and his entourage of U.S. congressmen, state representatives and local officials.

Patrick's train pulled into the new Northampton stop at 2 p.m. sharp and stayed for about 10 minutes, as the governor accepted a shirt from Northampton Mayor David J. Narkewicz and touted the Knowledge Corridor line built with what he called "the much-maligned" federal stimulus bill.

"In order for this line to be productive, you've got to use it," Patrick told a cheering crowd. "So ride the train!"

That crowd included several city councilors and lots of citizens there to see the historic run. Marianne LaBarge, one of the city councilors, said the passenger train hasn't stopped in Northampton since the 1980s. She remembered seeing it as a young woman and watching it turn through a tunnel that is now a bar.

According to LaBarge, the temporary wooden platform where the train stopped cost some $700,000 in federal money. Narkewicz said the price was not anything near that but confirmed the platform will be replaced by a 400-foot-long one, the industry standard.

Captain Tracie McCain of the Amtrak police force said passengers will not be able to purchase tickets by machine on the platform but must order them online. Because the Vermonter will run only twice a day, once each way, it will use a single set of tracks. McCain said Amtrak police will not necessarily be present on every train, but will be available to handle problems.