Comments
banannastand t1_izs1iep wrote
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Burlington to Montreal. I would like to take no more than 1hr to get to the city.
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Fast rail Burlington to Boston, same to NYC.
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Bring people to the ski mountains, Greater Chittenden County to Stowe/Smuggs/Sugarbush, train down to Killington.
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Light rail around Chittenden county
Rich_Swing_1287 t1_izs2sc8 wrote
- Brattleboro to Boston South Station for sure.
- Burlington to Boston North Station.
- More than 1 NB/SB train per day.
phred14 t1_izs2vqg wrote
I've taken rail in England, both the tube in London and longer distance rail. The longer distance rail was really nice - preferable to air travel for the distance we were going. I would welcome that in the US.
nosehairblue t1_izs3091 wrote
Newport to Montpelier (and beyond)
linuxdragons t1_izs3ike wrote
Burlington -> Montpelier-> Littleton -> White Mountains -> Fryeberg -> Portland
mediumeasy t1_izs3xy5 wrote
burlington to montreal!
nosehairblue t1_izs41vk wrote
Continuing north to Sherbrooke and Quebec City would be a dream.
BackgroundCat t1_izs4ukt wrote
White River Junction to Boston. TWO Amtrak trains south and north to NYC daily, instead of one, on the eastern side of the state. Fix the damned customs issue so we can go the entire way into Montreal on the train. And back. Beyond that, just having the ability to travel anywhere with more connection options. More often than not, train routes just don’t talk to each other.
TwoNewfies t1_izs5ltl wrote
The Windham County historical society did a bus tour of the old rail line. Let's do Jamaica to Newfane to Brattleboro, then on to Boston or New York - or New Haven for Pepe's and IKEA.
Nickmorgan19457 t1_izs6jt8 wrote
All of them
Johnny9Toes t1_izs6wb1 wrote
If we could just add a second departure time from Rutland to Burlington (and NYC) each day, that would be cool. But, connecting Rutland to Montreal would be cool too.
numetalbeatsjazz t1_izs76y4 wrote
Commuter line from Rutland to Burlington stopping at midd, vergennes, shelburne, and south Burlington along the way. Then Burlington east to Montpelier and barre. A line from Rutland to wrj would be nice and help me out. Could then connect it to the non existent commuter lines in the upper valley. This would go through killington and give people a better way to get to the resorts.
TheScandinavianFlick t1_izs7p39 wrote
My vote as well. I'd add that Montpelier is perfectly located as a central hub; run light rail (or maglev, no budget after all) from there to the corners (Brattleboro, Bennington, Newport, St. Albans). You can finagle those routes to hit the Burlington area, St. J, Upper Valley, and others.
TillPsychological351 t1_izs7tj2 wrote
A light rail extension from Waterbury to Stowe, with several stops on the way to the resort. Something similar to the Zugspitzbahn in Garmisch-Partenkirchen or the system of rack railways that transport skiers from Interlaken to the various mountain towns in thr Berner Oberland.
ttvalkyrie25 t1_izs9634 wrote
Yes please and thank you kindly!
timberwolf0122 t1_izs9dyp wrote
Brighton, England. If budget is no constraint
BookSquid_87 t1_izs9i2m wrote
Are dirigibles out of the question?
shaytotten t1_izs9sdj wrote
Burlington to Montreal/Quebec City
Burlington to Montpelier to White River (I mean technically you can do this from Essex Jct.)
Montpelier to St. Johnsbury then through NH to Downeast Maine (Acadia Nat'l Park)
headgasketidiot t1_izsa94p wrote
I just want to point out that all these suggestions aren't just attainable - they're actually incredibly modest. It's not a fantasy to get to Boston and Montreal in 90 min from Burlington. In fact, we should be mad that we can't. Something happened to our society that we can barely maintain the infrastructure that previous generations actually had to go out and build, much less imagine a world where we expand it. It's really sad to see how small our dreams have become. We've settled so low that when asked to fantasize disregarding cost, our responses are basically "any train would be nice."
The Swiss have much rougher terrain than us, and their train system will take you to some of the most podunk towns from Geneva in an hour. Spanish high speed rail will take you to the capital from any other major metro area in a few hours tops through more mountainous country. Quito, Ecuador is currently building a subway - a country with nowhere near the wealth we have can break ground on public transit. Meanwhile, we can barely imagine replacing our trains that are 10 years past their service date.
edit grammar
headgasketidiot t1_izsayqi wrote
I have so many questions! Did you make that? If not, where did you find that delightful illustration?
ExpressionFamiliar98 t1_izsb3qx wrote
WRJ>>CONCORD>>BOSTON
CountFauxlof t1_izscbfh wrote
it would also be nice to have high speed rail service. NYC service is awesome, but it’s a lengthy ride.
woolsocksandsandals t1_izsdiin wrote
Might as well have it start in St. J.
St. J, Wells river, Bradford, white river, Claremont, Keene and maybe another stop in Mass that’s not covered by MTA.
chachicka22 t1_izse1n6 wrote
Albany > Bennington > Brattleboro > Boston
historycat95 t1_izsg995 wrote
Middlebury, killington, Woodstock Brattleboro
Middlebury, Vergennes (more than once a day) Charlotte, Shelburne, S. Burlington, Essex, Williston. Departs each hour and takes 45 minutes, cost $4.50 a day. People would use it all the time.
There really needs to be commuter rail along 7 and 2 in order to equalize home values and decrease the need for cars.
here_f1shy_f1shy t1_izsggx7 wrote
It would be pretty amazing to hop on a train up to Montreal, go see a Montreal Canadians game and take the train back and not have to drive or anything. Hopefully sssooooonnn.
Bernthewalldown t1_izsgxry wrote
Rutland to Killington light rail
DaddyBobMN t1_izsh6td wrote
If you are going to say budget isn't an issue the answer is all of them. Rail access from every town and city with more than 1000 people and connections to all major regional areas outside of VT.
Slimslade33 t1_izsh959 wrote
A train from my house in Maine to Pine st, Burlington with stops at all the breweries!
ClarenceWith2Parents t1_izshm7z wrote
Im staying in the Barre area now - I would live out the rest of my life & die in this state if even a small version of this plan was implemented. It would change everything about this state.
chloecoolcat t1_izsihsy wrote
It would also be cool to see light rail connecting these areas individually with a second hub around Rutland!
Like a Newport > Brattleboro that runs alongside 91 and hits all the major towns and branches into minor towns with a another branch that splits off at White River/West Leb and goes to Rutland. Also would be cool to see a Newport > Sherbrooke > Quebec City
Once you reach Brattleboro you can get to Rutland by servicing the southeast quadrant of the state, or a faster direct line to Bennington.
From Bennington, a route that follows RT 7 with major stops in Rutland, Burlington, St Albans, up to Swanton and on to Montreal also servicing small towns.
From Rutland, a higher speed line to Albany, and from Burlington a faster route to Plattsburgh with a branch connecting the isles. Also a direct Montpelier to Rutland line and something that services Johnson/Morrisville to Stowe so you can take that route year round.
And then, in the North a St. Albans > Newport > Johnson loop with connection to the aforementioned Stowe line with a direct over-the-mountain connection into Montpelier.
It would also be cool to see trains that summit the mountains to connect adjacent towns like Northfield > Waitsfield > Starksboro or Stowe > Underhill since Budget isn't an issue
JoshIroning t1_izsj8xq wrote
Unpopular opinion but none. Vermont lacks the population density for rail to make any sense. I know this because even our bus system seems to run empty much of the time.
For an unlimited budget, let's give everyone an electric car. The cool thing about cars is they take you anywhere you want to go on your own schedule and whims. Alternatively we all put steel wheels on our cars and put tracks down every road...
The only way we could kinda make rail work is if we all agreed to move our houses within a half mile of a train station, and convince our workplaces to do that as well..?
That being said, for longer routs that could compete with flying or a 4 hour drive, now I'm going to be interested. I'd do a drive to Burlington if a train could woosh me to Boston or NYC!
[deleted] t1_izsjcyj wrote
Green Mountain Railroad owns tracks between Bellows Falls and Rutland Vermont that passes through several town which would benefit greatly from passenger rail.
This would connect the Amtrak Vermonter with a significant portion of southern Vermont and serve several ski areas such as Okemo and Jackson Gore in Ludlow, and Pico And Killington in Rutland. I believe it would be a very popular ski train for all the folks who are served by the Amtrak Vermonter train, which goes all the way through NYC to Washington DC. There are a lot of people who live along that route who do not own a car who would love to be able to vacation in Vermont.
Also, public transportation in the towns along route 103, that this rail service would serve is abysmal. The bus companies who are supposed to be serving this region are doing a pretty terrible job at connecting these towns. It is not practical to travel along this route by bus, even though they claim to be serving this route. The buses are just for transporting ski area workers in the wee hours of the morning and a return trip in the early evening. The only bus route on Google maps from Bellows Falls to Rutland is a ten hour ride going the opposite direction.
This passenger rail route would also service Rutland Airport for all the folks who live along route 103, which would be wonderful. No more having to beg a ride from family and friends, or hire an expensive car to get to the airport. Even grocery shopping for all of these towns would become something folks could do without a car, which would be a really big deal for many. There are other benifits too, but I think I have gone on long enough here.
SamJackson01 t1_izsjicd wrote
Give me a stop in Portsmouth/Dover and I’m in.
Dr_L_Church t1_izsk0gw wrote
I think you greatly underestimate the time, infrastructure, and cost of converting our existing rail lines or building new ones to accommodate high speed passenger rail. The railroads in the us were built for freight. They go to places where there are freight customers. There is no straight path between 2 points. Burlington to Boston just doesn’t exist. The best connection would be BD to St Albans to white river to Springfield MA to Bos. And most if not all of that is single track lines. No way you are making that in 90 minutes regardless of how fast they can go, even if they don’t have to stop and wait for a passing train. BD to Montreal would be more attainable, but unlikely as there is already a train that runs from Essex to St. Albans. More likely for the Vermonter to be extended to Montreal (there are tracks that go that direction) than to have the Ethan Allen extended to Montreal (tracks between Burlington and St. Albans are not suited for passenger service). Though I could also see the benefit of passenger service from NYP to Montreal. No matter what you are not getting there in 90 minutes without billions of investment in infrastructure.
Corbeau_from_Orleans t1_izskc2l wrote
You can see why, during prohibition, the train to Montreal was so popular!
Mind you, it wasn’t Burlington-Montreal but rather from Boston, crossing the international border just east of Richford.
bonanzapineapple t1_izskzfd wrote
That would be great
BookSquid_87 t1_izsmegv wrote
This is a postcard that someone found for me online...they had it made into a metal wall art print as a gift!
headgasketidiot t1_izsn44j wrote
See, this is what I'm talking about. Why do we dream so small?
>No matter what you are not getting there in 90 minutes without billions of investment in infrastructure.
Yes, let's do that! This is what I want to do! Let's invest billions of dollars in infrastructure.
Let's reduce car usage, make our towns walkable, cut down on polluting air travel, and generally improve our quality of life. I've lived in Switzerland and let me tell you: the trains fucking rule. Being able to go to almost any small town from Geneva while barely having to plan in a quiet, comfortable train is incredible. Everyone loves it. Even rich people use it because it's faster and more convenient than a car.
headgasketidiot t1_izsnuvr wrote
It's such a good example of what I'm talking about in my top level comment. Look at that wonderful vision and imagination! Whoever drew that would be so disappointed seeing the state of Randolph today, and people who live here now would laugh at the idea of being able to take a trolley from Randolph Center to Randolph or a subway to Braintree. What a delightful postcard. Thanks for sharing.
advamputee t1_izso3jj wrote
I’d do three rail lines. Double track and electrify the whole system — the state already owns all of the rail right-of-way in Vermont, which should bring cost down.
Electrify from Bennington to St Albans, and from Newport to Brattleboro, with a connector line from WRJ to Burlington. Use busses to connect smaller communities to the rail system. Build out solid pedestrian / bike infrastructure in all towns.
icwhatudiddere t1_izsotl7 wrote
The “damned customs issue” would require a lot more inspectors on both sides of the border and facilities for the inspections. It’s not going to be on any political radar unless there’s real money to be made. I don’t see a huge net influx of tourists coming from Canada happening anytime soon given the current global economy.
Dr_L_Church t1_izsoz1j wrote
But the problem is their rail lines were designed with passengers in mind from the get go, ours were designed for freight. You can’t get there from here. Not without buying hundreds if not thousands of people out of their homes to build new more direct rail lines. I’m all for investing in rail infrastructure and expanding passenger routes, but we need to be realistic about what is and isn’t possible. Routes from Burlington to Montreal or Boston are possible, but 90 minutes would require direct routes with high speed rail. Hell, 290 takes 90 minutes to get to Rutland from Burlington, only marginally faster than a car.
gmcg_abidesII t1_izsp9ng wrote
Waitsfield-Bristol rail tunnel. I rest my case.
LeadfootYT t1_izss44k wrote
Route 7 corridor, currently served by a bus line at the most inopportune times. The freight system already runs that entire length, and it’s the perfect use case for passenger service. Bennington to St Albany, passing through Arlington, Manchester, North Clarendon, Rutland, Brandon, Middlebury, Vergennes, Williston, Burlington, St Albans. If Chittenden County wants to actually get revenue outside their area, it makes so much sense.
[deleted] t1_izss84v wrote
[deleted]
SilentUnicorn t1_izsurg0 wrote
A wall at the southern border- Mass. would pay for it...
ADinosaurNamedBex t1_izswcdy wrote
I would love a commuter rail between counties that runs at work commute times. When the NYC train opened, I looked to see if I could take it to Middlebury but the timing is a nonstarter.
TillPsychological351 t1_izsx57t wrote
Well, in that case, how about an extension to Germany, Austria and Switzerlamd?
ButterscotchFiend t1_izsy6tb wrote
Look, what 'isn't possible' is maintaining our current level of automobile dependency.
The carbon emissions they create are literally destroying the planet's atmosphere. Within the next decades, our car-oriented infrastructure and lifestyle will flood Bangladesh and Java, starve India and Pakistan, and the refugee crisis there and elsewhere will overwhelm the rest of the world.
As for electric cars, they're a lot better, but it until a game-changing innovation in their batteries occurs, our electric grid will not be able to handle charging them assuming we are still driving at the same rate. That's also assuming we can convert most of our national fleet, which frankly is probably even more difficult a pill to swallow than the challenges you've exaggerated regarding the deployment of passenger rail.
We don't have a choice. It's either stop going from place to place, or finding a better way to do so. If we keep up our current car addiction, we're finished.
Look- this isn't that outlandish. There was a time- 1920s and 30s- when passenger rail was all across New England and America at large. The car and oil companies hastened the demise of these interurbans, but the precedent is there.
A rail revolution would be a monumental step forward for our country on so many fronts. It would be great for economic inequality, because of the regressive effect that the necessity of cars has on income. It would be great for community development, encouraging urban density and tighter rural communities, in contrast to the way that cars enabled the proliferation of the suburbs.
pooticlesparkle t1_izsy7u0 wrote
Something from Plattsburgh, Albany, NYC, Boston, DC, Portland, to Burlington. Basically connect BTV to cities in surrounding states. Plattsburgh because the volume of daily commuters both to and from has to be a lot. If ur going to take a rail it needs to drop u in places that are walkable, have public transit, or reliable and active uber/lyft or taxis.
molyholycannoli t1_izt126c wrote
Bennington to Albany and Saratoga would be nice. And Bennington to Burlington. And to NYC.
I'm tired of Bennington County being left out of the game so often. There's a lot of great going on in the county and it would be nice to see it be connected for more people to visit and visit other places by train when they don't have a car.
2q_x t1_izt18a2 wrote
It doesn't cost much to do a little preliminary transportation engineering.
I'd get out a map of existing RoWs that still exist, either as rail lines, or trails, or unmaintained tracks. This is the most expensive part, that was done long ago. It's hundreds of millions of dollars sitting there if you can rehab an existing RoW.
Next, it'd be expensive to run a single Amtrak train once a day to, say, Montreal. And the capacity would get saturated very quickly, like the recent service to Burlington. And it's not something you could plan a day trip around, and you're competing with high-speed air. So you'd almost immediately be more expensive, slower, and more difficult to plan a trip around than high-speed air. Then when demand plateaus... the bonds come due.
Rather than doing that, look at your population centers, attractions, and current vehicle traffic volumes and start asking questions.
Are there enough people that want to take a light rail into downtown Burlington from the surrounding suburbs? How many people would take a light-rail to Montpelier if it ran 10 times a day? How many people would be skiing at Stowe if it was possible to get there without parking their car for a few hours between the resort and Waterbury? There are a lot of places in Vermont that will basically become impossible to drive to with just a very moderate increase in vehicle traffic. That makes light rail somewhat imperative, unless most people are just priced out of going anywhere.
Otto-Korrect t1_izt1ypl wrote
When I got married in 1985, we took Amtrak from Brattleboro to Montreal. The train just stopped for 30 minutes at the border while customs officers walked through.
It's hard to believe we've gone so far backward since then. US/Canada should be an open border like many EU countries have.
BedraggledMan t1_izt2004 wrote
Some of the old Long Trail Guides actually have recommendations to hop freights and tell the engineer you are headed for the trail. Evidentially they would slow to walking speed to let you hop off where the trail crossed. That just sounds like an awesome first leg to a hike.
Otto-Korrect t1_izt282j wrote
Or... hear me out, it would require a lot less fear and paranoia. Many EU countries have fully open borders and ours almost got there before 9/11
Otto-Korrect t1_izt2dtj wrote
Only of they are 'high speed' dirigables.
siltanator t1_izt2o8i wrote
Train from Burlington to the ski resorts, no parking issues and drink as much as you like at the bar after.
Pleasant-Ad-6319 t1_izt2wt2 wrote
High speed rail from Bennington to NYC.
ChocolateDiligent t1_izt3orv wrote
I don't think its the dreaming that is small, rather the budget this state has to do anything about it.
icwhatudiddere t1_izt45sy wrote
I could only imagine what certain political parties would do if that happened. Letting “communist” Canadians freely cross the border with their legalized devils cabbage! The horror. CuckerTarlson would be asking a lot of questions.
AllyEmmie t1_izt5p1q wrote
Please!! That mountain road is absolutely terrifying!
Otto-Korrect t1_izt5v9r wrote
And worse, Americans could freely cross for drugs/Healthcare that won't bankrupt them?? Unacceptable!
headgasketidiot t1_izt72zx wrote
Another great example of what I'm talking about. The entire point of the thread is to disregard budget, and here we are still saying we can't afford it. We are so trained to respond with "how will you pay for it" to anything that we can't not do it, even when not doing it is the whole point of the discussion. The dreaming is so small that we can't even tell there's anything beyond it.
Dr_L_Church t1_izt7nmh wrote
What do I know, I just work for the railroad 🤷♂️. Once again I’m all for investing in rail infrastructure and expanding passenger routes, however, to call it a modest proposal for a 90 minute train ride from Burlington to Boston shows a level of ignorance in how our rail infrastructure is built in this country. The tracks just don’t go there. Also, if you were to construct new tracks from Burlington to Boston in a complete straight line, ignoring all obstacles such as private property, waterways, mountains, other infrastructure, it is a distance of 180 miles. That would require a train capable of traveling 120+ miles per hour. Amtraks Acela can travel that fast, but once again the cost to build, maintain, and operate are extraordinary and no small task. Hell, Amtrak is spending 117 billion dollars to upgrade and maintain the northeast corridor (Acela trains) over the next 15 years, and that route is already there, the rails and the signals and the sidings and the double main tracks are all already built. The cost of building a direct route capable of traveling from Burlington to Boston in 90 minutes would be hundreds of billions if not a trillion dollars and take decades to build, that is if it didn’t get hung up by act 250 and NIMBYism holing up the project left right and center. So while I would love that kind of high speed rail project in our little state, I think our money would do better to improve our existing rail network and build reliable intracity service access across Vermont.
Cyber_Punk_87 t1_izt9ibt wrote
Rail in the NEK would be amazing...Newport -> Barton -> Lyndonville -> St. J and from there could branch off South, East, and West. Getting out of the NEK (especially if you're headed west) is so time-consuming and such a pain, especially in the winter...
ArkeryStarkery t1_iztb4pj wrote
Holy shit, I'd love Bratt to BDL.
Amplify_Love4715 t1_iztgxpf wrote
Truth! Even in the summer on a rainy day it’s white knuckle driving on that damn road!
listen_youse t1_izthjkj wrote
Most people who live in big cities and own a car say the only reason Is for out of town trips. Believe me most would prefer to take a train to Vermont. Build a whole new tourist economy around that- bike tours, hiking, camping, glamping, skiing. With the right marketing they will pay for a chance to do farm chores.
Galadrond t1_iztifdt wrote
There’s basically no reason why we shouldn’t have reasonably speedy Rail lines connecting population centers throughout the state and even branching out directly to Boston and Montreal. I know it would be great if I could take a train from Brattleboro to Burlington in less than the time it takes to drive there.
timberwolf0122 t1_iztj24w wrote
I could get on board
greenmtnfiddler t1_iztnqvq wrote
Brattleboro -> Keene -> Concord -> Manchester/airport -> Boston
ProfessionalSpectrum t1_izttg9n wrote
Cheese factory
somedudevt t1_izu44zk wrote
Here is the problem with your complaint against our society:
SIZE, you are ignoring size. Switzerland has 9 million people, in an area the size of roughly 2x VT. Burlington to Is the equivalent of crossing the furthest 2 places in Switzerland (~190 miles as the crow flies) NYC to BT is 260 miles as the crow flies.
The distances are greater and the populations are smaller. If you look at a Swiss rail map you will see that most of the network is in the northern part of the country, which makes up the vast majority of the population. The southern part of the country is very sparsely serviced by rail. And if you take the southern part of Switzerland it still has a greater population than Vermont.
The reality is passenger rail doesn’t work in low density places where you don’t have demand. And trying compare a place that is 10x higher population density to VT is crazy.
Dreaming big is fine, but to say that our region and society is somehow wrong for not having robust rail is just missing economics.
_Ludus t1_izu6dj3 wrote
- TRAIN TO MONTREAL FFS
- Train to Boston
- While were at it, make the Ethan Allen Express actually express, and skip all stops between Albany and NYC.
- Make the trains faster.
- Add some DMU's to provide service within VT on the vermonter and ethan allen.
As a reminder, this would certainly be cheaper than building roads.
Eagle_Arm t1_izua5ti wrote
You're shitting on them for speaking reality to your comment, when you said your comment was reality and not fantasy?
So they spoke reality to what you said was reality. They didn't respond with fantasy to what was a supposed reality comment. I'm not sure where the disconnect is.
CuzImAMermaid t1_izugpnm wrote
Brattleboro to Burlington - opposite corners.
Traditional_Lab_5468 t1_izuhctn wrote
Montreal -> Burlington -> Boston
FriedCommuterRail t1_izum95d wrote
THIS IS SO BASED.
zombie_donkey13 t1_izunmbv wrote
White mountain to green mountain expressway
Puzzled_Extent2169 t1_izur2jl wrote
I’d love to have trains taking me all over the place but there is no possibility of this ever happening bc we have 12 people that live in this state. Check out what happened when we had a train that ran from Charlotte to Burlington years ago: https://www.timesargus.com/news/flyer-featured-on-fleecing-of-america/article_1fdc165b-bc70-5b96-81f3-efb6354d3e02.html
OddTransportation121 t1_izuucdk wrote
Used to have this trip available. I went to Montreal 2x in the 1980s. Boarded the train at Essex Junction. It was called the Montrealer.
OddTransportation121 t1_izuulv2 wrote
We already had a train to Montreal, for years. It was discontinued. See my previous comment.
Dr_L_Church t1_izuw8aw wrote
From Essex / St. Albans. Not from Burlington. And it didn’t get there in 90 minutes.
OddTransportation121 t1_izuz99e wrote
True. I thought I would mention that we had one, for those who were unaware. Also I doubt your 90 minute wish can be fulfilled crossing an international border. Border agents pretty much have carte blanche time-wise when checking u through.
Loudergood t1_izv07do wrote
Lyndonville, because of the college.
Dr_L_Church t1_izv0lwf wrote
That’s the point I have been trying to make, Burlington to Boston or Burlington to Montreal in 90 minutes is never going to happen.
Loudergood t1_izv19sh wrote
The thing is it used to make sense everywhere. What changed?
woolsocksandsandals t1_izv22dz wrote
Good call. Same rail line, might as well.
Cold_window t1_izvaflf wrote
Boston to Montreal through St J with special accommodations for bikes. Kingdom Trails and the rail trail are in the area.
reidfleming2k20 t1_izvaozb wrote
It's fun to have fun but this is about as likely as "suppose you could sprout wings and fly"
reidfleming2k20 t1_izvawe3 wrote
Yes, because money isn't a thing.
You know there are only ~40K people in Burlington, and that its median income is only ~$21K, right?
Cold_window t1_izvb5fr wrote
I also think St J should have a roller skating rink that is designed to be a pleasant inside place for folks to walk and chat with friends in the winter. Guest DJ's, roller derby... Just in case anyone was wondering...
reidfleming2k20 t1_izvbqsa wrote
If we (ie. the US) invest billions of dollars in this kind of project, IT WILL NOT INVOLVE BURLINGTON. Burlington is small and poor. There is very little high-dollar industry in or around Burlington. There is no conceivable reason to build an approaching-trillion-dollar rail line to accommodate it.
reidfleming2k20 t1_izvbzvn wrote
It's fucking insane that a factual, level headed comment like this gets so many downvotes.
giraffehugger t1_izvc0np wrote
Let’s not forget that that rail line has to travel a contiguous line, and it only takes a handful of land owners in the middle between say Burlington and Boston to ‘not see the value’ of having train tracks run through their land, or the tracks running to close to the breeding ground of the Black-capped Chickadee to kill a project or tie it up in endless red tape. What
reidfleming2k20 t1_izvd11d wrote
"Manchester VT to Manchester NH"
The heroin express
Jerry_Williams69 t1_izvgh9s wrote
Absolutely!
Jerry_Williams69 t1_izvgolt wrote
Imminent domain? I don't think that is a barrier.
JanglesMontgomery t1_izvhbmf wrote
Ita not reality becausethings like this should be being actively and aggressively funded by the federal government. The same way they funded and built the interstate system
Responsible_Heart365 t1_izvj9bq wrote
Newport or St. Johnsbury to Burlington
ThoroughbredDom t1_izw93uc wrote
The thing is it is an issue. There’s only one each way to the city on existing track
Eagle_Arm t1_izwqreh wrote
In the hypothetical, they said it was reality.
Government is there to not make a profit, but to break even or take a slight loss. I don't see how the train system is anything but a major loss or how it's even possible with private property. How much imminent domain will have to be claimed for this to occur?
JanglesMontgomery t1_izx5ff4 wrote
I imagine there were people who had the exact same concerns when the interstate was being built. But look at what that has done for pur nation. Could you imagine life without it?
Eagle_Arm t1_izx7ls9 wrote
Not even close to the same level of development then compared to now.
Let's just look at Vermont. What cities does the interstate run through or are they outside cities?
So want to smack a train station in Burlington...point anywhere on a map where a station could be build and then where any lines could run.
khegobier t1_j01fxgv wrote
All of them.*
No, seriously... I'm a huge proponent of mass transit options and have always loved trains especially. If I could be an old-school 1800's railway tycoon in the modern world and run passenger rails across the whole country I would. Something about the scenery and community on trains just seem to make life better.
Shortysvtdad t1_j01o681 wrote
Rail is an inefficient method to move people except in densely populated areas. And high speed rail is not compatible with high population density.
What about high speed buses? Raise the speed limit on 89/91 to 80. Drops you at the last stop on the T or at Amtrak in Albany
Pristine_Tension8399 t1_j01v685 wrote
How about Killington to Honolulu.
gmgvt t1_j0311y1 wrote
This one, except I'd also extend it further south from Portland (following the existing Amtrak route from there toward Boston).
mysticcoffeeroaster t1_j044d9w wrote
A direct route from Boston to Brattleboro then continue up to Windsor, Burlington and Montreal.
Ej1992 t1_j04isnf wrote
Is that what those old raik tracks over jay road did?
Practical-Intern-347 t1_izs0xzu wrote
My house (Dummerston) to my office (Brattleboro). The rail bed is already there. I’m sure that would be much slower than driving, but it would be fun and a nice mental break between work and home. Right up and down the West River.
Also, Brattleboro to BOS or BDL.