Vermont Rail Action Network

The Vermont Rail Action Network now has a track record of turning out rail supporters, getting media attention and building positive relationships. 

1.    We Saved The Train and Kept the Ethan Allen Running to Rutland

In early 2009 the Douglas administration, seeking budget savings, targeted the Ethan Allen train, serving Rutland, for discontinuance.  VRAN mobilized support from the town, built a broad state-wide coalition and saved the train -- in the process generating momentum for extending it on to Burlington.  In a year that saw many painful cuts, this was no small accomplishment.

We did this by organizing a demonstration, turning people out for legislative testimony, launching a petition, getting media attention and working behind the scenes.  We worked closely with the Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce.

2.    We Built Our Organization and Cause

At the start of 2009 our mailing list was 2,000.  We are ending the year with 3,200 supporters.  Donations doubled.  We have new relationships and alliances in the community.  We showed up at meetings and gave speeches.  We have new relationships with legislators and new relationships with reporters.  More than 50 came to our first ever annual meeting in Rutland on September 30th 2009 at South Station Restaurant and we gave our Jim Jefford’s rail advocate of the year award to Jeff Munger and Herb Ogden volunteer award to Herb Russell.

We maintain good relationships with the freight railroads, Amtrak and the state rail program.  We work with other environmental and business organizations, such as the Conservation Law Foundation, Vermonters for a Clean Environment, Vermont Natural Resources Council, VPIRG, chambers of commerce and regional planning organizations.  We work regionally with the New England Rail Coalition and Trainriders/Northeast. 

3.    We Started Building Local Rail Advocates Groups

We’ve only just begun linking together advocates on the local level to support and promote rail in their town.  The Friends of Rutland Rail group held a successful event with artist Peter Huntoon that brought many people to the train station during Art Hop.  Advocates in Bennington have held forums to bring attention to passenger service in that part of the state.

4.    Vermont Has Applied for Significant Stimulus Funds for Rail

If the Ethan Allen had been discontinued, Vermont would have been in a compromised position regarding the High-Speed rail funding Obama made available in the stimulus funds.  Fortunately the state was able to make three applications, covering speed improvements on the Vermonter route, rebuilding the track to extend the Ethan Allen to Burlington and planning for trains to Bennington, Manchester and additional service to Rutland.  The Vermont Rail Action Network wrote supporting letters for the state’s applications.

5.    Effective Marketing Brought An Increase In ridership

Amtrak ridership is down nationally (down 8% in October) and down on the out-of-state portions of the two trains serving Vermont.  But in Vermont ridership has risen.  The obvious cause is an excellent series of TV ads the state and WCAX produced.  With concrete results of the effectiveness of marketing the Vermont Rail Action Network is planning on making it’s own contribution to outreach and marketing the train service on a grassroots level.

Inheriting a History of Success

Though Vermont Rail Action Network was formed in 2008, we inherit the history of rail activism in Vermont which goes back to 1972 with the formation of the Vermont Association of Rail Passengers, responsible for prompting the congressional delegation to restore passenger train service to Vermont with the “Montrealer”.  That group was folded into Trainriders/Northeast (who we are affiliated with) and thus expanded rail service throughout Northern new England.

The Vermont Rail Action Network awarded rail advocates of the year awards to Jeff Munger and Herb Font-Russell at the 2009 annual meeting help Wednesday September 30th in Rutland.  Our congratulations!

The Herb Ogden award for volunteer contributions to the cause of rail went to Herb Font-Russell who was instrumental in rallying Rutland behind the cause of keeping Amtrak's Ethan Allen running.  Without Herb, we might not have been able to generate the momentum needed to reverse the decision.  Herb brings a sense of style and lots of hard work to his gift of connecting with and recruiting people.  There were several critical people without whom the train might not be running.  Herb was one.

The Jim Jeffords award for rail advocate of the year was awarded to Jeff Munger who for thirty years, first as an aid to Senator Jim Jeffords, then on Senator Bernie Sanders staff, has facilited the rebuilding of the Vermont rail network.  His hand has been involved in every major rail project in that time and we owe much to his work.  He has been a loyal and committed.  He is the "institutional memory of what works and what doesn't" according to VRAN board chair Lee Khan.

51 people attended the meeting, the first advocates banquet that Vermont Rail Action Network has held.  The keynote speaker was Wayne Davis, chair of Trainriders/Northeast the citizen's organization responsible for bringing the Downeaster service to Maine.  Wayne Davis spoke of what it took to bring the train to Maine and to make it a success.

Herb Ogden was a founder and promoter of the original Vermont Association of Rail Passengers, founded in 1972.  Herb Ogden, Jr spoke at the meeting about his father's contributions to rail advocacy.  The Vermont Association of Rail Passengers was folded into Trainriders/Northeast.

Senator Jim Jeffords had a personal interest in rail and the economic and environmental gains it brought Vermont.  He brought Jeff Munger on board specifically to help with rail issues..

Photos from the event by Chuck Bohi

Rutland Herald article about the event

Amtrak's Ethan Allen will soon begin stopping in Castleton VT, home of Green Mountain College.  Trains will call at a beautifully restored 159 year old depot which houses a coffeeshop (with tasty pastries!) and waiting area.

"This is going to improve the economy and the quality of life here," Castleton State College President David Wolk said.

The Castleton stop will be the replacement for Fairhaven VT.  That stop featured a little bus shelter at the end of a dirt road with poor lighting in an area of town not thought of as safe.  Castleton will be a marked improvement, as well as being close to the college market and convient for riders driving from Burlington, Vergennes and Middlebury.

The historic station is now owned by Mary Ann and Val Jakubowski who have put considerable effort into it, and who have welcomed and worked for the change.  You can say thank you with your patronage at their coffee shop!

On May 10, 2009, a special event was held on National Train Day featuring the first stop at the station.  Trains will begin stopping before the end of October.

See coverage of the event by the Times-Argus and WCAX.

Amtrak and the state of Vermont have a special promotional fare of $12 on the Amtrak Vermonter for travel within the state of Vermont.

In addition, 15 lodging properties in communities along the route have put together special packages to encourage overnight and multiday stays in Vermont’s historic downtowns.

The Vermonter is scheduled so that passengers from northern Vermont can take day trips to eastern and southern Vermont.  Passengers from Southern Vermont need to stay overnight if traveling north.

Click here for more information about Packages along the way.

To get this fare, request discount code V189

The Vermont Rail Action Network is a team and a citizen's movement, which means your participation is critical. If you believe that Vermont would be better with more trains (and less road vehicle pollution) then we need your voice, your hands and your gumption.

We'd like to make a place for everybody's individual contribution, so please contact us and let us know your interest.  We've got a volunteer sign-up form (click here) for you to use so we make sure we've got all the details and it gets entered into our database automatically.

To start your thoughts, here are some volunteer crews we are planning on organizing:

- Local service on projects to improve train service
- Distributing Timetables and Flyers
- Outreach at Events & Gatherings
- Legislative Education
- Station and on-board "Train Hosts"
- Letters to the Editor & Media Outreach
- Writing team for the newsletter, website and material

There's a link to a job description for each role.

From time to time we'll send action alerts, asking _everyone_ to contact their legislator or otherwise make their voice heard when the timing is critical. Sometimes this will mean well-timed phone calls and e-mails. Occasionally, there will be meetings.

Almost important as taking action is learning, so consider signing up for the e-newsletter (sign up at left) and keeping an ear to rail news as one way of being an engaged citizen.

We're now organizing local groups of volunteers who will work together on projects to improve rail service at each station.  Groups are starting in Rutland, Bellows Falls, Randolph and Burlington/ Essex Junction.

We also have a special wish list for donations of specific services and items.