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The Trainriders/Northeast Regional Approach

Affiliated Organizations

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The Vermont Rail Action Network is affiliated with Trainriders/Northeast, the regional rail advocacy group responsible for initiating the Downeaster service in Maine.  

We work closely with a number of Vermont, Regional and National Organizations:
Vermont Natural Resources Council
Vermont Public Interest Research Group
Conservation Law Foundation
Vermonters for a Clean Environment

New England Central Railroad
Vermont Rail System
Amtrak

New England Rail Coalition
Trainriders/Northeast
National Association of Railroad Passengers

Local Groups:

The following are local groups of advocates in Vermont which we work with:

Champlain Valley Chapter, National Railway Historical Society

Railroad Works (Essex Junction)
Central Vermont Historical Society
White River Junction Chapter, National Railway Historical Society
Rutland Railway Association
Friends of Rutland Rail
Southwestern Vermont Rail Corridor Steering Committee (Bennington-Manchester)

Central Corridor Coalition (Brattleboro-Amherst-Palmer-New London route)

We have a number of corporate members from Vermont, including:

New England Central Railroad
Vermont Rail System
Omya
Barrett Trucking
Whitman Feeds
Pheonix Feeds & Nutrition
Main Street Landing
Chittendon County Metropolitan Planning Organization
Otis & Brooks, P.C.
Rail Travel Center
Flying Under Radar
Kenlan, Schwiebert, Facy & Goss, P.C.
Engineers Construction Inc
Village of Essex Junction
Lake Champlain Region Chamber of Commerce
Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce
South Station Restaurant
LaValley Building Supply
T.J. Boyle Associates (Architect)
Downtown Rutland Partnership
Rutland Regional Planning Commission
Rutland Redevelopment Authority
Wilk Paving

 
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Trainriders/Northeast Logo
We work in affiliation with Trainriders/Northeast, the regional rail advocates group which conceived and initiated the "Downeaster" Amtrak service from Boston to Maine.  To join Trainriders Northeast,click here.

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Upcoming Events

Burlington Rail Supporters Working Meeting
04.06.2013; Meeting
The goal is get stuff done, and meet each other to facilitate getting stuff done in the future. ... Read More...

Local Groups

 

Essex Junction: Railroad Works (Railroad Ave Revitalization Project). Contact Penny Pillsbury 802-878-6955 or brownell_library@yahoo.com.  See "Downtown Essex Junction" on Facebook.

Rutland: Friends of Rutland Rail. contact Herb Font-Russell (802) 855-8437  herirovt@comcast.net.  See Rutland Herald Coverage of Friends of Rutland Rail

Bennington: Southwestern Vermont Rail Corridor Steering Committee.  contact Wendy Rae Woods: (802) 367-1155.  Aim is to restore trains from New York to Bennington and Manchester.

Randolph: Now forming.  Call Lee Khan: (802) 279-3627 or lee_khan@msn.com

White River Junction:  Now forming.  Call Christopher Parker: (802) 579-3394 or e-mail christopher @RailVermont.org

Bellows Falls: Will be formed soon. Call Christopher Parker: (802) 579-3394 or e-mail christopher @RailVermont.org

Brattleboro: Will be formed soon. Call Christopher Parker: (802) 579-3394 or e-mail christopher @RailVermont.org

 

Environmental Benefits of Rail

 

44% of greenhouse gasses in Vermont are produced by transportation (nationally, it's 28%).  If we are serious about the environment we have to change transportation.

Shipping by rail instead of truck reduces pollution (on average) by two-thirds, noise by one half, uses only 29% of the fuel and produces only 23% as much greenhouse gasses.  Freight Rail Carbon Calculator

The U.S. transportation system is 96% petroleum dependent, accounts for 71% of the country’s oil use, and consumes 25% of the world’s net output. 

Passenger trains are 20-40% more efficient.  But consider: if the train is already going there, the carbon footprint of you  riding it is *zero* !  

Rail facilitates better land use, which may make the biggest difference.