BENNINGTON -- Nearly 100 people were "all aboard" at Saturday's Southwestern Vermont Rail Corridor Committee's National Train Day event to learn about the opportunities that would come with bringing rail travel to the region.

Held at the North Bennington Train Station, guest speakers included John Zicconi, director of planning, outreach and community affairs for the Vermont Agency of Transportation, as well as Jim Sullivan of the Bennington County Regional Commission.

Wendy Woods, chairwoman of the SVRCC, said Sunday that much of the event's conversation focused on the environmental and economic impacts of connecting rail transportation in the region with the Amtrak system that leads to New York and beyond.

The SVRCC "has embraced the concept of bringing rail into the Southwest region of Vermont to create economic growth, which will ultimately lead to more jobs, better paying jobs and a higher increase in income stability," Woods said.

Rail travel can also be beneficial as a reliable mode of transportation that allows multi-tasking.

"It's actually a very nice and comfortable way to travel. Anyone that has ever traveled on a train knows they can easily use a computer and conduct business and participate in conference calls," Woods said.

Saturday's event, which was the first annual National Train Day event in the region and the third annual National Train Day in the country, also educated people about the federal stimulus money dedicated to study "Track 3," the southwestern corridor of passenger rail service.

Woods said she recently attended a meeting of the Empire State Passenger Association at which she received positive feedback from people in New York and New Jersey about the SVRCC's efforts to expand the Amtrak system to the area.

"Everyone there was extremely happy we have a Vermont contingent from Southwest Vermont," Woods said. "There were people who do not own cars ... and they would love to be able to take the rail up into this area of Vermont, and they made that very clear."

Traveling by rail from Bennington to New York City would be a four-hour commute.

SVRCC has partnered with the Bennington Area Chamber of Commerce, the Manchester and the Mountains Chamber of Commerce, the Better Bennington Corp., the Manchester Designer Outlets and a number of dedicated citizens, Woods said.

Those who did not attend Saturday's event and are interested in learning more about the SVRCC can do so by visitingwww.railvermont.org or contacting Woods at the United Way office, 367-1155.

Contact Dawson Raspuzzi at draspuzzi@benningtonbanner.com