The Amtrak expansion will make trips to the northeastern New England region of the US much easier and more sustainable.
Opening on 29 July 2022, Amtrak's Ethan Allen Express service will connect New York City's Penn Station with Burlington, Vermont seven days a week. In a country dominated by air travel, this is most welcome news. While a travel time of 7.5 hours may seem long, it allows for a more stress-free experience than travelling to and from an airport.
Hello Burlington, the Vermont city's tourist board, notes in a press release that the express line will "take passengers through the scenic Hudson Valley, Green Mountains and finally, to the city on the shores of Lake Champlain, providing exciting access to the region’s array of outdoor activities, farm-to-table culinary offerings, and vibrant arts and culture."
“The Agency of Transportation is very excited to offer Vermonters and visitors to the state this new transportation option for travel between New York City and Burlington,” said Vermont transportation secretary Joe Flynn. “Passenger rail travel offers beautiful scenery, relaxation, and spacious and comfortable seating, and trains are nearly three times more energy efficient than automobiles.”
Hitherto, the service terminated in Rutland, VT: "After stopping in Rutland for over 20 years, the extension brings travellers directly from the urban centre of New York to the idyllic cities and towns of Northern Vermont," the release says, taking passengers directly to Burlington's original Union Station at the foot of College Street on the Lake Champlain waterfront. "With a focus on all things local and unconventional, the city is known for its progressive politics and environmental focus, the pedestrian-friendly Church Street Marketplace, its remarkable access to a wide variety of year-round outdoor activities, and a locally-sourced culinary scene that is bursting at the seams," the city's tourist office says.
