Despite a slow start, the Vermonter train, Amtrak's replacement for the now-defunct Montrealer train, is doing fairly well but still needs to increase its ridership, according to Vermont Transportation authorities.
Vermont Deputy Transportation Secretary Glen Gershanek told the Valley News that Vermonter revenue during its first two months was $335,000, "within striking distance of achieving first-year receipts of $2.4 million, the point where the state subsidy could begin to be reduced."
In the same article, Amtrak's marketing vice president Richard Donnely said the railroad company will try to market the train toward tourists, by having promotional fares, painted traincars and local advertisements.
In June, Donnely said the train averages about 80 passengers a day. It would take about 125 passengers per day to eliminate state subsidy for the route, he said.
The Montrealer, which ran from Montreal, Canada, to Washington, D.C., was scheduled to be eliminated in a wave of dramatic cutbacks from Amtrak last spring.
In March, Vermont and Amtrak reached a one-year compromise; the Montrealer was to be replaced with the Vermonter, which runs from Washington D.C. to St. Albans, Vt.
But the Vermonter is by no means permanent;it must demonstrate financial viability in the near future to survive. "We'll only do it for a year if it doesn't pay for itself," Gershanek said.
Vermont agreed to pay $581,000 for the cost of the service, with an additional guarantee of $169,000 if ridership is low.
Another major change in the train is its operating hours. The Montrealer traveled through White River Junction at night but the Vermonter stops at the station at about 2:20 p.m. daily.
