The Vermont Rail Action Network reported in their newsletter Thursday that there’s been some movement in the effort to bring back the train from Vermont to Montreal. According to Christopher Parker, executive director of VRAN, Vermont was granted a “pre-clearance customs agreement” that, if approved, will help to ensure that customs delays don’t happen at the border. Given that there is currently no train, this recent development might seem to be putting the cart before the horse, but perhaps it’s just a sign of things to come.
According to Parker, Senator Leahy was instrumental in making this happen, as he serves on both the Judiciary Committee (which has jurisdiction over Customs & Border Patrol) and the Homeland Security Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee. Obtaining this pre-clearance agreement required that the Secretary of Homeland Security as well as the Canadian Minister of Public Safety meet in Washington to sign it. It’s not a done deal though — both the US Congress and the Canadian Parliament have to approve it before it comes into effect.
Lest one come away with the idea that the Montrealer will be on line any day soon, there is still a deal to be negotiated with Canadian National Railrood for use of tracks into Montreal at a price Vermont can afford. Still, it’s progress.
In addition to the obvious benefit of having a train into Quebec, VRAN also contends that there could be financial benefit. Assuming that passengers from points south choose to make use of the Vermont to Montreal train by traveling here on the Vermonter, there could be a significant revenue boost.
Learn more at www.railvermont.org.
