BY KATY SAVAGE
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BELLOWS FALLS, Vt. — At a joint board meeting Tuesday, village trustees and Rockingham select board members unanimously voted to sign a petition to support Amtrak.
Resident Charlie Hunter asked the town and village to sign the Amtrak Mayors’ Petition, expressing national concern about the future of Amtrak under new CEO Richard Anderson.
Anderson, who previously worked as CEO of Northwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines, “has given public remarks that cast serious doubt on his support of long-distance trains, implying they should be broken up and replaced with state-supported corridor service,” the petition reads.
Hunter, who said he’s long been a train advocate and volunteer for the train service, is concerned that the small rural stations, like the one in Bellows Falls, could close.
“He’s trying to systematically dismantle the long-distance train network,” said Hunter of the new CEO.
The Amtrak Mayors’ Petition project is a national campaign organized by the Rail Passengers Association, which has about 28,000 members. About 62 mayors around the country have signed the petition, including one in Westport, Connecticut and two in Massachusetts.
Some communities have also signed their own document of support.
“We support the railroad’s strategy to grow passenger rail service along heavily-traveled corridors, but insist it must happen in addition to National Network service, not at the expense of existing Amtrak communities,” the petition, signed by the village trustees and board members, reads. “Therefore, it is absolutely necessary that Amtrak reaffirm its commitment to providing long-term, sustainable train service to all Amtrak-served communities.”
There are 11 Amtrak locations in Vermont. They saw about 92,000 passengers in 2017, up from 90,000 in 2016, but down from 106,000 in 2014.
The Bellows Falls station saw 4,718 Amtrak passengers last year. The station also services the Greyhound bus and Green Mountain Scenic Railroad. The latter provides a tourist route, connecting Chester, Ludlow, and Rutland.
“It’s really important to Bellows Falls and our culture,” said Village President Deb Wright.
Rail Passengers Association Northeast Field Coordinater Joseph Aiello said the train service provides transportation to those who lack other options.
“What about the grandparent in Bellows Falls who needs to see a doctor at UVM in Burlington?” he said.
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