Amtrak’s Vermonter returns next week

CLAREMONT — Amtrak’s Vermonter is set for a return on Monday, July 19, according to the Vermont Agency of Transportation.

For local rail fans, that day can’t come soon enough! Before the pandemic interrupted Amtrak service all over the country, the Vermonter stopped twice daily at Claremont’s Amtrak station at 12 Plains Rd. Passenger service, with the southbound train arriving around the noon hour, and the northbound before 6pm, was suspended in March of 2020.

Since the Ad Hoc Committee for the Claremont Amtrak stop was formed by the city council in July of 2014, there has been much local interest in improving the rail experience for passengers using the Claremont station. A shelter, providing a place for waiting passengers to escape stormy weather, was built in 2015, thanks to donations of materials and volunteer labor. Landscape design, including benches, greatly enhanced the station appearance.

But something was still missing. Imagine getting off the train at Claremont Junction after traveling from Baltimore or New York City, expecting to be able to catch a cab, use a rest room, or at the very least, find someone to offer directions and advice on getting where you want to go from there. Or perhaps you’ve driven from eastern New Hampshire or from Vermont, planning to catch the train, and expect to find someone able to answer your questions about train travel. Our Amtrak station is more rural than passengers from larger cities have come to expect and those basic services were not consistently available.

In May of 2018, the Station Host Association of Claremont was formed to provide volunteer greeters for each of the fourteen trains that stop in Claremont weekly.The reliable presence of two volunteer hosts before each train’s arrival has given comfort and minimized concerns for many travelers, whether experienced or first-time Amtrak riders. Passengers

meeting Station Host Volunteers have expressed surprise and appreciation for their presence.

Amtrak employees are also appreciative of the Claremont Station Hosts’ dedication, since they facilitate the speed of boarding and disembarking. Hosts provide valuable safety information and show passengers where to stand when the train enters the station.

Since the train stops only four minutes or less, helping to promote efficiency in boarding is one of the benefits of having hosts on duty. Hosts are also responsible for storing, retrieving, and carrying the bright yellow stools to the conductors when the trains stop so that passengers can better climb up to or down from the open doors.

Upgrades to the Claremont and Windsor, Vermont stations were begun by Amtrak in the fall of 2019, before the outbreak of COVID-19.

Station volunteers welcomeThe Station Host Association of Claremont welcomes new volunteers to join the group of train enthusiasts who are scheduled to meet each day’s trains. Each volunteer decides how much of a commitment they can make, ranging from one train a week to several. Trained substitutes are also needed to be available for occasional duty. Hosts work in pairs and new volunteers will always be paired with experienced Station Hosts for on-the-job training.

Aside from providing an important service to travelers, volunteer hosts hope their presence will help to increase good will and tourism in Claremont. This is the only New Hampshire stop on the Vermonter line and many passengers from Vermont and other New Hampshire towns choose the Claremont stop as their best option for accessing places along the Vermonter’s route.

Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and fill out an application and liability release form. Hosts are provided with an official blue safety vest, a cap, an ID badge, and now must wear face masks as per CoVid guidelines. Federal regulations also require passengers to wear masks when onboard the train.

Hosts are asked to arrive at the station twenty to thirty minutes before train arrival time to greet and instruct passengers waiting to board. Occasional late trains may extend that time commitment, but the volunteers help each other when unexpected circumstances arise.

Anyone interested in learning more about becoming a Claremont Station Host Volunteer should contact Sharon Wood, membership chair, at [email protected] or (603) 542-6454.

For the best price and a guaranteed seat, tickets should be purchased online at amtrak.com. Only cash is accepted to purchase a ticket after boarding the train, and the price will be higher than if purchased in advance. At busy times, such as holidays, seats on the Vermonter were often sold out weeks ahead, so it is wise to plan and purchase ahead.