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PORTLAND, Maine — Rail advocates are dusting off a proposal for passenger practice service between Montreal and Boston, driving a renewed curiosity in practice journey to bolster an idea that has been round for greater than a decade.
“It’s not a tough promote in any respect. Lots of people need this,” mentioned Francois Rebello, a former nationwide meeting member in Quebec and a advisor on the challenge.
A whole bunch of vacationers would journey a privately operated, in a single day practice every day if obstacles might be overcome to make the service a actuality in coming years, in line with a ridership examine.
It wouldn’t be a high-speed affair. Promoters envision a special expertise — a relaxed journey with a meal and sleep earlier than arriving bright-eyed on the vacation spot. The 14-hour journey would journey by Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Quebec.
The proposal comes in opposition to a backdrop of a rail revival, and greater than $100 billion in railway infrastructure funding accredited by Congress.
Maine State Sen. Richard Bennett, a Republican who lives in a district the place the practice would go, mentioned there’s a lot work to be accomplished.
“I’m each excited and skeptical,” he mentioned. “I definitely help the idea and I believe it has lots of promise. I believe this may be accomplished.”
A market examine suggests about 4,000 folks journey each day between Montreal and Boston, and about 1,000 of them would go for rail service if it’s accessible, Rebello mentioned. The service could be worthwhile with solely 200 riders, he mentioned.
However the proposal is within the early levels and the obstacles are many.
The monitor on the Canadian facet of the border requires greater than $100 million in upgrades and repairs. The monitor is in fine condition by northern New England however the velocity is proscribed to about 35 mph (56 kph) for an extended stretch, and there’s little hope of securing extra funding to spice up the velocity.
Operators must negotiate agreements with a number of non-public homeowners of the rail — the Saint Lawrence and Atlantic, CSX and others — and there may very well be a number of crews required for the practice. Then there’s the query of clearing customs with folks coming and going at a number of practice stops, and discovering scarce gear.
The thought for restoring Montreal-to-Boston passenger rail service for the primary time for the reason that Sixties has been bounced round for greater than a decade, and several other completely different rail routes have been floated through the years.
This time, the proposed route would comply with Canadian Pacific Railway monitor from Montreal to Sherbrooke, Quebec, after which the St. Lawrence and Atlantic throughout Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, the place a CSX-owned rail passes by Outdated Orchard Seaside, a preferred Maine vacationer vacation spot for Canadians. The ultimate stretch is operated by the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority.
Carl Fowler, a member of the Vermont Rail Advisory Council, is a rail advocate who likes the concept of expanded passenger rail service. However he mentioned folks need to be life like concerning the proposal’s challenges.
“There are lots of unfastened ends to be resolved,” he mentioned.
Proponents have engaged with the Canadian Pacific Railway and the company dad or mum of St. Lawrence and Atlantic, and the Canadian authorities already has thought-about investing in railway upgrades, Rebello mentioned. Montreal actual property entrepreneur Nikolai Ray has signed on an investor.
About 60 rail advocates, legislators, tourism officers and others gathered lately in Coaticook, Quebec, to debate the imaginative and prescient promoted by Montreal-based Fondation Trains De Nuit, or Night time Practice Basis, and think about a proposed map. Notably absent had been state transportation officers from Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.
However the challenge gained’t begin anytime quickly. Probably the most optimistic view is that the challenge would wish a minimum of two years to change into a actuality, he mentioned. Nonetheless, it may take longer to safe funding and rail agreements.
A motorist may get from Boston to Montreal twice as quick however rail advocates say riders would get there in model. Individuals may have dinner, be entertained and sleep in a snug mattress, proponents say. They’d even be spared the price of a lodge payment, since they’d be sleeping and showering on the practice, supporters mentioned.
The challenge holds attraction each for older riders who’re nostalgic about trains and a youthful technology that’s much less enthralled with vehicles, Rebello mentioned.
Rail fanatic Sarah LeBaron von Baeyer, who lives exterior Boston and doesn’t drive, mentioned she “wholeheartedly” embraces mass transit that may enable her to go to household and pals in Canada a number of occasions a yr.
“I like practice journey. I lived in Japan for a few years. It was completely the easiest way to get round,” she mentioned.
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Related Press writers Wilson Ring in Montpelier, Vermont, and Holly Ramer in Harmony, New Hampshire, contributed to this story.
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Observe David Sharp on Twitter @David—Sharp—AP
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