Essex Junction station explained

Style:Amtrak
Essex Junction, VT
Country:United States
Coordinates:44.4926°N -73.1102°W
Tracks:1
Connections: Green Mountain Transit (GMT): Blue Line (Route 2), Orange Line, Silver Loop (Route 10)
Opened:1859[1]
Rebuilt:October 21, 1958 - August 11, 1959[2] [3]
Other Services Header:Former services
Other Services Collapsible:yes
Mapframe:yes

Essex Junction station, also known as Essex Junction - Burlington, is an Amtrak train station in the city of Essex Junction, Vermont, United States. The station was originally built by the Central Vermont Railway in 1959. It serves Amtrak's Vermonter train, which runs from St. Albans, near the Canada–U.S. border, south to Washington, D.C. Prior to bridge trouble at Alburg, north of St. Albans, train service continued to Montreal. Until the early 1960s, the Boston and Maine railroad operated Montreal to Boston service on The Ambassador through the station.

It became the closest station to Burlington, Vermont's most populous city, when the Rutland Railroad ended service on June 26, 1953. Intercity city service directly to Burlington Union Station did not resume until July 29, 2022, when the Ethan Allen Express was extended to Burlington.[4]

The Essex Junction station has received negative attention in recent years, with city officials saying it can make visitors "feel scared or intimidated".[5] Local officials have authorized a $3.5 million face-lift of the station, backed by federal funds, which would prepare the station to accommodate larger passenger numbers if the proposed Vermonter extension to Montreal is built.[6] Platform repairs caused the closure of the waiting room from April 22 to December 3, 2024; a temporary trailer was provided.[7]

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. News: Old Depot Comes Down . July 2, 2019 . The Burlington Free Press . August 26, 1959 . 3. Newspapers.com.
  2. News: Ground Broken Today for New Essex Jct. Station . July 2, 2019 . The Burlington Free Press . October 21, 1958 . 2. Newspapers.com.
  3. News: First Ticket Sold in New CV Station in Essex Junction . July 2, 2019 . The Burlington Free Press . August 12, 1959 . 11. Newspapers.com.
  4. Web site: Cooney . Melissa . Burlington prepares to welcome Amtrak route to New York City . 2022-04-16 . www.wcax.com . 23 March 2022 . en.
  5. Web site: Bendavid . Ike . Essex Junction seeks federal funding to improve Amtrak station . 2022-04-16 . www.wcax.com . 14 July 2021 . en.
  6. Web site: Rae . Krystin . 2021-08-04 . Vermont's most-used Amtrak station is one step closer to getting $3.5 million face-lift . 2022-04-16 . WPTZ . en.
  7. Web site: Essex Station Platform Project Temporarily Closes Station Building . April 4, 2024 . Amtrak . https://web.archive.org/web/20240604214208/https://www.amtrak.com/alert/essex-station-building-closed.html . June 4, 2024.