Modern safety for modern silence: Railway safety in light of Ethan Allan Amtrack expansion

Vermonter at St. Albans Amtrak Station. Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0).

Amtrack’s Ethan Allen Express will open its extension at the end of this month, offering passenger rail travel between Rutland and Burlington for the first time in almost 70 years. 

And though its tracks don’t run directly through their city, Winooski residents could have plenty to look forward to from the new service — and unexpected safety tips to keep in mind.

“These modern Amtrak trains run on the surface of the track, which is much more sturdy and solid than it was in the past,” said Toni Cithero, Amtrak grants manager for the Vermont Agency of Transportation.

Ribbons of steel stretch a quarter mile apiece on the new line, guiding swift steel wheels atop. These long stretches of track account for fewer bumps between small sections of track, helping to erase the clickety-clack of older railways. Passenger trains also don’t hold the same rattly cargo as freight cars.

“So, the new trains are “virtually silent,” Cithero said. “It essentially just sounds like wind.” 

However, these modern changes call for modern precautions.

People are used to hearing trains rolling by. The relative silence of the new Amtrak extension could pose a hazard for folks, said Cithero, whose other hat is working for Operation Lifesaver of Vermont, a train safety education nonprofit. 

“The cues that people are assuming that they’re going to be able to rely on are not really there,” he said, referring to the traditional bustle of railways. “That’s the really scary thing because people think that they know how to be safe around the trains, but they don’t really understand the difference with these modern passenger trains.”

In the runup to the rail expansion, Cithero’s group has been putting together safety videos, giving presentations at schools, and trying to get the word out to residents of Chittenden County about the dangers of the quieter trains. 

Locally, rail lines run through Burlington, Charlotte, Middlebury, Shelburne, and Vergennes.

A big part of building public safety around new rail lines is challenging old perceptions, Cithero said. A common misconception is that it’s safe to walk on or within 20 feet of the tracks. 

What can feel like a serene pathway can turn dangerous without warning. Trains typically sound horns at designated crossings but not along the forested rail. 

“There's a [skewed] perception of speed when you’re looking at really large objects …The train will be on you in a second,” Cithero said. 

 Another concern is the crossings themselves. Though rare, Vermont does see collisions on railroad tracks. This month a near-miss on the Amtrak line through South Royalton left a fleeing driver safe, but a pickup truck totaled. 

Winooski has its share of freight train crossings, identifiable by road signs and flashing barriers when in use. Cithero’s group advises pedestrians to steer clear of tracks and drivers to move carefully once a train has passed.

The Ethan Allen line won’t run through Winooski itself. Still, Cithero believes residents will benefit from an understanding of safety measures as they travel the area and the bump in tourism the county is expected to see. 

 Winooski Mayor Kristine Lott wasn’t sure her city would see any direct risks or benefits from the expansion because the rail line doesn’t go through Winooski itself.

“Extending the service up from Rutland to Burlington doesn't increase train traffic through Winooski, so I don't expect a safety impact,” Lott said in an email.

But the mayor seemed optimistic about the opportunities the expansion could provide for her community.

“Residents will have easier access to rail service to places south given the easy connection of bus service into Burlington,” she said, “which is a good thing.”

The Ethan Allen Express will connect to Amtrack’s Vermonter line with trains running daily from Burlington’s Union Station to New York City’s Penn Station, about an eight-hour journey. 

“It’s going to be a huge advantage for traveling Vermonters,” Cithero said. “It’s also going to be good for Vermont businesses for attracting new people to visit the state.”