Ethan Allen Express: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

[[File:Ethan Allen Express at Rutland station, May 2001.jpg|thumb|left|The ''Ethan Allen Express'' at Rutland in 2001|alt=A passenger train approaching a small brick station]]

The ''Ethan Allen Express'' was intended to support tourism in ~~the~~and ~~Rutland~~around ~~areas~~Rutland, particularly winter travel to [[Killington Ski Resort]] and [[Pico Mountain]].<ref name=rollsin /> and [[leaf peeping]] during the fall.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/travel/capture-splendor-fall-foliage-train-excursion-article-1.246920|title=Capture the splendor of fall foliage with a train excursion|author1=Harriet Edelson|publisher=[[Daily News (New York City)|Daily News]]|date=September 23, 2007}}</ref> The train's schedule has been adjusted a number of times, particularly in the early years of its operation, in an attempt to serve both tourists to Vermont and Vermonters traveling to New York City.<ref name=50years /> The initial schedule had a running time slightly over five hours, with afternoon departures from both terminals on weekdays. Saturday southbound trains departed Rutland at 7:05am to allow for weekend trips to New York City, while Sunday trains in both directions departed in the later afternoon to accommodate weekend trips.<ref name=50years /><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.timetables.org/browse/?group=19970710ne&item=0026 |title=Amtrak Northeast Timetable |date=July 10, 1997 |publisher=Amtrak |page=26 |via=Museum of Railway Timetables}}</ref>

In October 1997, the southbound Saturday departure moved to the same afternoon time as weekdays, while the Friday and Sunday northbound departures moved to the late-afternoon time.<ref name=50years /><ref name=oct1997timetable /> An [[infill station]] at [[Fair Haven station|Fair Haven]] was added on November 12, 1997.<ref name=oct1997timetable>{{Cite web |url=http://www.timetables.org/browse/?group=19971026ne&item=0026 |title=Amtrak Northeast Timetable: Fall/Winter 1997-98 |date=October 26, 1997 |publisher=Amtrak |via=Museum of Railway Timetables}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104353707/rutland-daily-herald/ |title=Ethan Allen Express Soon Starting to Stop in Fair Haven |first=Bruce |last=Edwards |newspaper=Rutland Daily Herald |date=November 8, 1997 |page=8 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> On February 15, 1998, Amtrak added a morning northbound train from Albany to Rutland, providing a connection from the northbound ''Maple Leaf''; this gave a second northbound trip to Rutland, though still only one southbound trip. The change reduced the state subsidy by eliminating the need for overnight crew accommodations: the morning northbound trip turned around to become the afternoon southbound trip, while the afternoon northbound trip [[Dead mileage|deadhead]]ed from Rutland to Albany in the late evening for servicing.<ref name=50years /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104670799/rutland-daily-herald/ |title=Rutland Gets Second Train |first=Frederick |last=Bever |date=January 17, 1998 |newspaper=Rutland Daily Herald |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.timetables.org/browse/?group=19980405ne&item=0022|title=Amtrak Northeast Timetable |date=April 5, 1998 |publisher=Amtrak |page=22 |via=Museum of Railway Timetables}}</ref>