This page provides an overview of efforts that have been underway for over a decade to extend Amtrak’s Vermonter service north to Montréal.
Contents
Interested and involved parties
Overview
As part of this project, a new joint customs and immigration facility is to be built at Montreal Central Station for the Canada Border Security Agency and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
This facility would allow Amtrak passengers departing from Montreal on the Vermonter and Adirondack to clear U.S. customs and immigration prior to boarding the train, using a process that is known as preclearance.
In the reverse direction, passengers on these two trains would clear Canadian customs and immigration upon arrival in Montreal.
This setup would be similar to the way that passengers on flights to/from the United States are processed at airports in Canada today.
The Vermonter would travel from St. Albans, Vt. to Montréal, a distance of 71 miles (114 km), over track that is owned by New England Central Railroad [St. Albans to the international border], and Canadian National Railway (CN) [from the border into Montreal Central Station.)
As of August 2019 all of the necessary agreements are in place between Canada and the United States so that preclearance can legally take place at Central Station in Montreal.
The next step is for the Ministry of Transportation of Quebec (MTQ), the Government of Canada, and the owners of Montreal Central Station to develop a site plan and operation agreement for the planned preclearance facility in the station.
Latest developments
March 2024 | Amtrak said that it was seeking $30 million in FY 2025 for a Cross-Border Service Improvement initiative.
Included in this initiative is funding to support a number of projects, including improvements to the rail infrastructure along the route of the Adirondack (and future route of the Vermonter) within the Province of Quebec, and the design of Canada Border Services Agency arrival and US Customs and Border Protection preclearance facilities at Montréal Central Station. (Amtrak FY2025 Grant Request, p. 40)
Milestones
March 31, 1995 | Amtrak canceled its overnight train the Montrealer which had provided daily service between Washington, DC and Montreal. The train was replaced with a daytime train, the Vermonter, that provides service as far north as St. Albans, VT.
2009 | Amtrak prepared a preliminary design for a Preclearance facility to be located adjacent to track 23 at Montreal Central Station.
2012–2014 | The 18.8 miles (30.3 km) of railroad track between St. Albans, Vt. and the U.S.-Canadian border was upgraded to allow future passenger trains on this stretch of track to operate at a maximum speed of 59 miles (95 km) per hour.
2014 | The Quebec Ministry of Transportation issued a report detailing the infrastructure improvements required to support high-speed passenger trains between the international border and Montreal (Study of CN and CP’s Rail Network between Montreal and the U.S. Border.)
2015
2015 | A Phase I planning study — part of a multi-jurisdictional effort by New York State Department of Transportation, the Vermont Agency of Transportation, Ministry of Transportation of Quebec (MTQ) , and Amtrak — to develop a passenger preclearance/clearance facility for use by both Amtrak’s Adirondack and Vermonter trains inside Montreal Central Station, was completed.
March 16, 2015 | The United States and Canada signed the “Agreement on Land, Rail, Marine, and Air Transport Preclearance Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Canada.” The agreement, among other things, allows for the establishment of a preclearance facility in Central Station.
August 31, 2015 | At 39th Annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers a “Resolution Concerning the Canada-U.S. Preclearance Agreement and Customs Preclearance Project for Central Station in Montreal” is adopted.
2016
December 2016 | The U.S. Congress passed H.R. 6431, the “Promoting Travel, Commerce, and National Security Act of 2016”, which allows for the expansion of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection preclearance facilities in Canada. This bill was signed by President Obama on December 16, 2016.
2017
July 18, 2017 | Amtrak operated a special trip in conjunction with New England Central Railroad, Canadian National Railway for government officials from the US and Canada, to inspect the route between St. Albans, Vermont and Montreal, Quebec.
By Kevin Burkholder / Steel Wheels Photography | Used with Permission
December 12, 2017 | The Canadian government passed into law Bill C-23, the “Preclearance Act, 2016″ which allows for the establishment of U.S. Customs and Border Protection preclearance facilities in Montreal Central Station.
2018
September 2018 | At a meeting of the Eastern Border Transportation Coalition (EBTC) it was reported that Canada is working to complete the necessary “rail mode” regulations for Land, Rail, and Marine Transport Preclearance by 2020.
2019
August 15, 2019 | The Government of Canada announced that Canada and the U.S. have brought into force the Agreement on Land, Rail, Marine, and Air Transport Preclearance between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America.
September 2019 | Amtrak issues a letter of intent to the states of New York and Vermont, and the Province of Quebec, to expedite the effort to establish a preclearance facility at Montreal Central Station and related infrastructure improvements between the border and Montreal.
2020
March 2020 | At a meeting of the Empire State Passengers Association an Amtrak representative announced that the parties involved with this project are now updating the previous study work (related to rail preclearance at Central Station) and that the environmental and other review processes would be completed in 2020.
Late 2020 | The States of Vermont and New York, the Province of Quebec and Amtrak resumed their efforts to develop a secure preclearance facility inside Montreal Central Station. Studies to evaluate connectivity and security issues along the corridor between Central Station and the border, as well as a detailed design study of the needed modifications is expected to move forward in 2021.
2021
November 15, 2021 | President Biden signed into law the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The law includes a provision that requires Amtrak to submit a report to Congress that identifies challenges to Amtrak’s operations in Canada, and a set of recommendation to improve service — including the feasibility of and costs associated with a preclearance facility or facilities. The report is due no later than November 15, 2022. (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Pub. L. 117-58, §22212, November 15, 2021)
December 16, 2021 | The Quebec Ministry of Transport said that it will lead a study of facilities at Montreal Central Station, coordinate with Canadian Federal agencies, and manage the construction of the new preclearance facility, according to a project update that was provided by the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) to the Vermont Rail Advisory Council.
It was also reported that the Quebec government is also now working with Canadian National Railway to identify the track upgrades, between the international border and Montreal Central Station, that will be required before this service can start.
2022
March 22, 2022 | The Quebec Ministry of Finance released its Budget Plan for 2022-2023. The plan included CA$ 1 million (~US$ 800,000) to finance Québec’s contribution towards the completion of a feasibility study and the design of project plans and specifications for a rail passenger preclearance/ clearance facility at Montreal Central Station.
September 22, 2022 | At a meeting of the Vermont Rail Advisory Council, VTrans reported that there was a meeting in August with all of partners working on the project. Next steps include the scoping study by Quebec and then the engineering effort. VTrans also said that there is support for this the project at the highest levels of government in both Canada and the U.S.
August 2022 | The Québec government announced that the Société de Québecoise des Infrastructure (SQI) would be the lead agency overseeing a CA$1 million study to evaluate connectivity and security issues along the corridor between Montreal Central Station and the border, as well as a detailed design study of the needed modifications that is expected to move forward with the project.
October 3, 2022 | The Vermont Agency of Transportation sent a letter to the Federal Railroad Administration which said that it, “intends to submit proposals to extend the Vermonter Service into Canada, from the current terminus in St. Albans to Montreal’s Central Station.”
November 15, 2022 | As required by statute, Amtrak submitted a report to Congress that identifies the challenges to Amtrak’s operations in Canada, including – delays associated with custom and immigration inspections in both the United States and Canada, recommendations to improve cross border service, and the feasibility of and costs associated with a preclearance facility or facilities. (Amtrak Report on Cross Border Operations)
2023
September 20, 2023 | The Vermont Congressional delegation reached out to Amtrak in an effort to move forward long discussed plans to expand passenger rail service between Quebec and Vermont. (Vermont Business Magazine)
2024
January 31, 2024 | The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) met with the Vermont House Committee on Transportation to review ongoing efforts to extend the Vermonter to Montreal Central Station.
During the meeting VTrans provided an overview of recent developments, including the selection of track 23 in Montreal Central Station as the likely location for the preclearance facility.
VTrans reported that the next milestone is the expected completion in March of a detailed feasibility study for the project. (VT House Committee on Transportation Meeting, January 31, 2024 via YouTube)
March 2024 | Amtrak said that it was seeking $30 million in FY 2025 for a Cross-Border Service Improvement initiative. Included in this initiative is funding to support a number of projects, including improvements to the rail infrastructure along the route of the Adirondack (and future route of the Vermonter) within the Province of Quebec, and the design of Canada Border Services Agency arrival and US Customs and Border Protection preclearance facilities at Montréal Central Station. (Amtrak FY2025 Grant Request, p. 40)
Interested and involved parties
In Canada
Transport Canada, Ministère des Transports (Quebec), Société de Québecoise des Infrastructure (SQI), Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Canadian National Railway (the owner of the rail corridor north of the border), Cominar Real Estate Investment Trust (the owner of Montreal Central Station), Via Rail Canada (the national passenger railroad in Canada), and Exo (the operator of the public transit system in Montreal.)
In the United States
Amtrak, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Department of Homeland Security, members of Congress in New York and Vermont, the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans), the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), as well as the following rail advocacy organizations — the Empire State Passenger Association, Trains In The Valley, and the Vermont Rail Action Network.
See also
East-West passenger rail in Massachusetts
Further reading
Report on Cross Border Operations (PDF)
Amtrak | November 15, 2022
News stories
“The Vermontrealer? It’s a long way back for passenger rail to Montreal”
By C. B. Hall | VTDigger.org | May 24, 2015
“Pre-clearance deal advances Montrealer train”
By Jasper Craven | VTDigger.com | January 16, 2017
“Preclearance issues extend wait for rail service to Montreal”
By Alexandre Silberman | VTDigger.com | August 15, 2019
“New pact seen speeding cross-border train service”
By Eric Anderson | Albany Times-Union | August 21, 2019
Background information
Amtrak International Operations to Canada (PDF)
Eastern Border Transportation Coalition | 2012
Cross Border Passenger Rail Service Progress Report (PPT) [archived]
Transportation Border Working Group | 2013
International Rail Passenger Update (PDF) [archived]
Transportation Border Working Group | 2015
International Border Passenger and Freight Rail Study (PDF)
Federal Railroad Administration | 2017
Last Update: March 21, 2024
Last Reviewed: October 27, 2022