Senate Transportation praises station upgrades, clarifies Positive Train Control requirements for commuter rail
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Summary
Committee members praised accessibility upgrades at White River Junction and were told Brattleboro station work should finish this summer. The rail bureau director explained that Vermont's train frequencies generally do not trigger Positive Train Control requirements that apply to commuter services, drawing a distinction between intercity (Amtrak) and commuter‑rail regulatory regimes.
Committee members commended recent station improvements and asked about safety and regulatory barriers to expanding more frequent passenger service.
Bridal Delabrio said the White River Junction platform has been made ADA accessible, is now concrete and level, and incorporates embedded heating elements to reduce snow accumulation. She said the Brattleboro station project should be completed this summer and suggested inviting Amtrak to a future meeting to discuss ridership plans.
On the question of Positive Train Control (PTC) — a signaling and collision-avoidance system — Delabrio explained that PTC requirements tied to commuter-rail operations differ from the rules that apply to interstate intercity passenger rail (Amtrak). "Interstate passenger rail, which is what Amtrak is, runs in a different rule book than commuter rail," she said, adding that Vermont's low daily train counts generally do not trigger the same PTC obligations as frequent commuter services.
Delabrio noted operational and regulatory differences matter for any discussion about running commuter-style services on state lines and that equipment and rule changes (for example, more frequent service or different rolling stock) could trigger additional safety requirements.
Next steps: Committee members discussed inviting Amtrak or other operators to brief the committee on ridership and future plans and to monitor completion of the Brattleboro station work.