Vermont Rail System President Selden Houghton has expressed plans to potentially bring trains back to the long-dormant section of the former Maine Central Mountain Subdivision in New Hampshire and Vermont. The company, which operates the New Hampshire Central short line, sees transload opportunities on the route where daily freight trains once ran until the 1980s.
The 131-mile Mountain Subdivision served numerous paper mills and forestry businesses in the region, but most have since closed down. The line in Maine has been out of service for decades, while the portion in New Hampshire was acquired by the state and currently hosts tourist trains by Conway Scenic Railroad.
VRS’s recent purchase of the New Hampshire Central short line includes a section of the former Mountain Sub, which they plan to reopen in phases to attract businesses in the area. The long-term goal is to restore 20 miles of inactive track from Gilman to St. Johnsbury, providing additional outlets to customers on the New Hampshire Central trackage.
Acquiring and restoring the St. Johnsbury interchange will be a costly endeavor for Vermont Rail System, and the company is looking into various funding sources. Other sections of the New Hampshire Central short line connect to different facilities in the area, indicating potential for future growth and development along the rail route.
With plans to reopen and potentially expand service on the former Maine Central Mountain Subdivision, Vermont Rail System aims to revitalize rail transportation in the region and provide new opportunities for businesses to utilize the rail network for freight transportation.
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