Courtesy Amtrak
The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Lake Champlain Chamber of Commerce, is promoting the expanded service offered by Amtrak’s Ethan Allen Express and a route that connects Saratoga Springs to Burlington, Vt.,
Officials said it provides residents with a more convenient way to travel between both cities for business and pleasure.
The Ethan Allen Express route, run by Amtrak, travels between Rutland and New York City daily and now includes stops in both Burlington and Saratoga Springs.
Service of the expanded Ethan Allen Express officially began on July 29 with a celebratory event at Burlington’s Union Station. The expanded service will depart Burlington daily at 10:10 a.m., arriving in Saratoga Springs at 1:55 p.m. The service will depart Saratoga Springs daily at 5:56 p.m., arriving in Burlington at 9:55 p.m.
“This expanded service will not only increase tourism between these two great cities but encourage residents to take advantage of what both vibrant regions have to offer in terms of year-round events, activities, and unique attractions,” said Todd Shimkus, president, Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce.
Saratoga Springs attractions such as the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), Live Nation, the Saratoga Casino Hotel, UPH, Caffe Lena, the National Racing Museum, and the historic Saratoga Race Course are just a few of the many venues Burlington residents will now be able to enjoy.
“Burlingtonians are known for their love of the arts and nature, and for their diversity and forward- thinking,” said Elizabeth Sobol, president and CEO of Saratoga Performing Arts Center. “We can’t think of a better place for our like-minded friends to explore than our very own Saratoga Springs, an incomparable international cultural destination.
“With the addition of this new Amtrak train line to our sister city, we look forward to welcoming even more visitors to discover—or rediscover—our many arts and culture destinations such as the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Caffe Lena, the Tang Teaching Museum, Saratoga Arts, Yaddo and our vibrant downtown, with independent and antiquarian bookstores, live music 365 days a year, and restaurants to suit every taste.”
Along with cultural and entertainment experiences, there are a number of businesses with facilities in both communities, including Kru Coffee, Thorn & Roots, Healthy Living Market, and GlobalFoundries. Officials said the expanded service will provide these employers and others with a new option for commuting to and from these locations.
“GlobalFoundries has semiconductor manufacturing facilities located near both Saratoga Springs and Burlington that will be well served with this extension into Burlington,” said Laurie Kelly, GlobalFoundries chief communications officer. “We are excited that our GF employees now have the opportunity to travel more easily by passenger rail between our sites. We appreciate the significant investment made by the state of Vermont to make this connection possible, as well as the work by the Saratoga and Lake Champlain Chambers of Commerce to promote the use of this service.”
“We look forward to welcoming our friends from Burlington into our wonderful city,” said Shimkus. “We are excited to have this new rail connection and can’t wait to continue encouraging both our communities to visit each other far into the future.”
For more information on the Ethan Allen Express, visit www.amtrak.com/ethan-allen- express-train.