WASHINGTON, (WCAX) – Amtrak could soon have a new person behind the wheel and one senator is making sure they have Vermont’s best interest in mind.
in a Senate Commerce Committee hearing, Senator Peter Welch questioned nominees for the Amtrak board of directors about Vermont’s rail needs.
That includes recurring topics like pre-clearance to improve cross-border train service between Vermont and Canada.
He also focused on the impact of extreme weather on Vermont train service, especially after catastrophic flooding last year closed 409 miles of rail across the state, according to Welch. “We’ve had a lot of flooding in Vermont in the last couple of years, and it’s done a lot of damage to our tracks. There’s been a number of delays in getting them repaired. It obviously has a huge impact on commerce and on travel. And it raises the question that’s being asked around the country about these weather events that are more frequent and more extreme,” said Sen. Welch.
Another focus for the senator is the implementation of his Baby Changing on Board Act, which would require every Amtrak train to include a baby changing station in all accessible bathrooms.