Amtrak restores train service in Vermont

Amtrak has restored service on its Vermonter route after a Washington, D.C.-bound train derailed there on Monday. 

Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin (D) said Amtrak is expected to fully restore service in his state on Friday, after a partial restoration succesfully began on Thursday. 

“.@Amtrak northbound service will be restored tomorrow in advance of what should be a great weekend to see #VT’s world famous foliage,” he tweeted. 

.@Amtrak northbound service will be restored tomorrow in advance of what should be a great weekend to see #VT‘s worlkd famous foliage

— Peter Shumlin (@GovPeterShumlin) October 7, 2015

Amtrak had been busing passengers around the scene of Monday’s derailment near Roxbury, Vt., to allow Amtrak workers to clear the wreckage from the disabled train and investigators to probe the potential causes of the crash. 

{mosads}Investigators have attributed the derailment of the train, number 55 on Amtrak’s Vermonter route, to sliding rocks in the area of Roxbury, Vt. 

The train was in the midst of a trip from St. Albans, Vt., to Washington, D.C.’s Union Station when it derailed on Monday. The train was carrying 98 passengers and four crew members at the time of the derailment, but no one was seriously hurt in the accident. 

Shumlin said he is grateful for the first responders who prevented passengers on the train from suffering serious injuries. 

“I want to thank everyone who worked so hard over the past two days to ensure Monday’s derailment caused as little disruption as possible,” he said in a statement. 

“From the first responders who rushed to the scene to the Norwich University personnel who took in and fed stranded passengers to all those who helped clear the derailed cars and repair the tracks, I want to extend my sincere gratitude,” Shumlin continued. “Vermonters reacted to this situation with characteristic community spirit and hospitality, and I am pleased service is being restored in advance of what should a great weekend to see Vermont’s world famous foliage.”