Vermont Transportation Agency warns of rail trespassing

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — The Vermont Agency of Transportation is warning about an increase in the number of people trespassing on railroad tracks since Amtrak passenger rail service was suspended last year.

Amtrak services are due to resume in Vermont July 19 now that the pandemic has eased and agency officials are warning people to be careful around railroad tracks. They say it can take a train a mile to stop.

Every year many people are killed or injured at highway-rail crossings and at other locations along railroad tracks across the country.

“We really want to get the word out there, that when you see tracks you need to think trains because they come on, there is no set schedule, they can come at any time and they are moving a lot faster than you think they are moving,” said Toni Hamburg Clithero, the Vermont Agency of Transportation's program manager for Amtrak grants.