Editing Ethan Allen Express (section)

=== Further changes ===
[[File:Castleton station.jpg|thumb|right|Castleton station (pictured) replaced Fair Haven station in January 2010|alt=A large wooden train station building]]
In October 2008, the [[Vermont Agency of Transportation]] (VTrans) proposed eliminating the ''Ethan Allen Express'' and replacing it with a bus, citing budgetary restrictions. The proposal was rejected by a legislative committee.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 18, 2008 |title=Ethan Allen Safe...Until January |url=http://www.railvermont.org/component/content/article/53-passenger/113-ethan-allen-safe-for-now.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052017/http://www.railvermont.org/component/content/article/53-passenger/113-ethan-allen-safe-for-now.html |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |publisher=Vermont Rail Action Network}}</ref> VTrans again proposed ending service in January 2009.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hirschfeld |first=Peter |last2=Peters |first2=Stephanie M. |date=January 20, 2009 |title=Amtrak rally draws 200 people |work=Rutland Herald |url=http://www.rutlandherald.com/articles/amtrak-rally-draws-200-people/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615192020/https://www.rutlandherald.com/articles/amtrak-rally-draws-200-people/ |archive-date=June 15, 2018}}</ref> Opposition from the Vermont Rail Action Network and local political leaders resulted in the service being kept.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hirschfield |first=Peter |date=February 26, 2009 |title=Official softens stance on Amtrak |work=Rutland Herald |url=http://www.rutlandherald.com/articles/official-softens-stance-on-amtrak/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412084238/https://www.rutlandherald.com/articles/official-softens-stance-on-amtrak/ |archive-date=April 12, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=November 25, 2009 |title=2009 Vermont Rail Action Network Accomplishments |url=http://www.railvermont.org/about-vran/vran-accomplishments.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424144745/http://railvermont.org/about-vran/vran-accomplishments.html |archive-date=April 24, 2012 |website=Vermont Rail Action Network }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Stephanie M. |date=January 10, 2009 |title=State panel, county delegation speak against Amtrak bus service |url=http://www.rutlandherald.com/articles/state-panel-county-delegation-speak-against-amtrak-bus-service/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615192429/https://www.rutlandherald.com/articles/state-panel-county-delegation-speak-against-amtrak-bus-service/ |archive-date=June 15, 2018 |website=Rutland Herald}}</ref> On January 2, 2010, the ''Ethan Allen Express'' began stopping at Castleton. Service to Fair Haven ended on January 9.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Amtrak Ethan Allen Express to Provide Service at Renovated Castleton, Vermont Depot |date=December 29, 2009 |publisher=Amtrak |url=http://www.trainweb.org/usarail/Amtrak_ATK-09-109_Castleton_Depot_Opening.pdf}}</ref>

Beginning in the mid-2000s, poor track conditions between Whitehall and Rutland also affected the train's performance. In February 2011, VTrans began an investigation into the Vermont Rail System's handling of the ''Ethan Allen Express'' after Amtrak ranked VRS as the worst host railroad in the country.<ref name=":0" /> On-time performance of the train was below 70% by that time, with track conditions responsible for 91% of delays.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=February 24, 2011 |title=Amtrak ranks Vermont last as worst railroad |work=[[The Burlington Free Press]] |url=http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20110224/NEWS02/110223031/Amtrak-ranks-Vermont-last-as-worst-railroad |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730013202/http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20110224/NEWS02/110223031/Amtrak-ranks-Vermont-last-as-worst-railroad |archive-date=July 30, 2012}}</ref> Vermont Rail Systems began track work in April 2011, which reduced travel times by 10 minutes by that October. The project, funded by both the railroad and the state of New York at a cost of $3.25 million, involved rebuilding about {{convert|8|mi|km}} of track and eight grade crossings.<ref name="progressive">{{Cite news |date=August 12, 2011 |title=Vermont Rail System posts progress on trackwork for Amtrak's Ethan Allen service |work=Progressive Railroading |url=https://www.progressiverailroading.com/passenger_rail/article/Vermont-Rail-System-posts-progress-on-trackwork-for-Amtraks-Ethan-Allen-service--27612 |access-date=July 6, 2022}}</ref> By February 2012, additional trackwork had resulted in a 15-minute southbound and 25-minute northbound reduction in travel time between Rutland and Whitehall.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 8, 2012 |title=Vermont Rail System's bolstered track improves Amtrak transit times |work=Progressive Railroading |url=https://www.progressiverailroading.com/short_lines_regionals/news/Vermont-Rail-Systems-bolstered-track-improves-Amtrak-transit-times--29853 |access-date=July 6, 2012}}</ref>

The Friday northbound trip operated on the same mid-afternoon schedule from July 10 to September 5, 2017, during [[Pennsylvania Station (New York City)#2017–2018 service disruptions and track improvements|track work at New York Penn Station]].<ref name="50years" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=July 2017 |title=Amtrak System Timetable |url=https://juckins.net/amtrak_timetables/archive/timetables_National_20170701.pdf |publisher=Amtrak |page=51}}</ref> From May 26 to September 3, 2018, the ''Ethan Allen Express'' and other Empire Corridor trains were diverted to [[Grand Central Terminal]] during further Penn Station track work.<ref name="50years" /><ref>{{Cite press release |title=Amtrak Announces Summer Infrastructure Renewal Work |date=April 10, 2018 |publisher=Amtrak |url=https://media.amtrak.com/2018/04/amtrak-announces-summer-infrastructure-renewal-work/ |access-date=July 7, 2022 |archive-date=August 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814003305/https://media.amtrak.com/2018/04/amtrak-announces-summer-infrastructure-renewal-work/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> On March 26, 2020, the ''Ethan Allen Express'' was suspended north of Albany–Rensselaer at the request of Vermont Governor [[Phil Scott]] due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=Eric |date=March 26, 2020 |title=Vermont governor suspends Amtrak service to state, tells residents to stay home |work=Albany Times-Union |url=https://www.timesunion.com/business/article/Vermont-governor-suspends-Amtrak-service-to-15159597.php |access-date=July 6, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release |title=Service Adjustments Due to Coronavirus |date=April 6, 2020 |publisher=Amtrak |url=https://www.amtrak.com/alert/nec-modified-schedule.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406235024/https://www.amtrak.com/alert/nec-modified-schedule.html |archive-date=April 6, 2020}}</ref> Service to Rutland resumed on July 19, 2021, with $1 promotional fares on that date for travel within Vermont.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 19, 2021 |title=Vermont marking return of Amtrak service after COVID |language=en |work=AP News |url=https://apnews.com/article/business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-vermont-amtrak-500a655ce3ce219ce44d20b8357084c6 |access-date=July 6, 2022}}</ref><ref name="covid-service-restored">{{Cite press release |title=Amtrak and Vermont Agency of Transportation Celebrate Restoration of Vermont Trains With One Dollar Tickets, Half Off Summer Travel and Special Events |date=July 13, 2021 |publisher=Amtrak |url=https://media.amtrak.com/2021/07/amtrak-and-vermont-agency-of-transportation-celebrate-restoration-of-vermont-trains-with-one-dollar-tickets-half-off-summer-travel-and-special-events/}}</ref>