Vermont Rail System Passenger Services

Vermont Rail System Passenger Services runs seasonal passenger trains from Burlington, best known for the Champlain Valley Dinner Train to Middlebury. The three-hour ride serves a three-course meal cooked on board and seats guests in restored 1930s dining cars. Cocktails on the Rails is a smaller evening trip in the lounge car, with hors d'oeuvres and cocktails for ages 21 and up, and the Independence Day Flyer carries passengers from Vergennes to Burlington for the July 3rd fireworks.

The season runs from July 11 through October 25, 2026, departing from Burlington, and tickets can be booked online. Appetizers can be reserved in advance and paid for on board, though quantities are limited. The company also hosts private events and sells gift cards. Phone lines are open on weekdays, and the same company runs freight service across several states and hosts Amtrak's Ethan Allen Express in Burlington.