2) On the Adirondack, ideally the NYP departure will be pushed back a little to allow for humane connections with trains coming from/going to the south (getting from WAS to MTR is not my idea of a fun time, and neither is going the other way).
Looked up the 1982 Amtrak schedule for the Adirondack and Montrealer. Depressing just how much longer the Adirondack takes NYP-MTR than it did 30 years ago. Back then, the northbound Adirondack departed Grand Central at 10:35 AM, arrived MTR 7:13 PM. Yes, 8 hours and 45 minutes, not the close to 11 hours today. The later morning departure from NYG presumably allowed for connections from NYP via a jaunt on the subway. If up to several hours is taken off the Adirondack trip time, moving the morning departure from NYP to 9:30 AM or later would allow for easier connections from the south.
The southbound 1982 Adirondack departed Montreal (Windsor Station) at 10:15 AM, arrived NYP 6:57 PM. Back then, they were waving people through customs after a quick look at their drivers licenses and asking them if they have anything to declare. A shorter trip time would also probably move to a later departure from MTR which would allow for better connections at MTR from elsewhere and to give people time to clear customs.
The southbound Montrealer took 2 hours to get from MTR to St. Albans (SAB) with, if I read the schedule correctly, US customs inspection done enroute. It departed Montreal at 7:40 PM, arrived SAB 9:40 PM, arrived WAS 11:07 AM (13:27 SAB to WAS). The northbound Montrealer took 2:38 to get from SAB to MTR with a customs stop at Cantic, Quebec. Left WAS at 5:25 PM, arrived SAB 7:17 AM, arrived MTR 10:05 AM (13:52 WAS to SAB).
The current WAS to SAB trip times on weekdays is 13:20. Which is a little faster than the 1982 Montrealer, despite the longer route and backup move in MA. Subtract the trip time improvements from the track upgrades in VT, MA, CT, and projects getting completed on the New Haven line & the NEC, the Vermonter should eventually be several hours faster WAS to SAB than the 1982 Montrealer. Which is progress.