British Columbia Destinations

Second Vancouver-Seattle train service extended

By Christine Salthead

The second Amtrak Cascades train service between Vancouver and Seattle has been extended.

The extension was announced March 23 by B.C. Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Shirley Bond and Washington State Department of Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond.

The second daily Amtrak Cascades train began service on Aug. 19, 2009 as a pilot project, running through the end of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. During the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Amtrak Cascades train service carried over 11,000 passengers.

The Canada Border Services Agency has since agreed to extend the provision of border clearance services for the second Amtrak train through the end of September 2010.

The current schedule has an Amtrak Cascades train departing Seattle’s King Street Station for Vancouver at 7:40 a.m., arriving in Vancouver at 11:40 a.m. A second train leaves Seattle at 6:50 p.m., having begun at Eugene, Oregon at 11:35 a.m. and gets to Vancouver at 10:50 p.m.

Heading southbound, the Cascades departs at 6:40 a.m., arriving in Seattle at noon, and at 5:45 p.m., arriving at 10:10 p.m.

"By extending the second daily Amtrak train service, visitors will not only have another travel option during the upcoming summer tourist season, but it is also an essential first step in developing and advancing a shared, long-term vision of high-speed rail connecting Vancouver and Seattle," said Bond.

"This will provide more information when considering the viability of making the second train permanent, as well as gauging demand for future high-speed rail." "The success of this additional Amtrak Cascades service reinforces what we already know – that intercity passenger rail service is a valuable transportation resource and people are using it," said Paula Hammond, Washington transportation secretary. "As we continue to grow this service, it will provide more travel options for Pacific Northwest travellers, reduce congestion at our border crossings and help our environment."

For more information visit www.amtrakcascades.com.