Regularly scheduled train service between British Columbia and the rest of the Pacific Northwest will be resuming in the fall, rather than in the winter, the Washington and Oregon Departments of Transportation announced today.
“WSDOT and ODOT are pleased to share that train service between Seattle and Vancouver, BC now will resume in September 2022. Earlier plans called for a December return to Canada, but Amtrak was able to advance the schedule. Stay tuned for further details. We’ll share more info as soon as it’s available,” read an email bulletin from the agency’s Rail, Freight and Ports Division.
Back in May, WSDOT informed the public that due to “staffing shortages,” Amtrak wasn’t planning on restarting service to British Columbia until the end of the year.
“Amtrak informed the states of Washington and Oregon that the popular Amtrak Cascades train service north of Seattle will not resume until late 2022 due to Amtrak staffing shortages,” the agency said in May 13th announcement.
“WSDOT and ODOT expressed extreme dissatisfaction with this plan and urged Amtrak to at least begin offering service a few days a week on an interim basis until full service can resume in December 2022,” that bulletin added. “Amtrak noted it is committed to an earlier start date if employee resources allow.”
“Several staff positions need to be filled including conductors, on-board service staff, and mechanics. Progress is being made in recruiting necessary staff; however, once hired, they must complete extensive training programs before starting their jobs. This route – serving Seattle, Edmonds, Everett, Stanwood, Mount Vernon, Bellingham and Vancouver, B.C. – has been suspended since May 2020 when the Canadian border closed to non-essential travel.”
“Daily bus service between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., and between Seattle and Bellingham, will continue to be offered through the Amtrak ticketing system.”
Cascades has a Seattle <> Portland <> Eugene route as well as a Seattle <> British Columbia route. The southern route, linking Washington and Oregon, is currently in operation, but as explained above, the northern route has not been. Soon, that will change and it will once again be possible to take a trip to Vancouver — Canada’s Vancouver — by rail, which is great news.
The province of British Columbia and the states of Washington and Oregon are studying the possibility of developing a high speed rail link that would provide fast service between Cascadia’s major cities in the future. Significant resources would be needed for such an undertaking, which would require the construction of a new grade-separated right of way. NPI’s research has found a majority in support of building a new high speed rail line in the Pacific Northwest as well as a majority in favor of strengthening Amtrak’s existing Cascades service.
Before service can be strengthened, though, it has to exist. That’s why we’re so glad to hear that the northerly Cascades route is on track to resume operations in September. That will be after most of summer has elapsed, but at least it’s sooner than the December timeframe Amtrak had previously offered.
Friday, July 1st, 2022
Canada Day revelation: Amtrak Cascades to resume service to B.C. in September
Regularly scheduled train service between British Columbia and the rest of the Pacific Northwest will be resuming in the fall, rather than in the winter, the Washington and Oregon Departments of Transportation announced today.
“WSDOT and ODOT are pleased to share that train service between Seattle and Vancouver, BC now will resume in September 2022. Earlier plans called for a December return to Canada, but Amtrak was able to advance the schedule. Stay tuned for further details. We’ll share more info as soon as it’s available,” read an email bulletin from the agency’s Rail, Freight and Ports Division.
Back in May, WSDOT informed the public that due to “staffing shortages,” Amtrak wasn’t planning on restarting service to British Columbia until the end of the year.
“Amtrak informed the states of Washington and Oregon that the popular Amtrak Cascades train service north of Seattle will not resume until late 2022 due to Amtrak staffing shortages,” the agency said in May 13th announcement.
“WSDOT and ODOT expressed extreme dissatisfaction with this plan and urged Amtrak to at least begin offering service a few days a week on an interim basis until full service can resume in December 2022,” that bulletin added. “Amtrak noted it is committed to an earlier start date if employee resources allow.”
“Several staff positions need to be filled including conductors, on-board service staff, and mechanics. Progress is being made in recruiting necessary staff; however, once hired, they must complete extensive training programs before starting their jobs. This route – serving Seattle, Edmonds, Everett, Stanwood, Mount Vernon, Bellingham and Vancouver, B.C. – has been suspended since May 2020 when the Canadian border closed to non-essential travel.”
“Daily bus service between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., and between Seattle and Bellingham, will continue to be offered through the Amtrak ticketing system.”
Cascades has a Seattle <> Portland <> Eugene route as well as a Seattle <> British Columbia route. The southern route, linking Washington and Oregon, is currently in operation, but as explained above, the northern route has not been. Soon, that will change and it will once again be possible to take a trip to Vancouver — Canada’s Vancouver — by rail, which is great news.
The province of British Columbia and the states of Washington and Oregon are studying the possibility of developing a high speed rail link that would provide fast service between Cascadia’s major cities in the future. Significant resources would be needed for such an undertaking, which would require the construction of a new grade-separated right of way. NPI’s research has found a majority in support of building a new high speed rail line in the Pacific Northwest as well as a majority in favor of strengthening Amtrak’s existing Cascades service.
Before service can be strengthened, though, it has to exist. That’s why we’re so glad to hear that the northerly Cascades route is on track to resume operations in September. That will be after most of summer has elapsed, but at least it’s sooner than the December timeframe Amtrak had previously offered.
# Written by Andrew Villeneuve :: 7:19 PM
Categories: Policy Topics, Public Planning
Tags: Transportation
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