Amtrak Cascades will resume service to all stops north of Seattle, including Bellingham and Vancouver, British Columbia, beginning Sept. 26, Amtrak announced in a Wednesday press release.
Since the closure of the U.S.-Canadian border to all non-essential travelers in May 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Amtrak Cascades serviced only 12 of its 18 stops from Eugene, Oregon, to Seattle.
Now, after a teaser announcement on July 1 that reopening would take place sometime in September, the train line has confirmed a date for service across the border.
“This single roundtrip will be offered daily, with a second daily trip added in the future as Amtrak staffing and equipment allow,” the Aug. 31 press release stated.
Amtrak Cascades currently offers three daily roundtrips from Seattle to Portland, and two daily roundtrips from Portland to Eugene. It remains unconfirmed when Amtrak will be able to provide multiple daily roundtrips from Seattle to Vancouver, B.C.
After receiving a $1 billion bailout from Congress in March 2020 due to drastically falling ridership and the closure of international borders due to the pandemic, Amtrak furloughed 20% of its workforce, totaling roughly 4,000 employees.
Staffing has not caught up to pre-pandemic levels, resulting in the single, daily roundtrip service between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. Originally, Amtrak Cascades offered two daily round trips between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., four daily round trips from Seattle to Portland, and two daily round trips from Seattle to Eugene.
The first ride from Seattle to Vancouver, B.C. will depart from King Street Station at 7:45 a.m. on Sept. 26, and stop in Edmonds, Everett, Stanwood, Mount Vernon and Bellingham before arriving in Vancouver, B.C. at 11:45 a.m. Traveling southbound for the return, the train will depart from Vancouver, B.C. at 5:45 p.m. and roll into Seattle at 10:10 p.m., the press release stated.
Tickets are now available to purchase on Amtrak Cascades’ website, and travelers departing from Canada can purchase tickets through VIA Rail Canada, or by calling 1-888-VIA-RAIL.
Cascadia Daily News will update this story if more information becomes available.
