Amtrak announced this week it will add a second round trip to Vancouver, British Columbia, beginning March 7, according to U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell.
The additional trip will restore full service on the Cascades line to pre-pandemic levels, according to a letter Amtrak sent to the Washington State and Oregon departments of transportation. The corporation also plans to increase the number of trips between Seattle and Portland from four to six in fall 2023.
At the height of ridership in 2019, 753,000 people traveled the route that connects Washington, Oregon and British Columbia. The number dropped drastically after the onset of the pandemic, to 156,000 in 2020. Some trips were suspended due to the border closure and travel restrictions, and for more than two years, the Cascades line serviced only 12 of its 18 stops from Eugene, Oregon, to Seattle.
In May 2021, Amtrak Cascades trains resumed two daily round trips between Seattle and Eugene, and three daily round trips between Seattle and Portland, Oregon. But it wasn’t until September 2022 that Amtrak Cascades reopened its stops north of Seattle — including Bellingham and Vancouver, B.C. — for one daily round trip.
“I’m thankful that Amtrak is finally on the path to fully restore service in the Pacific Northwest. I-5 corridor in the State of Washington is one of the most congested corridors in the nation and the Cascades service provides a convenient alternative to travelers. I will work to make sure Amtrak meets its commitment to restore additional service to Vancouver B.C. by March 7th and add two trips this fall,” Cantwell said in a news release.
