Amtrak announced this week it is again offering direct service from Portland, Oregon, all the way to Vancouver, B.C., as part of its Cascades route. The passenger train service hasn't offered these rides since 2020.
According to a news release from Amtrak, there are 12 stations along the I-5 corridor in Western Washington. There's one just south of Lacey, called Centennial station. The tracks run along Puget Sound, river and mountain vistas and more, offering passengers some of the best views the Pacific Northwest has to offer. And you can get it all in a day.
For example, those traveling north would be able to leave Portland at 3:05 p.m., get to Seattle at 7 p.m. and Vancouver by 11 p.m. Going south, the train leaves Vancouver at 6:35 a.m., stops in Seattle at 11 a.m. and arrives in Portland at 2:55 p.m.
Stephen Gardner, Amtrak CEO, said in the release that the expansion brings along with it more staffing and equipment. And Ron Pate, director of WSDOT's Rail, Freight and Ports division, said they're planning to add more trains to the Cascades route later this year between Seattle and Portland.
The release included reactions from local leaders, including Senator Patty Murray, who said she's thrilled to see the service coming back.
"This train line runs along a critical North-South corridor in Washington state, connecting families, communities, and small businesses," Murray said. "Amtrak plays a critical role in getting people where they need to be on time and at a reasonable cost—this is great news as we work to keep Washington state moving forward."
For more information, you can visit the transportation service's website at Amtrak.com, or AmtrakCascades.com.
