(The following appeared at Examiner.com on July 29, 2009.)
SEATTLE — Amtrak Cascades is adding a second daily train between Seattle and Vancouver, BC. The Canadian government announced that they are extending border clearance service for the second train — just in time for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The second train is a pilot project scheduled to begin in mid-August, 2009 and will run until after the Winter Games. Washington State Department of Transportation is working in conjunction with Amtrak.
The additional Amtrak Cascades train between Seattle and Vancouver, BC was originally scheduled to begin service in August 2008. But the Canadian Border Services Agency determined that a “cost recovery fee” of $1,500 per day for border services for the second train was required The cost recovery fee was not anticipated and is not funded, so the second train service was delayed while a resolution was worked out.
The second train service will be evaluated at its conclusion, and if the level of ridership warrants ongoing customs services, it will continue on after the Winter Games. Currently, the daily Amtrak Cascades leaves Seattle at 7:40 AM and is scheduled to arrive in Vancouver BC at 11:35 AM (it’s often late). The return trip from Vancouver is at 5:45 PM, arriving in Seattle at 10:05 PM. Stops along the way include Edmonds, Everett, Mount Vernon and Bellingham.
The second northbound train is expected to leave in the evenings from Seattle, arriving in Vancouver around 10 PM. The second southbound train will leave Vancouver, BC around 6 AM. This is also the first round-trip train that travels direct between Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, BC. The 8+ hour trip includes a 15-minute layover in Seattle for a crew change.
Talgo Update: TheTalgo was scheduled to return on Amtrak Trains #510/#517 on July 25, 2009. For almost three years, the Spanish built train has been out of service and substituted with Superliner coaches. Refurbishment of the Talgo included a new paint job, leather seating in coach and business class, improved audio-visual system, upgraded restrooms and tweaks to the Bistro car. Also a new brake system. I’m looking forward to its return, as Business Class passengers had a number of privileges, including deboarding the train first in Vancouver, BC to go through Canadian Customs/Immigration.