(The following appeared on the Seattle Times website on August 19, 2010.)
SEATTLE — Riders on Amtrak Cascades trains traveling between Washington State and Vancouver, B.C. will be offered a 25 percent discount on travel in September to encourage ridership.
After one year in operation, the second daily Cascades train to Vancouver, B.C., topped its ridership expectations and recorded its best month in July, with nearly 25,000 passengers, officials said.
The second train, an evening run that leaves Seattle at 6:50 p.m., began service in August of last year. Through July of this year, ridership on that train totaled more than 221,000. Ridership on the original morning train, departing Seattle at 6:50 a.m., grew by 21 percent.
“The addition of a second train between Washington state and Vancouver has proved to be a tremendous success,” said B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell.
The evening train is currently being operated as a pilot program through September, with proposed plans for the service to continue if the Canada Border Services Agency decides to allow the train to pass without additional security fees.
Besides the 25 percent discount on Amtrak tickets, discounts on attractions in Vancouver are available through Tourism Vancouver and the Vancouver Attractions. Details and booking information is at www.tourismvancouver.com/visitors/amtrak. For train fares and schedules, see www.AmtrakCascades.com.Tickets must be purchased by Monday, Sept. 27.