(The following appeared on The Columbian website on August 21, 2010.)
PORTLAND, Ore. — After one year in operation, the first direct, round-trip Amtrak train between Portland and Vancouver, B.C., has topped its expectations. The train stops in Vancouver along the way.
Service began Aug. 19, 2009. Travelers have since taken more than 221,000 journeys. July was the line’s best month, with nearly 25,000 passengers, according to the Washington Department of Transportation. The service, a pilot program scheduled to continue through September, could be extended if the Canada Border Services Agency decides to allow the train to pass without additional security fees.
The original Cascades line, which requires travelers to change trains in Seattle before heading to Vancouver, B.C., has also experienced a dramatic increase in ridership, which is up more than 21 percent compared to 2009.
Amtrak is offering a 25 percent discount on Cascades line travel to Vancouver, B.C., in September.