Comments on: Amtrak Cascades News-Roundup

By: Julia

Julia — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 21:35:24 +0000

I am a huge fan of the Cascades 516; direct from Olympia to Vancouver, B.C. is, in my book, the only way to go. Alas, while attempting to book more trips online, route 516 is no longer available after the first week in April.

Late last summer the Seattle Times reported this route was a “pilot” from August ’09 until after the Olympics/Paralympics. However WSDOT and Amtrak reports show ridership has greatly exceeded expectations.

Is it really coming to an end so soon? Any hope of a different outcome?

By: BC Brews

BC Brews — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:02:50 +0000

Something always good to find is the craft beer! I’m glad that someone gave the CBSA idiots a kick in the backside. They better not get back to their old antics after the Olympics.

Looking forward to taking the train south on my beer travels, instead of driving. It would be sweet if Amtrak came up with a West Coast Craft Beer rail package and served great brews in the dining car.

By: Tim Whittome

Tim Whittome — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:56:43 +0000

Yes, welcome to Seattle! Nice time of the year to arrive but then we can usually find something good whatever the year!

Tim

By: Tim Whittome

Tim Whittome — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:55:29 +0000

Great post on Amtrak as always, Brian. I hope you noted but in the Seattle Times travel section yesterday, it was noted that pressure from train fans and officials on both sides of the border helped to get us the second train to Vancouver. If so, I guess we can give ourselves a pat on the back. Am looking forward to the second train and intend to book for the art exhibition in Vancouver on Rembrandt and celebrate by being able to take the train up and down in one day if I can.

They seem to be working on the tower windows at King Street Station but the work elsewhere on the exterior seems endless doesn’t it. First completion estimates were for March and then for June and now September! Still if they have to wait for the odor control facility to be completed – in itself months late – they might as well keep on cleaning the brick work. Brian, do you know when the clocks will be turned on? Either way, get down and see the old station as it looks magnificent and when you are wandering around Quest Field this Saturday, waiting for the Sounders game and for Light Rail, spare a look at King Street as it will really fill you with a sense of pride in our city. This important gateway is looking magnificent once again.

Tim

By: Squints

Squints — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:57:01 +0000

welcome to seattle!

By: Squints

Squints — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:53:45 +0000

do keep us posted. it’ll be interesting to see what gets funded.

By: Squints

Squints — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:51:03 +0000

haha it’s “who’s keeping track”

By: Zach Shaner

Zach Shaner — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 04:34:23 +0000

All great Cascades news! I actually moved to Seattle this morning. My Alaska Airlines flight landed from the north, and from the air I was able to track the 2:20 Southbound Cascades train through SODO. Quite elegant. I will be moving again to Vancouver BC in January. So I have two Cascades-related questions…

(1. Does anyone know why 10-ride tickets aren’t available to Vancouver? Or for that matter, from Seattle-Portland? I tried amtrak.com and was only able to get minor-city combinations…such as Seattle-Bellingham.

(2. Does anyone have experience with Amtrak Express shipping? I have about 20 boxes still in Denver and would love to give Amtrak the money rather than UPS or Fedex. Are they reliable? Competitive? Would they accept boxes for the Zephyr/Starlight combination that would require?

This new Seattle-ite would be grateful for you replies!

By: Daniel

Daniel — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:00:51 +0000

The battle for HSR funding is hotly contested, why not increase the dollars to around $16 billion dollars to get a majority of this off the ground?

By: Mike Skehan

Mike Skehan — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 12:43:55 +0000

This is a ‘top of the list’ project for WSDOT, for their portion. Funds should flow from ARRA late this year.
ST is funding other portions of the route, and all should complete in 2-3 years (we can hope).

By: Nathanael Nerode

Nathanael Nerode — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 03:14:48 +0000

All great news. And we can hope that the Canadian federal government changes and stops asking for extortion money at the border before next year. :-P

Now, how about the Point Defiance Bypass?….

By: Nathanael Nerode

Nathanael Nerode — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 03:13:31 +0000

You probably saw the regular Portland-Eugene run on the Cascades.

By: Michael Andersson

Michael Andersson — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 22:40:55 +0000

On the topic of Amtrak Cascades trains, on Thursday 10th I was headed home on I-5. Just north of Albany, OR, I saw a southbound Cascades train. Anybody have any idea where it was headed, and why? I’m pretty sure it was one of the Talgos…

Also, throughout all of Oregon, I kept leap-frogging a new Whatcom Transit Authority bus headed toward Bellingham, but that’s a question for a different forum, I’m sure!

By: Jojo

Jojo — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 16:38:45 +0000

Why are the opening light rail hours so short? 10 – 8pm on saturday and 10 – 6pm on sunday??

By: Nathan from Tacoma

Nathan from Tacoma — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 14:00:21 +0000

Get Carryout then. The Bistro Car ROCKS for being what it is compared to other Amtrak Lounges.

By: Mike Skehan

Mike Skehan — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 12:58:47 +0000

To add to the news a bit, WSDOT rail office finished their High Speed Rail application July 10th, and raised the ante from just under a Billion to somewhere aroung 1.2 Bil. As other states race to meet the 1st tier submission deadline, it will be interessing to see what the total request for ‘shovel ready’ funding will be (I’m guessing about 30 Bil).
I’ll try to post a link to the actual request when it’s released next week.

By: Paul

Paul — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 11:55:51 +0000

I read recently that new Amtrak coach yard will no longer be paid for by ARRA (stimulus) funds. I understand they are simply reprogramming funds.

Also, for the record, the odor control project just south of King Street Station is a King County project, not City of Seattle.

By: M Jarred Shelton

M Jarred Shelton — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 08:30:34 +0000

This actually turns out great for Seattlites as well as Vancouverites. Instead of having to get up at 5am to get to the train station for a weekend in Vancouver, now you can take the late train up and have a nice dinner (well, nice might be too kind in the bistro car) and a drink on the way up and go directly to your hotel instead of waiting to check in like you do now when your train arrives.

Selfishly, it also works out well for Thunderbird fans as before this train, you wouldn’t be able to get back into town for a home game that inevitably followed a game in Vancouver.

By: jerry gargiglio

jerry gargiglio — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 07:14:53 +0000

also, it should be “there are a lot of reasons…”

but whose keeping track?

By: Michael

Michael — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 06:56:40 +0000

It’s “you’re,” not “your.”