Comments on: 25% off Amtrak Cascades to Vancouver B.C.

By: Carol Wiley

Carol Wiley — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:13:19 +0000

Links are not working on Amtraks web site to check the specialout. :-(

By: barman

barman — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 22:46:58 +0000

You bet it works, and it makes traveling home to the parents in Bellingham on the weekends way cheaper.

By: Lloyd

Lloyd — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 18:40:00 +0000

It certainly seems clear that the Big Railroads are already working behind the scenes to keep “higher speed” trains of their rails, knowing full well that there is not (and probably never will be) the half trillion dollars needed to be able to do HSR and a national network of feeder trains and overnight trains correctly.

By: Andrew L.

Andrew L. — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 17:03:44 +0000

Exactly. I think “photo op” comes to mind. Campbell is infamous for canceling BC’s own passenger rail service several years ago, and passenger rail throughout the province is almost non-existent now, so I find it somewhat ironic that he’s promoting this new service. From what I’ve read off of WSDOT’s website, a lot of the improvements to increase service along the Vancouver (BC) to Seattle line lay on the Canadian side of the border. Although, you have to give his government some credit; they helped fund a new siding with BNSF on the Canadian side for this second train. http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Freight/News/2ndTrain.htm

By: aw

aw — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 16:58:45 +0000

It requires a special warped locomotive.

By: Lloyd

Lloyd — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 16:34:20 +0000

Brian is correct. I have had Cascades trains cancelled twice and I’ve always used the Business Class surcharge as credit toward my next trip. There’s never been a problem on the phone or at King Street. Keep your ticket stub and always write down the name, date and time of anyone you speak to on the phone.
Those are scary low passenger counts. Does anyone know if Clipper Vacations is doing any deals for Canadians coming south as they have done with their Clipper boats to boos passenger numbers? They often have some very good deals for US visitors; weeekend hotel specials for just a few dollars over regular rail fare – worht checking out.

By: Mike Skehan

Mike Skehan — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:31:21 +0000

BTW Brian, that’s a pretty tight turning radius in the photo! Looks like it could negotiate most downtown streets :)

By: Mike Skehan

Mike Skehan — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:21:55 +0000

Thanks for the heads-up Ben. I just finished reading the FRA “Plan-No-Plan”, and have to agree it’s not much more than a overview of the current system and an assembly of points to ponder.
We’re hearing the FRA gears grinding, as they attempt to shift from a mostly regulatory agency, to one that invests in both freight and pasenger rail. It’s a tough transition, as most of the nations infrastructure is owned by the private sector, who are facing congestion on their systems when the ecconomy rebounds.
Integrating 50 states rail plans into a comprehensive national plan is equally dificult, given the huge differences between the states enthusiasm for passenger rail programs. Washington has been a leader in that regard.

By: Tim F.

Tim F. — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 08:47:39 +0000

A- the work has to be done sometime or the track breaks and theres no service at all

B- its not amtraks tracks and its not up to them

thems the breaks

By: Jim Cusick

Jim Cusick — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 06:31:59 +0000

Take note of this bullet point:

“Seating is limited, seats may not be available on all trains at all times.”

It means that this discount will work only when the lowest fares apply.

Jim

By: Zach Shaner

Zach Shaner — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 05:58:40 +0000

Yeah, how can the BC Premier come down and have a self-congratulatory summit with Gregoire to celebrate a service in which his government has no desire to invest?

By: Zach Shaner

Zach Shaner — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 05:41:58 +0000

I agree, completely, totally underwhelming and embarrassing. If I had a high school student turn this in for a research report, I *might* give it a C. Nothing in it can’t be found on Wikipedia.

By: poncho

poncho — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 04:50:39 +0000

I dont blame you for using the AAA discount, but I’ve never understood why Amtrak gives a discount to an auto lobby group’s members.

By: Tim Whittome

Tim Whittome — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 04:36:15 +0000

I am sure the low ridership on the second train is due to poor promotion. I have noticed this with the Leavenworth announcement – that Amtrak has a habit of just suddenly announcing things such as new service with very little preparation or buildup. They need to get the word out well in advance for these events so that people have the chance of looking forward to them and being able to prepare properly.

The other drawback of course, is the disgraceful situation throughout the approach and departure into and out of Vancouver. Manually throwing the switches seems like something that definitely needs reforming to me and correction.

By: Brian Bundridge

Brian Bundridge — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 03:14:35 +0000

Let us know what you think of it. I would guess right about now you are nearing Bellingham!

By: Brian Bundridge

Brian Bundridge — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 03:13:40 +0000

Paul,

The line is single track from Everett to Pacific Central…so roughly 90% of its trip is all within single track territory.

It is “technically” double track from Everett to Seattle with several short 1 mile segments of single track with most of those segments to be double tracked by 2016.

As for the Business Class, I would highly recommend calling and asking to speak to a manager. I have had to refund my business class tickets before and got the full amount back with no hassle. You can also hold on to that ticket and use it for a later travel date.

By: Ben Schiendelman

Ben Schiendelman — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 02:34:41 +0000

Did you see The Transport Politic? He rips it apart, basically saying they didn’t say anything of value.

By: Ben Schiendelman

Ben Schiendelman — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 02:34:00 +0000

I WONDERED IF THAT WORKED! Thanks for telling me. :)

By: Ben Schiendelman

Ben Schiendelman — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 02:33:19 +0000

You can definitely call them and get the difference back. Just call 1-800-USA-RAIL and bug them.

By: Ben Schiendelman

Ben Schiendelman — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 02:15:26 +0000

As it stands, yes. I’d expect we’ll have Olympia interested in extending that during the session, though.