Those of you traveling via Amtrak this Thanksgiving weekend, be glad you purchased your tickets early!
If you want to take the train to see your friends and family, Wednesday will be your best bet, however, Seattle – Portland trains are starting to sell out very fast.
Those traveling between Seattle and Portland, the 5 Cascades trains and extra Ambus are all sold out on Thanksgiving day with the Coast Starlight still available for coach passengers only.
There are 2 trains available currently for Portland to Seattle passengers. Amtrak Extra #514 and the Coast Starlight. Train #514 will most likely be the last resort train since it arrives into Seattle at 11:15pm.
Trains are available in all directions on Friday and Saturday.
On Sunday, there will be 6 scheduled Cascades trains and the Coast Starlight. Most of these trains are starting to sell out now. Make your reservations soon in order to ensure you have a spot. Sleeper service on the Coast Starlight and both sections of the Empire Builder are selling out rapidly.
For passengers going to Vancouver, BC from Seattle, WA, all trains and Ambus’ service is available throughout the entire weekend.
For passengers going to Seattle, WA from Vancouver, BC, all trains and Ambus service is available throughout the entire weekend. Business class is sold out on Train #513 at this time however.
For passengers going East to Spokane, WA, both Empire Builder’s (Seattle and Portland Sections) are available throughout the entire weekend.
For passengers going West to Seattle, WA, both Empire Builder’s (Seattle and Portland sections) are available. Lower level coach seating is sold out on Train # 7 and #27 at this time however.
For those that haven’t made reservations, go to http://www.amtrak.com and follow the easy steps. It takes no more than 5 to 10 minutes and you can pick your ticket up at the station or have it mailed to you. It would probably be best if you pick it up at the QuikTrak kiosk at the station.
Extra train equipment will be a mixture of Horizon and Amfleet coaches with a snack car available. The cars will be later used for the Alki Tours Leavenworth Snow Trains.
Seems like that extra train, #514, is mostly an equipment move that they are just trying to make a little money off of. I can’t imagine anyone wanting to get in at around midnight on Thanksgiving night.
Speaking of, looking at the Amtrak Cascades website and schedule, I don’t see any mention of an extra holiday train. Is there someplace I’m not seeing it? Does it only show up on the reservations page?
the 514 you speak of is on Wednesday the 25th so its definitely a viable option for anyone who wants to see their family in Seattle on thanksgiving day. there are no extra trains on thanksgiving day itself since presumably everyone will already be at their destination already that day.
Two on Wednesday, Nov. 25:
Train 511 — Departing Seattle at 1:30 p.m.; arriving in Portland at 5:45 p.m.
Train 514 — Departing Portland at 7 p.m.; arriving in Seattle at 11:15 p.m.
Two on Thursday, Nov. 26:
Train 502 — Departing Portland at 9 a.m.; arriving in Seattle at 1:15 p.m.
Train 505 — Departing Seattle at 8:30 a.m.; arriving in Portland at 12:45 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 27: No schedule changes.
Two on Saturday, Nov. 28:
Train 502 — Departing Portland at 9 a.m.; arriving in Seattle at 1:15 p.m.
Train 511 — Departing Seattle at 1:30 p.m.; arriving in Portland at 5:45 p.m.
Four on Sunday, Nov. 29:
Train 511 — Departing Seattle at 1:30 p.m.; arriving in Portland at 5:45 p.m.
Train 512 — Departing Portland at 1:45 p.m.; arriving in Seattle at 6 p.m.
Train 514 — Departing Seattle at 7 p.m.; arriving in Portland at 11:15 p.m.
Train 515 — Departing Portland at 7 p.m.; arriving in Seattle at 11:15 p.m.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2010313009_amtrak20m.html
Are those train numbers correct for 514/515 on Sunday. It’s odd that the 514 on Wednesday has different endpoints than the 514 on Sunday. Also that an even numbered train is going southbound and vice-versa.
hmm you’re right. the 514 and 515 on sunday are wrong. northbound is always even. i glanced over it on the time website and pasted it here. 514 and 515 are swapped for sunday only.
I’ve got a ticket on train #505 Southbound Thursday Morning. I’m guessing this is a Amfleet/Horizon train as the run time is a bit longer than the Talgo gear and it isn’t on the normal timetable. Dang if I’d known that I would have taken the Coast Starlight and slept in a bit later (or just gotten up early enough for train #501).
BTW it looks like there are still seats between Seattle and Olympia on all trains on Thursday though it appears all trains are sold out between Seattle and Olympia on Wednesday except train #501 and #11 (Coast Starlight).
Warren Yee has photos of the Stanwood Station opening this morning on the All Aboard WA page on Facebook.
yeah any of the extra trains (502, 505, 511, 512, 514, 515) will be amfleet/horizon equipment. speaking of which we still haven’t gotten any in Seattle. haven’t heard a hard fast date on when they’ll get up here. this week is gonna be crazy. show up early, stations are gonna be a nightmare.
I’ll be catching the Amtrak bus to the east on Monday morning.