Amtrak Cascades Addition Coming Soon

Loyal SFOT blog reader Tim Vanderheide of Rosedale, BC wrote to the Minister of Public Safety recently after it was reported that the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) had denied a request to add a second Amtrak Cascades train to Seattle and on to Portland. It now appears that with the 2010 Games on the way, the Ministry and CBSA are changing some things...

"The CBSA recognizes the importance of increasing its operational capacity during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Agency, therefore, has advised Amtrak officials that it will provide service for a second train, without cost, for a suitable period of time immmediately before, during and for a short time after the 2010 Games. I would like to assure you that the CBSA is committed to working with all ceoncerned parties to find a permanent service delivery solution to address the needs of this additional route."

You can read the full letter by clicking this JPG image


This is agreat start, but I personally would love to see a station stop somewhere in the south Fraser along with more trains. Right now I drive my car from the border about 15 minutes to a secure lot in Fairhaven, WA, instead of driving to Vancouver. In Vancouver I would be paying more money for my train ticket, and parking at the Via Rail station near Main Street. I will do this drill again next week when I take the Amtrak Cascades to Portland, OR.

Thanks for sharing this information Tom!