Taking the train to Canada? Amtrak just added a second-daily trip
Amtrak riders officially have access to a second daily train between Bellingham and Vancouver, B.C., on the Cascades route.
Beginning Monday, March 6, Amtrak customers traveling north from Bellingham can choose between a 9:57 a.m. departure and the new 9:07 p.m. departure.
Beginning March 7, Amtrak customers traveling south from Vancouver, B.C., to Bellingham can choose between the new 6:35 a.m. departure and the 5:45 p.m. departure.
If a passenger traveling from Bellingham is looking to take a round-trip in one day, they will still need to take the morning train to make the train leaving Vancouver, B.C., at 5:45 p.m.
Each ride takes about two hours. The price of a one-way ticket starts at $14 for coach seating and $37 for business class.
Amtrak recommends passengers arrive at the station 30 minutes before departure to avoid missing their train.
Amtrak suspended services along the Cascades route in 2020 due to the pandemic. The company returned services over the border on Sept. 26, 2022, with the promise of expanding services in 2023.
Amtrak planned to add a second daily service on the Cascades this year after hiring more engineers, conductors and mechanical employees, Amtrak Vice President of state-supported services Ray Lang previously told The Bellingham Herald.
Pre-pandemic, more than 750,000 annual riders utilized the route connecting the state of Washington, Oregon and British Columbia, according to previous reporting from The Herald.
This story was originally published March 5, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
