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Post by Olympic Ferries on Oct 22, 2022 22:02:02 GMT -8
Was great to be onboard first train #516/#519 on return to Vancouver, BC with Amtrak Cascades nearly a whole month ago. I've heard the service has been really popular in both directions lately, so the demand is definitely there. The service is currently operating with 2 coaches and one combo cafe/business class car, so capacity is pretty low and connections to Portland are limited in both directions. Due to the retirement of Talgo 6 trains, Cascades has lots of these spare Horizon coaches that are honestly not that bad. I do doubt that we'll see a return of train #517/#518 with service to/from Portland out of Vancouver for a while, but hopefully soon. Here's the train at Pacific Central Station just before departing for the first southbound trip (which topped nearly 90 minutes late before even reaching Bellingham) Amtrak Cascades SC-44 #1401 by Jay Cassady, on Flickr Amtrak Cascades F40PH #90250 by Jay Cassady, on Flickr Amtrak Cascades Horizon Coach by Jay Cassady, on Flickr
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Dec 15, 2022 12:20:21 GMT -8
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Post by Olympic Ferries on Jan 28, 2023 10:31:07 GMT -8
Looks like Amtrak has set to resume their direct service between Vancouver, BC and Portland, OR on March 6 via Trains 517/518 - super exciting news for sure! These services will likely be run by additional Horizon equipment due to arrive in the PNW during February. Schedule is approximately as follows (times are similar to early 2020):
Train 517: Vancouver, BC - 0630 Bellingham, WA - 0830 Seattle, WA - 1030-1100 Portland, OR - 1455
Train 518: Portland, OR - 1500 Seattle, WA - 1830-1900 Bellingham, WA - 2100 Vancouver, BC - 2300
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Mar 4, 2023 14:43:37 GMT -8
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,177
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Post by Neil on Jul 29, 2023 19:17:41 GMT -8
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Post by Olympic Ferries on Dec 9, 2023 8:16:48 GMT -8
Thought it finally worth mentioning that Amtrak Cascades will finally get to operate the 6 round trip schedule + Coast Starlight between Seattle and Portland, starting December 11th, that was due to start in December 2017 and never was because of the unfortunate 501 accident. This new schedule also includes modified (more reasonably) timed arrivals and departures from Vancouver's Pacific Central Station and from Seattle to Vancouver. Train number 501 is being retired officially and will not return as originally planned. For those more particularly interested in a ride on a Talgo 8 set, operation of those trains will shift starting with the new schedule as well! The first set will operate on train 505 from Seattle to Eugene at 708a and return to Seattle from Eugene at 430p (stops PDX at 725p). The second set will rotate between Train 503 from Seattle to Portland at 552a and returning to Vancouver BC from Portland Train 518 at 210p (stops SEA at 600p) on the first day, and then the following day will operate Train 517 from Vancouver BC to Portland at 715a (stops SEA at 1210p) and returning to Seattle from Portland as Train 506 at 555p. Enjoy! All other trains on the schedule will be operated by five Horizon Coach sets as usual. Official Full Schedule is as follows: www.amtrakcascades.com/sites/default/files/amtrak-cascades-schedule-12-11-23.pdf?v=1701467218EDIT: Talgo sets are currently TBD- been difficult to determine where they are running in the schedule.
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