Seattle-Vancouver Amtrak Service To Resume In September

SEATTLE — Amtrak service to Canada will resume earlier than expected, with Amtrak now planning to restart service between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., in September, for the first time since the pandemic began.

In May, transportation officials said Amtrak lacked enough staffing to fully restore service on the Cascades route, but on Friday shared more optimistic news. Amtrak said it planned to restore all service north of Seattle about three months earlier than planned and said more details on the timeframe would be shared in the near future.

According to The Seattle Times, nearly 160,000 passengers took Amtrak Cascades trains between Seattle and Vancouver each year before the pandemic, but the passenger rail service has contended with a shortage of conductors, mechanics, and other staffers. During normal operations Amtrak Cascades connects 18 cities in the Pacific Northwest, running from Vancouver to Eugene, Ore.

Amtrak will share more specific details about resuming service in the coming weeks, and travelers with upcoming trips planned can find the latest info on the Cascades' website.