Thanks a million for the info!
I've never heard of Fronteras del Norte before!
BTW, I called Amtrak Guest Rewards about the coupon usage and they said YES for trip with bus connections. So they simply redeemed the coupon for 0 points/$0.
Next time I'll try the Mexican company.
You can ride BoltBus to Albany Thursday-Monday, dirt cheap fares! Three schedules a day, takes 2:20. Site:
https://www.boltbus.com/default.aspx.
Fronteras del Norte, a Mexican bus company, also runs Portland-Albany, but thier site is only in Spanish, and their drivers probably speak only Spanish. It appears they use some Euro-style non-integral buses, which can't match BoltBus's integrals.
Why should you try the Mexican company? They're not even a good company by Mexican standards, because there are Mexican lines with integral buses and bilingual websites. Plus after I figure they make FIVE stops in between Portland and Albany
I'm glad things worked out with AGR though. Enjoy the Cascades and tell us about the contracted bus connection, they don't sell individual tickets AFAIK. The only tickets I found from Portland to Albany were BoltBus and Fronteras del Norte. Not even Greyhound goes to Albany.
OT: I see you're taken Chinese trains, including the very slow high-numbered "green" trains, I've always found them the most interesting to ride. The language barrier and openable windows just made it so much more fun than the newer trains.