Amtrak Cascades Service discussion

[Willbridge]

Here's a look at PDX>SEA and PDX>SPK for Sunday, December 11. Gas prices are easing and we're in the low gap between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Nevertheless, trains are selling out.

Here's the PDX to SEA line-up as of Wednesday night:
0800 FB $29
0820 AT $66/SO
1020 FB $39
1045 GL $26
1200 AT SO/SO
1230 FB $31
1500 FB $31
1556 AT SO/$87/$206
1845 FB $31
1925 AT $59/$87
2320 GL $26

And here's PDX to SPK:
0800 FB $52 via Seattle
0820 AT SO/SO/SO chng at Seattle
1645 AT $58/--/$183

AT = Amtrak Coach/Business/Sleeper, FB = Flixbus includes service charge rounded, GL = Greyhound Lines.
SO = Sold Out.

Note: There is no through PDX<>VAC train as of yet. The 0820, 1200, and 1556 train departures from PDX enjoy bus connections in SEA to VAC.

Note: Greyhound Lines discontinued PDX<>SPK connections in Nov 2022. Travel on GL requires an overnight layover in Pasco or Seattle.

 

[oregon pioneer]

The way the weather has been, and with the forecast for lots of rain and snow this next week, I would not be surprised if people think the train might be safer than trying to drive.

 

[Maglev]

Those new trains are pretty short--only two coaches and a cafe/business class. Amtrak doesn't have a lot of seats to sell.

 

[GDRRiley]

Those new trains are pretty short--only two coaches and a cafe/business class. Amtrak doesn't have a lot of seats to sell.

shame amtrak still has 40+ horzions sitting in storage. cascade has needed more cars

 

[trimetbusfan]

Those new trains are pretty short--only two coaches and a cafe/business class. Amtrak doesn't have a lot of seats to sell.

View attachment 30575

Before the 516/519 round trip was added back, the cascade sets ran sign 3 coaches + bc.

(And one of the trains running with the talgo always had a much higher capacity).

 

[Willbridge]

Here's a look at PDX>SEA and PDX>SPK for Sunday, January 29th. We're entering the really low gap called February. Nevertheless, trains are selling out.

Here's the PDX to SEA line-up as of Wednesday night:
0800 FB $29
0820 AT $66/SO
1020 FB $29
1045 GL $27
1200 AT SO/SO
1230 FB $29
1500 FB $34
1556 AT SO/--/$206
1845 FB $34
1925 AT $66/SO
2320 GL Discontinued!

And here's PDX to SPK:
0800 FB $61 via Seattle
0950 GL $51 chng at Pasco
0820 AT $193/--/$249 chng at Seattle
1645 AT $58/--/$183

AT = Amtrak Coach/Business/Sleeper, FB = Flixbus includes service charge rounded, GL = Greyhound Lines.
SO = Sold Out.

Note: There is no through PDX<>VAC train as of yet. The 0820, 1200, and 1556 train departures from PDX enjoy bus connections in SEA to VAC.

 

[allanorn]

Sounds like they're going to add a PDX-VAC round trip by March 7th and Amtrak has committed to more trains by this fall:

Amtrak to Add Second Round-Trip to Vancouver BC by March 7 | U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington

The Official U.S. Senate website of Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington

www.cantwell.senate.gov

 

[Anderson]

So, one of the problems is that when Amtrak provided replacement equipment, they didn't quite provide enough equipment, and the result is the Cascades running with about one or two cars less space than they have traditionally had.

 

[danasgoodstuff]

Sounds like they're going to add a PDX-VAC round trip by March 7th and Amtrak has committed to more trains by this fall:

Amtrak to Add Second Round-Trip to Vancouver BC by March 7 | U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington

The Official U.S. Senate website of Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington

www.cantwell.senate.gov

Bookable now on the Amtrak site, same crappy schedule that gets you into Van at 11pm but still an improvement over mixed service only.

 

[zephyr17]

Bookable now on the Amtrak site, same crappy schedule that gets you into Van at 11pm but still an improvement over mixed service only.

And leaves Vancouver at the crack of dawn at 6:35 am. I kinda think the schedule is optimized around the SEA-PDX segment.

 

[trimetbusfan]

FYI, looks like tickets are already bookable for 517/518.

 

[zephyr17]

FYI, looks like tickets are already bookable for 518/519.

The train pairs are actually 517-518 (morning south/evening north) and 516-519 (morning north/evening south). 519's been running since September.

 

[trimetbusfan]

The train pairs are actually 517-518 (morning south/evening north) and 516-519 (morning north/evening south). 519's been running since September.

yeah, that was a typo..

 

[Septa9739]

With demand far outpacing availability, it seems obvious that Amtrak should send more equipment out. With Horizon’s so tight until this whole Venture situation works itself out, maybe Amfleet 1‘s could get sent out. There seem to still be enough of them. More trains is only going to shift the problem along because ridership jumps with each new frequency because the whole line becomes a better service. It’s annoying the ridership is still so low despite sellouts and NEC high fares.

 

[Cal]

There were four horizons on todays #3 arrival into LA. I think they're probably for the Surfliner, but maybe they'll be sent up to the PNW?

 

[GDRRiley]

There were four horizons on todays #3 arrival into LA. I think they're probably for the Surfliner, but maybe they'll be sent up to the PNW?

That seems strange. I would have expected to go via the empire builder if they were for Cascade. Did you happen to get any road numbers? they could be the cafe cars California was using with Arrows.

 

[Cal]

That seems strange. I would have expected to go via the empire builder if they were for Cascade. Did you happen to get any road numbers? they could be the cafe cars California was using with Arrows.

I didn't, I just saw them on the Winslow cam last night.

 

[Ray Way]

Will the Cascades Train go back to schedule of a direct route from PDX to Mount Vernon? (without changing trains in Seattle)

 

[zephyr17]

Will the Cascades Train go back to schedule of a direct route from PDX to Mount Vernon? (without changing trains in Seattle)

Yes, 518 will go from Portland to Vancouver, BC without changing trains, including intermediate stops like Mount Vernon.

There is a long, 30 minute stop at Seattle's King Street Station, though.

 

[Ray Way]

Thank you for reply Zephyr17. However, I can't find a time schedule for this. The latest schedule on Cascades website is Sept 26, 2022 and does not show the trip you mentioned. Do you know when the direct route will start?

 

[trimetbusfan]

Thank you for reply Zephyr17. However, I can't find a time schedule for this. The latest schedule on Cascades website is Sept 26, 2022 and does not show the trip you mentioned. Do you know when the direct route will start?

3/6/2023.

 

[Ray Way]

Thanks

 

[Willbridge]

Here's a look at PDX>SEA and PDX>SPK for Sunday, February 5th. We're in the really low gap called February. Nevertheless, some trains are selling out. Bus lines have dropped to the minimum for Sundays, but bus customers tend to show up closer to departure.

Here's the PDX to SEA line-up as of Wednesday night:
0800 FB $36
0820 AT $47/$87
1020 FB $36
1045 GL $31
1200 AT SO/SO
1230 FB $36
1500 FB $36
1556 AT SO/--/$206
1845 FB $36
1925 AT $53/SO

And here's PDX to SPK:
0800 FB $56 via Seattle
0820 AT $105/$145/$270 chng at Seattle
0950 GL $51 chng at Pasco
1645 AT $58/--/$183

AT = Amtrak Coach/Business/Sleeper, FB = Flixbus includes service charge rounded, GL = Greyhound Lines.
SO = Sold Out.

Note: There is no through PDX<>VAC train as of yet, planned for March. The 0820, 1200, and 1556 train departures from PDX enjoy bus connections in SEA to VAC.

 

[Willbridge]

Here's a look at PDX>SEA and PDX>SPK for Sunday, February 12th. We're in the really low gap called February. Nevertheless, some trains are selling out. Bus lines dropped to the minimum for Sunday the 5th but are creeping up for this coming the 12th.

Here's the PDX to SEA line-up as of Wednesday night:
0800 FB $46
0820 AT $66/$87
1020 FB $41
1045 GL $27
1200 AT SO/SO
1230 FB $36
1500 FB $46
1556 AT SO/--/$206
1845 FB $41
1925 AT $66/$87

And here's PDX to SPK:
0800 FB $61 via Seattle
0820 AT $193/$145/$270 chng at Seattle
(Yes, Business on this day is less than Coach. It's actually only BC for PDX>SEA.)
0950 GL $51 chng at Pasco
1645 AT $58/--/$183
AT = Amtrak Coach/Business/Sleeper, FB = Flixbus includes service charge rounded,
GL = Greyhound Lines.
SO = Sold Out.

Note: There is no through PDX<>VAC train as of yet; it's planned for March. The 0820, 1200, and 1556 train departures from PDX enjoy bus connections in SEA to VAC.

 

[Willbridge]

Here's a look at PDX>SEA and PDX>SPK for Sunday, February 26th. We're coming out of the low gap called February. Nevertheless, some trains are selling out. Bus lines seem to have survived the February 22nd merger of Flixbus and Greyhound Lines reservation systems..

Here's the PDX to SEA line-up as of Wednesday night:
0800 FB $31
0820 AT SO/SO
1020 FB $41
1045 GL $31
1200 AT SO/SO
1230 FB $56
1500 FB $41
1556 AT SO/--/$372
1845 FB $31
1925 AT SO/SO

And here's PDX to SPK:
0800 FB $87 via Seattle
0820 AT SO/SO/SO chng at Seattle
0950 GL $59 chng at Pasco
1645 AT $58/--/$224

AT = Amtrak Coach/Business/Sleeper, FB = Flixbus includes service charge rounded,
GL = Greyhound Lines includes service charge rounded.
SO = Sold Out.

Note: There is no through PDX<>VAC train as of yet; it's planned for March. The 0820, 1200, and 1556 train departures from PDX enjoy bus connections in SEA to VAC.