Amtrak delays resuming Cascades route
By Terry Murry on Thursday, May 19th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
SEATTLE – Amtrak has informed the states of Washington and Oregon that the popular Amtrak Cascades train service north of Seattle will not resume until late 2022 due to staffing shortages. Positions including conductors, on-board service staff, and mechanics need to be filled.
Both the Washington State Department of Transportation and Oregon Department of Transportation expressed extreme dissatisfaction with this plan and urged Amtrak to at least begin offering service a few days a week on an interim basis until full service can resume in December 2022.
Amtrak noted it is committed to an earlier start date if employee resources allow. Progress is being made in recruiting necessary staff, however, once hired, they must complete extensive training programs before starting their jobs.
The Amtrak Cascades route serves Seattle, Edmonds, Everett, Stanwood, Mount Vernon, Bellingham and Vancouver, BC, but has been suspended since May 2020 when the Canadian border closed to non-essential travel. Daily bus service between Seattle and Vancouver, BC, and between Seattle and Bellingham, will continue to be offered through the Amtrak ticketing system.
