Amtrak Cascades Service discussion

[trimetbusfan]

I'm thinking of doing a Cacades turn to Tacoma tomorrow, if I can have the opportunity to ride a Talgo. Anyone know whether any trains regularly use them?

Nowadays they are on 500 and 505 daily.

 

[trimetbusfan]

From what I've heard (from a few different crews out of Portland), all of the host railroads have now signed off on the new schedule! Sounds like it should go into effect sometime in December/January.

 

[eldomtom2]

And now it's official - two new round trips between Seattle-Portland starting December 11th:

 

[trimetbusfan]

The official announcement was posted a few minutes ago with schedules:

Amtrak Cascades adds two more daily roundtrips starting Dec. 11 | WSDOT

 

[Willbridge]

The official announcement was posted a few minutes ago with schedules:

Amtrak Cascades adds two more daily roundtrips starting Dec. 11 | WSDOT

I notice that they have included the VAC<>SEA connecting buses in this edition.

 

[TC_NYC]

Good to see extra service between PDX and SEA, although I'm getting tired of seeing the snow related delays on I-90 between Ellensburg and Seattle. Wish Washington would have some more hopeful news on having the Cascades actually cross the Cascades.

 

[west point]

New schedules not yet posted . However, a few observations. Will make connections between trips to / from Vancouver to the EB much easier especially late EBs. Maybe even some of the stations that EB does not stop will make the connection at Everette. Any additional cars on any of the schedules? What equipment was added to the equipment pool? Too bad not done before Thanksgiving?

 

[UncleJeff]

Likewise... It's encouraging to see more trains, especially the after-work times. However, the route still needs after-dinner service, at least SEA <-> PDX on Fridays and Saturdays.

 

[trimetbusfan]

The new post 12/11 fares are available for booking on the Amtrak site

 

[Matthew H Fish]

The new schedule is up!
https://www.amtrakcascades.com/sites/default/files/amtrak-cascades-schedule-12-11-23.pdf
With the exception that the POINT schedules are still "TBD".
Looks like this schedule opens up a lot of possibilities!

 

[trimetbusfan]

The new schedule is up!
https://www.amtrakcascades.com/sites/default/files/amtrak-cascades-schedule-12-11-23.pdf
With the exception that the POINT schedules are still "TBD".
Looks like this schedule opens up a lot of possibilities!

Interesting... the schedule they had originally posted on their website had the POINT times. Maybe those weren't set in stone yet.

https://juckins.net/amtrak_timetables/archive/timetables_Cascades_20231211_external.pdf

 

[MARC Rider]

I noticed that they moved the morning train from Vancouver (517) to 7:15 AM from 6:35 AM. If they had done that last month, I could have had another 45 minutes of sleep!

 

[acelafan]

Interesting... the schedule they had originally posted on their website had the POINT times. Maybe those weren't set in stone yet.

https://juckins.net/amtrak_timetables/archive/timetables_Cascades_20231211_external.pdf

Interesting, I will periodically look to see if they change the "TBD" to real times again. I will have to modify my archive with this change.

 

[Matthew H Fish]

I also just noticed that on both of those schedules, the POINT stops in Woodburn and Tualatin are missing. I don't know if that will continue to be the case, or if they just are deciding whether to retain those stops.
It would be a shame if Amtrak was to lose the Tualatin Park and Ride, which stands next to Glenwood Springs and West Glacier as one of the most beautiful and historic stops in the system.

Interesting... the schedule they had originally posted on their website had the POINT times. Maybe those weren't set in stone yet.

https://juckins.net/amtrak_timetables/archive/timetables_Cascades_20231211_external.pdf

 

[trimetbusfan]

I also just noticed that on both of those schedules, the POINT stops in Woodburn and Tualatin are missing. I don't know if that will continue to be the case, or if they just are deciding whether to retain those stops.
It would be a shame if Amtrak was to lose the Tualatin Park and Ride, which stands next to Glenwood Springs and West Glacier as one of the most beautiful and historic stops in the system.

These are bus-only stops, so I wouldn't be surprised if they just forgot to include them. The booking system allows you to book tickets to these stops even after the 11th.

 

[Willbridge]

These are bus-only stops, so I wouldn't be surprised if they just forgot to include them. The booking system allows you to book tickets to these stops even after the 11th.

Yes, that timetable is produced by Washington, I believe. And there are space issues.

 

[Matthew H Fish]

Yes, that timetable is produced by Washington, I believe. And there are space issues.

I do imagine that there is a possibility they might be excluding some of those stops---and indeed, with the expiring schedule, there are a few places where it skips a spot or two. (Getting to Eugene was harder for me because one of the morning POINT schedules didn't stop in Albany).
But actually, with more trains, there are less reasons to skip stops, because a bus showing up late for a train connection will have another train coming sooner.

 

[west point]

another 2 day cancellation. the storm river strikes.

https://www.amtrak.com/alert/amtrak-service-temporarily-disrupted-between-seattle-and-portland.html

 

[Chris I]

another 2 day cancellation. the storm river strikes.

https://www.amtrak.com/alert/amtrak-service-temporarily-disrupted-between-seattle-and-portland.html

I wish they would report the slide location. I know we've had a lot of rain, but it's frustrating that this is still happening after the states have spent so much on mitigation. It would be good to know where they need to focus efforts next.

 

[trimetbusfan]

I wish they would report the slide location. I know we've had a lot of rain, but it's frustrating that this is still happening after the states have spent so much on mitigation. It would be good to know where they need to focus efforts next.

One news article said it was about 10 miles north of Vancouver

 

[west point]

Some one who know the geology needs to point out various locations that may landslide.

 

[Willbridge]

One news article said it was about 10 miles north of Vancouver

That seems like a likely area. There have been slides and a lot of water around Ridgefield and Woodland before and the rail line is below cliffs in places.

1917 - but the Shasta Limited made it through.

 

[Matthew H Fish]

New new schedules are up, and they include slightly altered bus schedules. There is also a note about "additional stops", referring the viewer to the Oregon POINT website if they really want to go to the Tualatin P&R.

 

[Metra Electric Rider]

Some one who know the geology needs to point out various locations that may landslide.

My understanding is a lot of the Puget Sound Basin (if that's a correct geological/geographic term) is prone to slides (see below) due to volcanic and glacial soils and high water saturation, however, locating tracks right on the beach below a bluff was not a great idea geologically (kind of like the Illinois Central's original beach right of way - now inland thanks to extensive landfill) - it's like locating in the median of highways (in Chicago, the salt on the roadway negatively affects the CTA routes there, plus unattractive stations).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Oso_mudslide

 

[TheMalahat]

I noticed that they moved the morning train from Vancouver (517) to 7:15 AM from 6:35 AM. If they had done that last month, I could have had another 45 minutes of sleep!

This also allows anyone along the SkyTrain system to make it to Pacific Central on weekdays, and most of the system to make it on weekends. It was really tight for SkyTrain with the 635am start, particularly on weekends.