Amtrak Cascades Train Cancelled

[Silver Queen]

We have just found out that Amtrak has cancelled its Cascades train between Seattle and Vancouver starting May 12 until about late August. We have tickets for that train (#510) on August 2nd. Apparently they will be bussing those passengers who already have tickets. We are extremely disappointed. We really don't want to rent a car for the one-way drive, but are there any other alternatives?

 

[jdb in AZ]

We have just found out that Amtrak has cancelled its Cascades train between Seattle and Vancouver starting May 12 until about late August. We have tickets for that train (#510) on August 2nd. Apparently they will be bussing those passengers who already have tickets. We are extremely disappointed. We really don't want to rent a car for the one-way drive, but are there any other alternatives?

Did Amtrak say why they're canceling?

A one-way rental across the border can be really expensive. I hope you can find a good deal.

 

[Dug720]

How did you find out? I'm booked on August 8 and haven't heard anything from them.

 

[jetskigrl]

Why don't you want to take the Amtrak bus (if you don't want to drive)? There is also the Quick Shuttle bus www.quickcoach.com. We used them to get from Vancouver to Seattle last August and it worked out really well.

 

[Dug720]

I've googled and looked all over, and I only see that TWO trains are being cancelled on 5/12. Nothing saying anything about through August.

Knowing that summer is heavy cruise time, I'd be very surprised if they killed the service for that long.

eta: I just put in to buy tickets, and the 510 on Aug 2 still shows TRAIN and gives no indication of bus.

Again, I'd like to see the official information that they are killing what has to be a money maker for them for a season...

 

[Disneyteachers]

Interesting. We are planning this for 2016.

 

[missyp]

We have tickets for July and our train is still showing that you can buy tickets for it

 

[Dug720]

Yeah. I just looked at 5/12 - cancelled. 5/13 you can book tickets though. It looks like TUESDAY MAY 12 is a definite, and someone just extrapolated from somewhere (but we have no clue as they provided no source) further dates.

I did find an article online that OREGON service may be cancelled because of lack of funding. But that has zip to do with the Seattle-Vancouver route.

 

[missyp]

calling amtrak now

 

[Dug720]

calling amtrak now

Thanks! Please let us know what you find out! (Not that it will matter as I have to get from Vancouver to Seattle and I don't drive, but still...)

 

[missyp]

Month of May only. She said there is track work going on. She said certainly by July I shouldn't have a problem but I should double check in June to make sure.

 

[Dug720]

Month of May only. She said there is track work going on. She said certainly by July I shouldn't have a problem but I should double check in June to make sure.

Awesome! Thank you!

 

[missyp]

I will call in a few weeks to check again and will post

 

[Dug720]

I will call in a few weeks to check again and will post

Thanks! I would hope if there IS a change like that that they would notify people on the affected trains of the alternate plans. it would really stink to get to the train station and find out you were being loaded onto a bus. Barring some kind of accident or slide or something that happened like 24 hours before beyond their control.

 

[missyp]

You would hope we would be contacted. My understanding is you can't bring much luggage on the bus. That is what is making me nervous

 

[materwelon]

hmmm. we have tickets purchased for 8/9/2015, so I'll be following closely. If it has changed, I'd certainly look at the quick shuttle option.

 

[Silver Queen]

How did you find out? I'm booked on August 8 and haven't heard anything from them.

I read it on another forum and checked the Amtrak Cascades website and sure enough, there it was. We've been away for a few days in a place where

I will call in a few weeks to check again and will post

thanks for calling, missyp. We're still getting organized from being away and haven't had time to check further yet. The initial information that I saw did mention bridge work. FYI, when we originally booked our TA told us that there were actually only two trains per day when you booked with Amtrak. The other scheduled departures, although they were called Amtrak, were actually buses. That's why we made it a point to book 7:45 am, because we knew that that departure was a train. Will definitely keep an eye out for further information and developments.

 

[Jay Kat]

well this sucks. We just bought tickets for May 24, and saw nothing. Nothing about a bus. Only saw the May 12 cancellation...nothing after. This is REALLY POOR on their part if their notification isn't better than this. We bought the TRAIN, partially...not a bus.

 

[Dug720]

I read it on another forum and checked the Amtrak Cascades website and sure enough, there it was. We've been away for a few days in a place where

thanks for calling, missyp. We're still getting organized from being away and haven't had time to check further yet. The initial information that I saw did mention bridge work. FYI, when we originally booked our TA told us that there were actually only two trains per day when you booked with Amtrak. The other scheduled departures, although they were called Amtrak, were actually buses. That's why we made it a point to book 7:45 am, because we knew that that departure was a train. Will definitely keep an eye out for further information and developments.

I was on the Cascades website also after you posted and it ONLY says May 12 - and the screen to make reservations bears that out. Only the 12th has it cancelled.

 

[MelSpees]

I was on the Cascades website also after you posted and it ONLY says May 12 - and the screen to make reservations bears that out. Only the 12th has it cancelled.

Exactly. Everybody relax. I don't know where the original statement came from, but it definitely seems in error. I'm in the Seattle area and haven't heard of anything major going on.