View source for Amtrak Cascades

{{Short description|Amtrak service between Vancouver, BC, and Eugene, OR}}
{{Italic title prefixed|6}}
{{For multi|the former Southern Pacific train|Cascade (train)|the Great Northern Railway train|Cascadian (train)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox rail service
| box_width   = 
| name        = Amtrak ''Cascades''
| logo        = AmtrakCascadesLogo.svg
| logo_width  = 300px
| image       = Amtrak Cascades arriving at Vancouver WA, August 2021.jpg
| image_width = 300px
| caption     = A ''Cascades'' trainset in [[Vancouver, Washington]], 2021
| type        = [[Inter-city rail]]
| status      = <!-- Operating -->
| locale      = [[Pacific Northwest]]
| predecessor = [[Burlington Northern Railroad|BN]]/[[Union Pacific Railroad|UP]]/[[Southern Pacific Railroad|SP]] corridor trains
| first       = {{Start date|1971|05|01}}
| last        = 
| operator    = [[Amtrak]], in partnership with [[Washington State Department of Transportation|Washington]] and [[Oregon Department of Transportation|Oregon]] Departments of Transportation
| website     = {{Official URL}}
| ridership2  = {{Amtrak route ridership|Cascades}}
| start       = [[Pacific Central Station|Vancouver]], British Columbia
| stops       = 18
| end         = [[Eugene–Springfield station|Eugene]], Oregon
| distance    = {{Convert|467|mi|abbr=out}}
| journeytime = 
| frequency   = 
| trainnumber = 500–519
| class       = Coach Class<br />Business Class
| access      = Fully accessible
| seating     = 4 across in coach class <br/>3 across in business class
| catering    = Café car, lounge car
| baggage     = Overhead racks, checked baggage available at selected stations
| stock       = [[Siemens Charger]]<br />[[Talgo#Talgo 8|Talgo Series 8]]<br />[[Horizon (railcar)|Horizon]]
| gauge       = {{Track gauge|ussg|allk=on}}
| speed       = {{Convert|79|mph|abbr=on}} ({{Tooltip|top|top speed}})
| owners      = [[Union Pacific Railroad|UP]], [[BNSF Railway|BNSF]],  [[Sound Transit]]<ref name=wsdot1>{{cite web|title=How We Manage the Trains|url=https://wsdot.wa.gov/travel/passenger-rail/how-we-manage-trains |access-date=December 18, 2023|publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation}}</ref>
| map         = {{Amtrak Cascades}}
| map_state   = collapsed
}}

The '''Amtrak ''Cascades''''' is a [[passenger train]] route in the [[Pacific Northwest]], operated by [[Amtrak]] in partnership with the U.S. states of [[Washington (state)|Washington]] and [[Oregon]]. It is named after the [[Cascade Range|Cascade mountain range]] that the route parallels. The {{convert|467|mi|adj=mid}} corridor runs from [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]], through [[Seattle]], Washington, and [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]], Oregon, to [[Eugene, Oregon|Eugene]], Oregon.

{{As of|2023|December}}, seven round trips operate along the corridor each day: one Vancouver–Seattle, one Vancouver–Seattle–Portland, three Seattle–Portland, and two Seattle–Portland–Eugene. No train travels the entire length of the corridor. For trains that do not travel directly to Vancouver or Eugene, connections are available on [[Amtrak Thruway]] bus services.<ref name="Timetable">{{cite web |date=September 26, 2022 |title=Amtrak Cascades Schedule |url=https://www.amtrakcascades.com/sites/default/files/amtrak-train-schedule-12-12-22.pdf |access-date=September 26, 2022 |publisher=[[Amtrak]]}}</ref> Additionally, Amtrak Thruway services offer connections to other destinations in British Columbia, [[Idaho]], Oregon, and Washington not on the rail corridor.

In the fiscal year 2017, ''Cascades'' was Amtrak's eighth-busiest route with a total annual ridership of over 810,000.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/statefactsheets/WASHINGTON17.pdf|title=Amtrak Fact Sheet, Fiscal Year 2017 - State of Washington|date=November 2017|publisher=[[Amtrak]]|access-date=March 31, 2019}}</ref> In fiscal year 2018, [[farebox recovery ratio]] for the train was 63%.<ref name="FY2015">{{cite web|url=https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2019/03/07/AmtrakCascadesAnnualPerformanceReport2018.pdf|title=Amtrak Cascades: 2018 Performance Data Report|date=February 2019|website=Washington State Department of Transportation|publisher=[[WSDOT]]|access-date=March 31, 2019|archive-date=October 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024171633/https://wsdot.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2019/03/07/AmtrakCascadesAnnualPerformanceReport2018.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> On-time performance in FY2021 was 58.7%.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=October 26, 2021|title=September 2021 Monthly Performance Report|url=https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/monthlyperformancereports/2021/Amtrak-Monthly-Performance-Report-September-2021.pdf#page=5|url-status=live|access-date=January 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207122114/https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/monthlyperformancereports/2021/Amtrak-Monthly-Performance-Report-September-2021.pdf |archive-date=December 7, 2021 }}</ref>

== History ==
[[File:THE MOUNT RAINIER PASSENGER TRAIN BEING DIRECTED ENROUTE FROM SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, TO PORTLAND, OREGON. UNLIKE MOST... - NARA - 556126.jpg|thumb|left|The ''Mount Rainier'' in 1974. Note the [[dome car]] and coaches still bearing pre-[[Burlington Northern Railroad|Burlington Northern]] liveries.]]
===Prior service===
Passenger train service between Seattle and Portland—the core of what became the ''Cascades'' corridor—was operated as a joint partnership by the [[Northern Pacific Railway|Northern Pacific]], [[Great Northern Railway (U.S.)|Great Northern]], and [[Union Pacific]] from 1925 to 1970, with the three railroads cross-honoring tickets on their Seattle-Portland routes. When Great Northern and Northern Pacific were folded into the [[Burlington Northern Railroad|Burlington Northern]] in 1970, the reconfigured partnership continued to operate the Seattle-Portland service until the creation of Amtrak in 1971.<ref>The official guide of the Railways and Steam Navigation Lines of the U.S., Rand McNally & Company, May 1966. The guide shows that the service was operated jointly, some trains using Seattle's [[King Street Station]] and the rest Seattle's [[Seattle Union Station|Union Station]].</ref>  Service between Vancouver, BC, and Seattle was provided via the Great Northern/Burlington Northern ''[[International (GN train)|International]],'' and between Portland and Eugene by [[Southern Pacific Transportation Company|Southern Pacific]].
===Amtrak era===
[[File:Arrival and departure board at King Street Station Seattle 1981.jpg|thumb|Departure board at Seattle's [[King Street Station (Seattle)|King Street Station]] in 1981, listing the ''Mount Rainier'', the ''[[Pacific International]]'', and other since-discontinued trains]]
Amtrak took over intercity passenger rail operations from the private railroads on May 1, 1971. Initial service on the Seattle–Portland portion of the corridor consisted of three daily round trips–one long-distance train running all the way to [[San Diego]], along with two corridor trains inherited from Burlington Northern. There was no corridor service south to Eugene, and no service to the Canadian border at all. The trains were unnamed until November 1971, when the two corridor trains were named the ''Mount Rainier'' and ''Puget Sound'' and the long-distance train became the ''[[Coast Starlight]]''.<ref name="AllAboard">{{All Aboard Amtrak|pages=156–157}}</ref>

Passenger rail service to Vancouver, BC, was restarted on July 17, 1972, with the inauguration of the Seattle–Vancouver ''[[Pacific International]]'', which operated with a [[dome car]] (unusual for short runs).<ref>Zimmermann, Karl. ''Amtrak at Milepost 10''. Park Forest IL: PTJ Publishing, 1981.</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite book|title=Amtrak – the first decade|last=Goldberg|first=Bruce|publisher=Alan Books|year=1981|location=Silver Spring, MD|pages=16–17|oclc=7925036}}</ref> The train was Amtrak's first international service.<ref name=":3" />

The next major change to service in the corridor came on June 7, 1977, when Amtrak introduced the long-distance ''[[Pioneer (train)|Pioneer]]'' between Seattle, Portland and [[Salt Lake City, Utah]]. To maintain the same level of service between Seattle and Portland, the ''Puget Sound'' was eliminated, and the schedule of the ''Mount Rainier'' was shifted.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timetables.org/browse/?group=19770501&st=0001|title=National Train Timetables|publisher=Amtrak|date=May 1, 1977|access-date=August 18, 2013}}</ref>{{rp|59}}

The corridor expanded south of Portland to Eugene on August 3, 1980, with the addition of the ''[[Willamette Valley (train)|Willamette Valley]]'', which operated with two daily round trips, financially subsidized by the State of Oregon.<ref name="AllAboard" /> The ''Pacific International'' and ''Willamette Valley'' struggled to attract riders and were discontinued in September 1981 and December 1981, respectively.<ref name="rg19811231">{{cite news | title=Slide closes rail line near Oakridge | newspaper=[[The Register-Guard]] | date=December 29, 1981 | page=1A | first=Dan | last=Wyant | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=F_VVAAAAIBAJ&pg=6314,7428455}}</ref>

This left three trains on the Seattle–Portland corridor: the regional ''Mount Rainier'' and the long-distance ''Pioneer'' and ''Coast Starlight.'' This level of service would remain unchanged for 13 years.

=== Expansion in the 1990s ===
[[File:Northwest Talgo at Portland Union Station, August 1994.jpg|thumb|right|The ''Northwest Talgo'' at Portland in August 1994]]
[[File:Amtrakcascades.jpg|thumb|Amtrak ''Cascades'' consist in [[Portland, Oregon]], with NPCU at the head of the train.]]

In 1994, Amtrak began a six-month trial run of modern [[Talgo]] equipment over the Seattle–Portland corridor. Amtrak named this service ''Northwest Talgo'', and announced that it would institute a second, conventional train on the corridor (supplementing the ''Mount Rainier'') once the trial concluded.<ref>{{cite news |last=Partlow |first=Bob |date=January 30, 1994 |title=High-speed train headed to Northwest |page=A1 |work=[[The Olympian]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-olympian-high-speed-train-headed-to/144596400/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |accessdate=April 1, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Even |first=Jan |date=June 12, 1994 |title=Seattle-Portland route: Ride into the future aboard Talgo train |page=K5 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> Regular service began on April 1, 1994.<ref>{{cite press release |date=April 1, 2024 |title=Celebrating 30 years of Amtrak Cascades passenger rail service |url=https://wsdot.wa.gov/about/news/2024/celebrating-30-years-amtrak-cascades-passenger-rail-service |publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation |accessdate=April 1, 2024}}</ref>

Looking toward the future, Amtrak did an exhibition trip from Vancouver through to Eugene. Amtrak replaced the ''Northwest Talgo'' with the ''Mount Adams'' on October 30.<ref>{{cite news | title=Talgo 200 tantalizes train fans | newspaper=[[Eugene Register-Guard]] | date=March 31, 1994 | access-date=December 17, 2011 | first=Harry | last=Esteve | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7FBWAAAAIBAJ&pg=3309,6991857}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | work=National Timetable | publisher=Amtrak | date=October 30, 1994 | access-date=December 17, 2011 | title=Pacific Northwest Corridor | url=http://www.timetables.org/full.php?group=19941030n&item=0035}}</ref> At the same time, the state of Oregon and Amtrak agreed to extend the ''Mount Rainier'' to Eugene through June 1995, with Oregon paying two-thirds of the $1.5&nbsp;million subsidy.<ref>{{cite news | title=Seattle in six, and a nap, too | first=Don | last=Bishoff | newspaper=[[Eugene Register-Guard]] | date=November 2, 1994 | access-date=December 17, 2011 | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LFBWAAAAIBAJ&pg=6082,261376}}</ref>

Service to Canada returned on May 26, 1995, when the ''Mount Baker International'' began running between Vancouver and Seattle. The state of Washington leased Talgo equipment similar to the demonstrator from 1994.<ref>{{cite news | title=For Riders, Vancouver Train's Just the Ticket | newspaper=The News Tribune | location=Tacoma, Washington| date=May 27, 1995 | access-date=December 17, 2011 | url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NewsLibrary&p_multi=TNTB&d_place=TNTB&p_theme=newslibrary2&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F11B7D1B97D48D9&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=TRAVEL ADVISORY; Amtrak Resumes Seattle-Vancouver Run | newspaper=[[The New York Times]] | date=June 11, 1995 | access-date=December 17, 2011 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/11/travel/travel-advisory-amtrak-resumes-seattle-vancouver-run.html}}</ref> The ''Mount Rainier'' was renamed the ''Cascadia'' in October 1995; the new name reflected the joint Oregon–Washington operations of the train.<ref>{{cite web | work=National Timetable | date=January 1996 | access-date=December 17, 2011 | title=Pacific Northwest Corridor | publisher=Amtrak | url=http://www.timetables.org/full.php?group=19951029nr&item=0034}}</ref>

A third Seattle–Portland corridor train began in the spring of 1998 with leased Talgo equipment, replacing the discontinued long-distance ''Pioneer''. The other Seattle–Portland/Eugene trains began using Talgo trainsets as well, while the Seattle-Vancouver train used conventional equipment. In preparation for the Vancouver route receiving Talgo equipment as well, Amtrak introduced the temporary ''Pacific Northwest'' brand for all four trains, dropping individual names, effective with the spring 1998 timetable.

===Amtrak ''Cascades''===
[[File:Amtrak Cascades in Vancouver, BC.jpg|thumb|Amtrak ''Cascades'' travels by [[Commercial–Broadway station]] in Vancouver, British Columbia]]
Amtrak announced the new Amtrak ''Cascades'' brand in the fall 1998 timetable; the new equipment began operation in December.<ref>{{cite news | title=Budget boosts trains service | first=Don | last=Bishoff | date=December 2, 1998 | access-date=December 17, 2011 | newspaper=[[Eugene Register-Guard]] | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=J1dWAAAAIBAJ&pg=6030,280432}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Practical Traveler: On Amtrak, Full Speed Ahead | first=Betsy | last=Wade | author-link=Betsy Wade | newspaper=[[The New York Times]] | date=December 13, 1998 | access-date=December 17, 2011 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/12/13/travel/practical-traveler-on-amtrak-full-speed-ahead.html?src=pm}}</ref> The full ''Cascades'' brand was rolled out on January 12, 1999, following a six-week delay due to an issue with the seat designs on the Talgo trainsets.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bailey |first=Mike |date=January 15, 1999 |title=No more clickety-clack: Fast track for Amtrak |page=E1 |work=[[The Columbian]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Hicks |first=Matt |date=January 9, 1999 |title=Don't miss the trains: Talgo models make area stop |page=C1 |work=[[Statesman Journal]] |location=Salem, Oregon |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/18518799/cascades_debut/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |access-date=March 21, 2018}}</ref> Amtrak extended a second train to Eugene in late 2000.

From the mid-1990s to the May 12, 2008, Amtrak system timetable, full service dining was available on trains going north out of Seattle's [[King Street Station]] to Vancouver. The southern trains to Portland briefly had full dining services until the May 16, 1999, system timetable.

In 2004, the ''Rail Plus'' program began, allowing cross-ticketing between [[Sound Transit]]'s [[Sounder commuter rail]] and Amtrak between Seattle and Everett on some ''Cascades'' trains.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.soundtransit.org/About-Sound-Transit/News-and-events/News-releases/News-release-archive/The-New-Math-Sound-Transit--Amtrak-Cascades--RailPlus |title=The New Math: Sound Transit + Amtrak Cascades = RailPlus |publisher=Sound Transit |date=September 17, 2004}}</ref>

The corridor continued to grow, with another Portland–Seattle train arriving in 2006, and the long-awaited through service between Vancouver, BC and Portland, eliminating the need to transfer in Seattle, beginning on August 19, 2009<ref>{{cite press release |title=Second Amtrak ''Cascades'' train between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C to begin service August 19, 2009 |url=http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/BlobServer?blobcol=urldata&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobkey=id&blobwhere=1249200498835&blobheader=application%2Fpdf&blobheadername1=Content-disposition&blobheadervalue1=attachment;filename=Amtrak_ATK-09-060_Amtrak_Cascades_2nd_RT_Pilot.pdf |publisher=Amtrak |date=August 12, 2009 |access-date=July 22, 2010}}</ref> as a pilot project to determine whether a train permanently operating on the route would be feasible. 
With the Canadian federal government requesting Amtrak to pay for border control costs for the second daily train, the train was scheduled to be discontinued on October 31, 2010. However, Washington State and Canadian officials held discussions in an attempt to continue the service,<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Washington state working to keep second Vancouver, B.C., Amtrak train|url=http://trn.trains.com/en/Railroad%20News/News%20Wire/2010/09/Washington%20state%20working%20to%20keep%20second%20Vancouver%20BC%20Amtrak%20train.aspx|magazine=[[Trains (magazine)|Trains magazine]]|access-date=September 23, 2010|date=September 22, 2010}}</ref> which resulted in the Canadian government permanently waiving the fee.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/second-daily-amtrak-train-to-vancouver-bc-made-permanent/|title=Second daily Amtrak train to Vancouver, B.C., made permanent|newspaper=[[The Seattle Times]]|date=August 17, 2011|access-date=July 7, 2021}}</ref>

Two additional round trips between Seattle and Portland were added on December 18, 2017; an early morning departure from each city and a late evening return, enabling same-day business travel between the two cities.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/news/2017/10/03/wsdot-adds-two-daily-amtrak-cascades-roundtrips-starting-dec18|title=WSDOT adds two daily Amtrak Cascades roundtrips starting Dec. 18|last1=Matkin|first1=Janet|last2=LaBoe|first2=Barbara|date=October 3, 2017|publisher=[[Washington State Department of Transportation]]|access-date=October 4, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.seattletransitblog.com/2016/07/07/amtrak-cascades-looks-toward-2017/ |title=Amtrak Cascades Looks Toward 2017 |last=Shaner |first=Zach |publisher=Seattle Transit Blog |date=July 7, 2016 |access-date=May 20, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Pittman|first1=Travis|title=New Amtrak Cascades route starts Monday|url=http://www.king5.com/article/news/local/new-amtrak-cascades-route-starts-monday/281-500155673|access-date=December 17, 2017|work=[[KING-TV|KING 5 News]]|date=December 17, 2017}}{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> On the first day of service of the new timetable, a [[2017 Washington train derailment|train derailed]] outside of DuPont, Washington, south of [[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Chokshi|first1=Niraj|title=Amtrak Passenger Train Derails in Washington State|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/18/us/amtrak-derailment-washington.html?|website=The New York Times|date=December 18, 2017}}</ref> Service resumed using the old timetable without the additional round trips.

===COVID-19 pandemic===

In March 2020, ''Amtrak Cascades'' service north of Seattle was suspended indefinitely after all non-essential travel across the [[Canada–United States border]] was restricted in response to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite press release |publisher=Amtrak|date=March 24, 2020 |title=Service Adjustments Due to Coronavirus|url=https://www.amtrak.com/alert/nec-modified-schedule.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325190328/https://www.amtrak.com/alert/nec-modified-schedule.html |archive-date=March 25, 2020 |access-date=March 25, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Dickson|first=Jane|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-trump-confirms-canada-us-to-close-border-to-non-essential-travel/|title=Canada-U.S. border to close except for essential supply chains|date=March 18, 2020|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=March 18, 2020}}</ref> Amtrak crews ran practice trips between Seattle and Vancouver, BC, in February 2022, and service between those two cities resumed on September 26, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weichel |first=Andrew |date=September 26, 2022 |title=Amtrak Cascades service returns to Vancouver for first time in years |url=https://bc.ctvnews.ca/amtrak-cascades-service-returns-to-vancouver-for-first-time-in-years-1.6085197 |access-date=September 27, 2022 |website=[[CTV Vancouver]] |language=en}}</ref> The round trip between Portland and Vancouver resumed on March 7, 2023, restoring the second Seattle–Vancouver trip that existed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{cite news |last=Girgis |first=Lauren |date=March 6, 0223 |title=Amtrak Cascades restores full daily service to Vancouver, B.C. |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/amtrak-cascades-restores-full-daily-service-to-vancouver-b-c/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=March 7, 2023}}</ref> Seattle–Portland service expanded to six round trips on December 11, 2023, adding the two additional round trips between Seattle and Portland originally intended to start in 2017.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://komonews.com/news/local/amtrak-cascades-to-add-a-second-trip-to-vancouver-in-march-british-columbia-canada-seattle-washington-portland-oregon |title=Amtrak to add 2nd trip between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. |newspaper=KOMO News |date=January 13, 2023 |first=Alex |last=Bartick |access-date=January 13, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Amtrak Cascades adds two more daily roundtrips starting Dec. 11 |url=https://media.amtrak.com/2023/11/amtrak-cascades-adds-two-more-daily-roundtrips-starting-dec-11/ |website=Amtrak |date=November 30, 2023 |access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=New Amtrak round trips from Seattle to Portland begin operation |url=https://www.kptv.com/2023/12/11/new-amtrak-round-trips-seattle-portland-begin-operation/ |access-date=11 December 2023 |work=KPTV |date=11 December 2023}}</ref>

==Route==
[[File:Amtrak_Cascades.svg|thumb|Amtrak Cascades route map]]

===Stations and Connections===
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|+Amtrak ''Cascades'' stations
!State/Province
!City
!Station
!Connections
|-
|[[British Columbia]]
|[[Vancouver]]
|[[Pacific Central Station]]
|{{Unbulleted list
|{{rint|ca|via}} [[Via Rail]]: ''[[The Canadian]]''
|{{rint|us|amtrakbus}} [[Amtrak Thruway]]
|{{rint|us|greyhound}} [[Greyhound Lines]]
|{{rint|bus}}: BC Ferries Connector, [[Ebus (intercity bus)|Ebus]], [[FlixBus]], Rider Express Transportation, [[YVR Skylynx]]
|{{rint|vancouver|expo}} [[Expo Line (SkyTrain)|Expo Line]]
|{{rint|vancouver|bus}} [[TransLink (British Columbia)|TransLink]]: 3, 8, 19, 22, 23
}}
|-
| rowspan="12" |[[Washington (state)|Washington]]
|[[Bellingham, Washington|Bellingham]]
|[[Fairhaven Station]]
|{{Unbulleted list
|{{rint|us|greyhound}} [[Greyhound Lines]]
|{{bus icon}} [[Whatcom Transportation Authority]]
}}
|-
|[[Mount Vernon, Washington|Mount Vernon]]
|[[Skagit Station]]
|{{Unbulleted list
|{{rint|us|greyhound}} [[Greyhound Lines]]
|{{bus icon}} Local Bus: [[Skagit Transit]], [[Whatcom Transportation Authority]], [[Island Transit (Washington)|Island Transit]]
}}
|-
|[[Stanwood, Washington|Stanwood]]
|[[Stanwood station|Stanwood]]
|{{bus icon}} Local Bus: [[Community Transit]], [[Island Transit (Washington)|Island Transit]]
|-
|[[Everett, Washington|Everett]]
|[[Everett Station|Everett]]
|{{Unbulleted list
|{{rint|us|amtrak}} [[Amtrak]]: ''[[Empire Builder]]''
|{{rint|us|amtrakbus}} [[Amtrak Thruway]]
|{{rint|seattle|sounder}} [[Sounder commuter rail|Sounder]]: {{rint|seattle|N Line}} [[N Line (Sound Transit)|N Line]]
|{{rint|us|greyhound}} [[Greyhound Lines]]
|{{rint|bus}} [[Northwestern Stage Lines|Northwestern Trailways]]
|{{rint|bus}} [[ST Express]]
|{{bus icon}} Local Bus: [[Community Transit]], [[Everett Transit]], [[Skagit Transit]], [[Island Transit (Washington)|Island Transit]]
}}
|-
|[[Edmonds, Washington|Edmonds]]
|[[Edmonds station (Washington)|Edmonds]]
|{{Unbulleted list
|{{rint|us|amtrak}} [[Amtrak]]: ''[[Empire Builder]]''
|{{rint|us|amtrakbus}} [[Amtrak Thruway]]
|{{rint|seattle|sounder}} [[Sounder commuter rail|Sounder]]: {{rint|seattle|N Line}} [[N Line (Sound Transit)|N Line]]
|{{rint|ferry}} [[Edmonds-Kingston Ferry]]
|{{rint|bus}} [[Northwestern Stage Lines|Northwestern Trailways]]
|{{bus icon}} [[Community Transit]]
}}
|-
|[[Seattle]]
|[[King Street Station]]
|{{Unbulleted list
|{{rint|us|amtrak}} [[Amtrak]]: ''[[Coast Starlight]]'', ''[[Empire Builder]]''
|{{rint|us|amtrakbus}} [[Amtrak Thruway]]
|{{rint|seattle|sounder}} [[Sounder commuter rail|Sounder]]: {{rint|seattle|N Line}} [[N Line (Sound Transit)|N Line]], {{rint|seattle|S Line}} [[S Line (Sound Transit)|S Line]]
|{{rint|seattle|link}} [[Link Light Rail]]: {{rint|seattle|1 Line}}
|[[First Hill Streetcar]]
|{{rint|bus}} [[ST Express]]
|{{bus icon}} Local Bus: [[Community Transit]], [[King County Metro]]
}}
|-
|[[Tukwila, Washington|Tukwila]]
|[[Tukwila station|Tukwila]]
|{{Unbulleted list
|{{rint|seattle|sounder}} [[Sounder commuter rail|Sounder]]: {{rint|seattle|S Line}} [[S Line (Sound Transit)|S Line]]
|{{bus icon}} [[King County Metro]]
}}
|-
|[[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]]
|[[Tacoma Dome Station]]
|{{Unbulleted list
|{{rint|us|amtrak}} [[Amtrak]]: ''[[Coast Starlight]]''
|{{rint|seattle|sounder}} [[Sounder commuter rail|Sounder]]: {{rint|seattle|S Line}} [[S Line (Sound Transit)|S Line]]
{{rint|seattle|link}} [[Link Light Rail]]: {{rint|seattle|T Line}}
|{{rint|us|greyhound}} [[Greyhound Lines]]
|{{rint|bus}} [[ST Express]]
|{{bus icon}} Local bus: [[Intercity Transit]], [[Pierce Transit]]
}}
|-
|[[Olympia, Washington|Olympia]]/[[Lacey, Washington|Lacey]]
|[[Centennial Station]]
|{{Unbulleted list
|{{rint|us|amtrak}} [[Amtrak]]: ''[[Coast Starlight]]''
|{{bus icon}} [[Intercity Transit]]
}}
|-
|[[Centralia, Washington|Centralia]]
|[[Centralia station (Washington)|Centralia]]
|{{Unbulleted list
|{{rint|us|amtrak}} [[Amtrak]]: ''[[Coast Starlight]]''
|{{bus icon}} [[Lewis County Transit]]
}}
|-
|[[Kelso, Washington|Kelso]]/[[Longview, Washington|Longview]]
|[[Kelso Multimodal Transportation Center|Kelso/Longview]]
|{{Unbulleted list
|{{rint|us|amtrak}} [[Amtrak]]: ''[[Coast Starlight]]''
|{{rint|us|greyhound}} [[Greyhound Lines]]
|{{bus icon}} [[RiverCities Transit]]
}}
|-
|[[Vancouver, Washington|Vancouver, WA]]
|[[Vancouver station (Washington)|Vancouver, WA]]
|{{rint|us|amtrak}} [[Amtrak]]: ''[[Coast Starlight]]'', ''[[Empire Builder]]''
|-
| rowspan="5" |[[Oregon]]
|[[Portland, Oregon|Portland]]
|[[Portland Union Station]]
|{{Unbulleted list
|{{rint|us|amtrak}} [[Amtrak]]: ''[[Coast Starlight]]'', ''[[Empire Builder]]''
|{{rint|portland|MAX}} [[MAX Light Rail]]: {{rint|portland|Orange}} [[MAX Orange Line|Orange Line]], {{rint|portland|Yellow}} [[MAX Yellow Line|Yellow Line]], {{rint|portland|Green}} [[MAX Green Line|Green Line]]
|{{rint|portland|streetcar}} [[Portland Streetcar]]
|{{rint|bus}}: [[Sunset Empire Transportation District|The Bus]], Central Oregon Breeze, [[FlixBus]], Pacific Crest Lines, [[POINT Intercity Bus Service|POINT]], Shuttle Oregon, [[Tillamook County Transportation District|The Wave]]
|{{rint|portland|trimet}} [[Trimet|Trimet Bus]]
}}
|-
|[[Oregon City, Oregon|Oregon City]]
|[[Oregon City station|Oregon City]]
|
|-
|[[Salem, Oregon|Salem]]
|[[Salem station (Oregon)|Salem]]
|{{Unbulleted list
|{{rint|us|amtrak}} [[Amtrak]]: ''[[Coast Starlight]]''
|{{rint|us|greyhound}} [[Greyhound Lines]]
|{{rint|bus}}: [[POINT Intercity Bus Service|POINT]], Shuttle Oregon, [[Tillamook County Transportation District|The Wave]]
|{{bus icon}} [[Cherriots]]
}}
|-
|[[Albany, Oregon|Albany]]
|[[Albany station (Oregon)|Albany]]
|{{Unbulleted list
|{{rint|us|amtrak}} [[Amtrak]]: ''[[Coast Starlight]]''
|{{rint|bus}} [[POINT Intercity Bus Service|POINT]]
|{{bus icon}} Local Bus: Albany Transit System, Benton Area Transit, Linn-Benton Loop, Linn Shuttle
}}
|-
|[[Eugene, Oregon|Eugene]]
|[[Eugene station (Amtrak)|Eugene–Springfield]]
|{{Unbulleted list
|{{rint|us|amtrak}} [[Amtrak]]: ''[[Coast Starlight]]''
|{{rint|bus}}: [[POINT Intercity Bus Service|POINT]], Pacific Crest Bus Lines
|{{bus icon}} Local Bus: [[Lane Transit District]], Link Lane
}}
|}

==Ridership==
Total ridership for 2008 was 774,421, the highest annual ridership since inception of the service in 1993.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation|title=Amtrak Cascades Annual Ridership Report 2008|url=http://seattletransitblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/amtrak_cascades_annual_ridership_report.pdf|access-date=December 17, 2011}}</ref>  Ridership declined in 2009 to 740,154<ref name="FY2010">{{cite web|date=October 11, 2010|title=Amtrak sets new ridership record, thanks passengers for taking the train (link to PDF download)|url=http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer/Page/1237608337144/1237608345018?passedMonth=October&passedYear=2010|access-date=November 4, 2010|publisher=Amtrak}}</ref> but rose 13% in [[fiscal year]] 2010 to 836,499 riders,<ref name="FY2010" /> and to 847,709 riders in 2011.

Ridership declined steadily between 2011 and 2015, attributed in part to competition from low-cost bus carrier [[BoltBus]], which opened a non-stop Seattle&ndash;Portland route in May 2012.<ref>{{cite news|last=Pucci|first=Carol|date=July 7, 2012|title=BoltBus gives Amtrak a run for the money on Seattle-Portland travel|newspaper=[[The Seattle Times]]|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/life/travel/boltbus-gives-amtrak-a-run-for-the-money-on-seattle-portland-travel/|access-date=May 3, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Cook|first=John|date=May 1, 2012|title=Seattle to Portland for a $1? That's the promise of BoltBus|url=https://www.geekwire.com/2012/seattleportland-bus-service-buck-promise-boltbus/|access-date=May 3, 2017|work=[[GeekWire]]}}</ref><ref name="Balk-2013">{{cite web|last=Balk|first=Gene|date=October 14, 2013|title=Amtrak ridership is down in the Northwest–is Bolt Bus to blame?|url=http://blogs.seattletimes.com/fyi-guy/2013/10/14/amtrak-ridership-is-down-in-the-northwest-is-bolt-bus-to-blame/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110062131/http://blogs.seattletimes.com/fyi-guy/2013/10/14/amtrak-ridership-is-down-in-the-northwest-is-bolt-bus-to-blame/|archive-date=November 10, 2017|access-date=November 9, 2017|work=[[The Seattle Times]]}}</ref> Low gasoline prices and schedule changes due to track construction also contributed to the decline. Ridership rose again in 2016, and was expected to continue rising in 2017 and beyond, after the completion of the Point Defiance Bypass construction project.<ref>{{cite web|last=Johnson|first=Graham|date=April 1, 2016|title=Amtrak Cascades ridership declining but state predicts a rebound|url=http://www.kiro7.com/news/amtrak-cascades-ridership-declining-but-state-predicts-a-rebound/192776474|access-date=May 3, 2017|publisher=KIRO 7}}</ref> However, ridership declined again following the [[2017 Washington train derailment]], and the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|COVID-19 pandemic]] drastically reduced ridership numbers throughout the entire Amtrak network in 2020.

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"
|+Ridership by year
!Year
!Ridership
!YoY Diff.
!YoY Diff. %
|-
!2023<ref name="FY2023">{{Cite web|url=https://media.amtrak.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Amtrak-Fiscal-Year-2023-Ridership.pdf|title=Amtrak Route Ridership: FY23 vs. FY22|date=November 30, 2023|access-date=November 30, 2023}}</ref>
|669,820
| +279,572
|{{Increase}} 71.6%
|-
!2022<ref name="FY2122">{{Cite web|url=https://media.amtrak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/FY22-Year-End-Revenue-and-Ridership.pdf|title=Amtrak Route Ridership: FY22 vs. FY21|date=November 29, 2022|access-date=January 29, 2023}}</ref>
|390,248
| +208,748
|{{Increase}} 115.0%
|-
!2021<ref name=":0"/>
|181,500
| -161,997
|{{Decrease}} 47.2%
|-
!2020<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 30, 2020|title=Monthly Performance Report FY 2020|url=https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/monthlyperformancereports/2020/Amtrak-Monthly-Performance-Report-September-2020.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=January 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121201045/https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/monthlyperformancereports/2020/Amtrak-Monthly-Performance-Report-September-2020.pdf |archive-date=November 21, 2020 }}</ref>
|343,497
| -459,398
|{{Decrease}} 57.2%
|-
!2019<ref>{{Cite web|date=November 18, 2019|title=Monthly Performance Report FY 2019|url=https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/monthlyperformancereports/2019/Amtrak-Monthly-Performance-Report-September-2019.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=January 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208062223/https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/monthlyperformancereports/2019/Amtrak-Monthly-Performance-Report-September-2019.pdf |archive-date=December 8, 2019 }}</ref>
|802,895
| -3,226
|{{Decrease}} 0.4%
|-
!2018<ref>{{Cite web|date=February 19, 2019|title=Monthly Performance Report YTD September FY 2018|url=https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/monthlyperformancereports/2018/Amtrak-Monthly-Performance-Report-September-2018-Final.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=January 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329181056/https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/monthlyperformancereports/2018/Amtrak-Monthly-Performance-Report-September-2018-Final.pdf |archive-date=March 29, 2019 }}</ref>
|806,121
| -3,929
|{{Decrease}} 0.5%
|-
!2017<ref>{{Cite web|date=December 27, 2017|title=MONTHLY PERFORMANCE REPORT SEPTEMBER FY 2017|url=https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/monthlyperformancereports/2017/Amtrak-Monthly-Performance-Report-September-2017-Preliminary-Unaudited.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=January 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329181117/https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/monthlyperformancereports/2017/Amtrak-Monthly-Performance-Report-September-2017-Preliminary-Unaudited.pdf |archive-date=March 29, 2019 }}</ref>
|810,050
| +17,569
|{{Increase}} 2.2%
|-
!2016<ref>{{Cite web|date=March 31, 2017|title=Monthly Performance Report For September 2016|url=https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/monthlyperformancereports/Amtrak-Monthly-Performance-Report-September-2016-Final-Audited.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=January 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180222165238/https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/monthlyperformancereports/Amtrak-Monthly-Performance-Report-September-2016-Final-Audited.pdf |archive-date=February 22, 2018 }}</ref>
|792,481
| +41,333
|{{Increase}} 5.5%
|-
!2015<ref name="FY2015" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=November 13, 2015|title=Monthly Performance Report For September 2015|url=https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/monthlyperformancereports/Amtrak-Monthly-Performance-Report-September-2015-Preliminary-Unaudited.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=January 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329181128/https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/monthlyperformancereports/Amtrak-Monthly-Performance-Report-September-2015-Preliminary-Unaudited.pdf |archive-date=March 29, 2019 }}</ref>
|751,148
| -31,371
|{{Decrease}} 4.0%
|-
!2014
|782,519
| -29,443
|{{Decrease}} 3.6%
|-
!2013<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 14, 2013 |title=AMTRAK SETS RIDERSHIP RECORD AND MOVES THE NATION'S ECONOMY FORWARD |url=https://amtrakmedia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/FY13-Record-Ridership-ATK-13-122.pdf |access-date=January 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200824125952/https://amtrakmedia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/FY13-Record-Ridership-ATK-13-122.pdf |archive-date=August 24, 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|811,962
| -33,137
|{{Decrease}} 3.9%
|-
!2012
|845,099
| -7,170
|{{Decrease}} 0.8%
|-
!2011<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 13, 2011 |title=AMTRAK RIDERSHIP ROLLS UP BEST-EVER RECORDS |url=http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/968/399/ATK-11-133%20Record%20FY11%20Ridership%20and%20Revenue.pdf |access-date=January 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108035837/http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/968/399/ATK-11-133%20Record%20FY11%20Ridership%20and%20Revenue.pdf |archive-date=November 8, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation|date=December 2011|title=Amtrak Cascades Quarterly Ridership Report - October to December 2011|url=http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/RAIL/docs/Passenger/Amtrak_Cascades_2011_4th_Qtr_Ridership_Rpt.pdf|access-date=February 11, 2012}}</ref>
|852,269
| +15,970
|{{Increase}} 1.9%
|-
!2010<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation|date=December 2010|title=Amtrak Cascades Quarterly Ridership Report - October to December 2010|url=http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/RAIL/docs/Passenger/Amtrak_Cascades_2010_4th_Qtr_Ridership_Rpt.pdf|access-date=July 29, 2011}}</ref>
|836,299
| +74,689
|{{Increase}} 9.8%
|-
!2009<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation|date=December 2009|title=Amtrak Cascades Fourth Quarter and Annual Ridership Report – 2009|url=http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/RAIL/docs/Passenger/Amtrak_Cascades_4th_Qtr_Ridership_Rpt_09.pdf|access-date=July 29, 2011}}</ref>
|761,610
| -12,921
|{{Decrease}} 1.7%
|-
!2008
|774,531
| +97,766
|{{Increase}} 14.4%
|-
!2007
|676,765
| +46,769
|{{Increase}} 7.4%
|-
!2006
|629,996
| -6,096
|{{Decrease}} 1.0%
|-
!2005
|636,092
| +33,033
|{{Increase}} 5.5%
|-
!2004
|603,059
| +13,316
|{{Increase}} 2.3%
|-
!2003
|589,743
| +5,397
|{{Increase}} 0.1%
|-
!2002
|584,346
| +23,965
|{{Increase}} 4.3%
|-
!2001
|560,381
| +30,163
|{{Increase}} 5.7%
|-
!2000
|530,218
| +77,884
|{{Increase}} 17.2%
|-
!1999
|452,334
| +27,196
|{{Increase}} 6.4%
|-
!1998
|425,138
| +75,377
|{{Increase}} 21.6%
|-
!1997
|349,761
| +45,195
|{{Increase}} 14.8%
|-
!1996
|304,566
| +17,910
|{{Increase}} 6.2%
|-
!1995
|286,656
| +106,447
|{{Increase}} 59.1%
|-
!1994
|180,209
| +86,148
|{{Increase}} 91.6%
|-
!1993
|94,061
|—
|—
|}

== Rolling stock ==
{{see also|Talgo#Talgo Pendular|Talgo#Series 8}}
[[File:Union Station (12209479843).jpg|thumb|left|A Talgo Series 8 trainset departs [[Portland Union Station]] with the engineer controlling the train from the cab located inside the power car.]]

Service on the ''Cascades'' route is currently provided using equipment from Amtrak's national fleet, along with two articulated trainsets manufactured by [[Talgo]]. These cars are designed to passively [[tilting train|tilt]] into curves, allowing the train to pass through them at higher speeds than a conventional train. The tilting technology reduces travel time between Seattle and Portland by 25 minutes.<ref name=":1" /> Current track and safety requirements limit the train's speed to {{convert|79|mph|kph}}, although the trainsets are designed for a maximum design speed of {{convert|124|mph|kph}}.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Rail/Facts.htm|title=Amtrak Cascades Facts|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702040640/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Rail/Facts.htm|archive-date=July 2, 2017|url-status=dead|access-date=August 1, 2017}}</ref>

[[File:AmtrakCascadesDiner.JPG|thumb|right|Inside a Talgo Series VI bistro car with a map of the Pacific Northwest (where the route travels) on the ceiling]]

A typical trainset consists of 13 cars:
one [[baggage car]];
two "[[Travel class#Trains|business class]]" [[coach (rail)|coaches]];
one [[lounge car]] (also known as the Diner car);
one [[Dining car|cafe car]] (also known as the Bistro car);
seven "coach class" coaches; and
one combination cab/power car (which houses a driver's cab, a [[head-end power]] generator and other equipment).
<ref name=":2">{{cite web|url=http://www.on-track-on-line.com/amtk-roster-trainsets.shtml|title=Trainset Roster|date=January 1, 2013|publisher=On Track On Line|access-date=June 2, 2013}}</ref> Trainsets are typically paired with a [[Siemens Charger]] locomotive painted in a matching paint scheme. Additionally, trainsets without a [[Control car|cab car]] are paired with a [[Control car#Converted locomotives|Non-Powered Control Unit]] (NPCU), an older locomotive with no engine, that is also painted in a matching paint scheme and is used as a [[cab car]].<ref name="solomon">{{Solomon-Amtrak}}</ref>{{rp|140}}

[[File:Amtrak Cascades 1401 - Siemens Charger engine at King Street Station, Seattle, WA - 01.jpg|thumb|left|Brand new [[Siemens Charger]] locomotive in February 2018]]

The fleet consists of two [[Talgo#Talgo 8|Talgo Series 8]] trainsets built in 2013. These trainsets operated alongside five older Talgo Series VI trainsets until their retirement in 2020. The service offered by the different trainset types is similar, but there are some minor differences between the two models. The most notable difference is the older Series VI trainsets have {{convert|7|ft|m|adj=mid|-tall}} tail fins at both ends of the train that serve as an aesthetic transition from the low-profile trainsets and the larger locomotives.<ref name=":1" /> The Series 8 trainsets do not have the tail fins, but instead have a cab built into the power car allowing push-pull operation without a separate control unit. There are also minor differences in the interior appointments.

The ''Cascades'' service started in Fall 1998 with four Series VI trainsets, two were owned by the [[Washington State Department of Transportation]] (WSDOT) and two were owned by Amtrak. Each trainset was built with 12 cars and a six-car spare set, including a baggage car, service car, lounge car, café car and two "coach class" coaches, was also built. The trainsets can hold 304 passengers in 12 cars.

In 1998, Amtrak also purchased an additional Series VI trainset as a demonstrator for potential service between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. This trainset was built with two additional "coach class" coaches, for a total of 14 cars. The demonstration route was not funded and WSDOT purchased the trainset in 2004 to expand service.<ref name=":2" /> The purchase also allowed Amtrak and WSDOT to redistribute the "coach class" coaches. By using the two additional coaches from this new trainset and placing the two coaches from the spare set into regular service, the agencies were able to create four 13-car trains and one 12-car train.

In 2013, the [[Oregon Department of Transportation]] (ODOT) purchased the two Series 8 trainsets to enable further expansion of services.<ref>[http://cms.oregon.gov/ODOT/COMM/Pages/TalgoHome.aspx Oregon DOT]</ref> Each trainset was equipped with 13 cars.
[[File:Amtrak Cascades Cabbage Car.jpg|thumb|Amtrak Cascades NPCU No. 90252 at Union Station in Portland, OR]]
The ''Cascades'' equipment is painted in a special [[Amtrak paint schemes#Amtrak Cascades|paint scheme]] consisting of colors the agency calls evergreen (dark green), cappuccino (brown), and cream.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="WSDOT train equipment">{{cite web|title=Amtrak Cascades Train Equipment|url=https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Rail/TrainEquipment.htm|website=Washington State Department of Transportation|access-date=November 28, 2017}}</ref> The trainsets are named after mountain peaks in the Pacific Northwest (many in the Cascade Range). The four original Series VI trainsets were named after [[Mount Baker]], [[Mount Hood]], [[Mount Olympus (Washington)|Mount Olympus]], and [[Mount Rainier]]. The Series VI trainset built to operate between Las Vegas and Los Angeles (painted in [[Pacific Surfliner|Surfliner]] colors) was renamed the [[Mount Adams (Washington)|Mount Adams]] when it was purchased by the state of Washington. This trainset was subsequently destroyed in the [[2017 Washington train derailment|December 18, 2017, derailment]] on the Point Defiance Cutoff.  The two Series 8 trainsets are named [[Mount Bachelor]] and [[Mount Jefferson (Oregon)|Mount Jefferson]].

In early 2014, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), awarded a contract to [[Siemens]] USA to manufacture 8 new [[Siemens Charger]] locomotives for the ''Cascades''. The order was part of a larger joint purchase between Illinois, California, Michigan, and Missouri. These locomotives were delivered to WSDOT in Summer 2017 and went into service in late 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/rail/newlocomotives/|title=Rail - Amtrak Cascades New Locomotives {{!}} WSDOT|website=www.wsdot.wa.gov|access-date=August 1, 2017|archive-date=June 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170621042130/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/Rail/newlocomotives/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Lloyd|first1=Sarah Anne|title=Amtrak Cascades rolls out new locomotives|url=https://seattle.curbed.com/2017/11/20/16683002/amtrak-cascades-new-train-model|publisher=Curbed Seattle|access-date=December 17, 2017|date=November 20, 2017}}</ref> The additional locomotives were to have enabled two additional runs to be added as part of the [[Point Defiance Bypass]] project (the additional service was suspended and its recommencement has not been announced) and will replace the six [[EMD F59PHI]] locomotives leased from Amtrak; these were sold to [[Metra]] in early 2018. One SC-44 locomotive was destroyed in the December 18, 2017, derailment on the Point Defiance Cutoff, but was soon replaced by a newly built Charger by Siemens (1408) in August 2020. In the wake of the accident, Amtrak proposed to lease or buy two Talgo trainsets which were originally [[Hiawatha (Amtrak train)#Equipment|bought for use in Wisconsin but never operated]].<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-02-01/pdf/2018-01959.pdf |title=Petition for Waiver of Compliance   |publisher=Government Publishing Office |department=Federal Railroad Administration |journal=Federal Register |date=February 1, 2018 |volume=83 |issue=22 |page=4728}}</ref>
[[File:Wdtx1400 1.jpg|left|thumb|221x221px|Amtrak Cascades train No. 505 in September 2020 with [[Horizon (railcar)|Horizon]] cars]]
In August 2019, the [[Federal Railroad Administration]] awarded WSDOT up to $37.5 million to purchase three new trainsets for the route, allowing the replacement of the older Talgo VI trainsets.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://railroads.dot.gov/newsroom/us-transportation-secretary-elaine-l-chao-announces-272-million-%E2%80%98state-good-repair%E2%80%99-program |title=U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao Announces $272 Million in 'State of Good Repair' Program Grants |publisher=Federal Railroad Administration |date=August 21, 2019}}</ref> The Talgo VI trainsets were withdrawn in June 2020.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/traction-and-rolling-stock/talgo-vi-trainsets-withdrawn-from-amtrak-cascades-service/56967.article |title=Talgo VI trainsets withdrawn from Amtrak Cascades service |date=July 16, 2020 |newspaper=Railway Gazette}}</ref> As a temporary replacement, [[Horizon (railcar)|Horizon]] cars are being used alongside the existing Talgo Series 8 sets, until new cars are introduced.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Matkin|first=Janet|date=July 14, 2020|title=The WSDOT Blog - Washington State Department of Transportation: An update on Amtrak Cascades as we move through the summer|url=https://wsdotblog.blogspot.com/2020/07/an-update-on-amtrak-cascades.html|access-date=September 12, 2020|website=The WSDOT Blog - Washington State Department of Transportation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701081521/https://wsdotblog.blogspot.com/2020/07/an-update-on-amtrak-cascades.html|archive-date=July 1, 2022|url-status=deviated}}</ref> The last two remaining Talgo VI trainsets were hauled to a scrapper on February 28, 2021.<ref>{{cite news|date=February 28, 2021|title=News Photo: WSDOT Talgo equipment leaves Washington, bound for scrap dealer|newspaper=Trains Magazine|url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/news-photo-wsdot-talgo-equipment-leaves-washington-bound-for-scrap-dealer/|accessdate=February 28, 2021}}</ref> One Series VI Bistro car, No. 7304, was later acquired by the [[Northwest Railway Museum]] in 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last=Franz |first=Justin |date=February 21, 2023 |title=Northwest Railway Museum Acquires Last 'Cascades' Talgo Series VI Car |url=https://railfan.com/northwest-railway-museum-acquires-last-cascades-talgo-series-vi-car/ |work=[[Railfan & Railroad]] |accessdate=March 7, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=February 21, 2023 |title=Northwest Railway Museum to preserve Talgo Bistro car |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/northwest-railway-museum-to-preserve-talgo-bistro-car/ |work=Trains |accessdate=March 7, 2023}}</ref>
[[File:Amtrak Cascades 7304.jpg|thumb|right|Series VI Bistro car No. 7304 is preserved at the Northwest Railway Museum.]]
Amtrak and Siemens Mobility announced a $7.3 billion national railcar order in July 2021, which includes funding for 48 new [[Siemens Venture]] coaches and 2 additional Charger locomotives for ''Cascades'' service.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Abrams |first=Jason |date=July 7, 2021 |title=Amtrak to Transform Rail Travel with $7.3 Billion Investment in State-of-the-Art Equipment |url=https://media.amtrak.com/2021/07/amtrak-to-transform-rail-travel-with-7-3-billion-investment-in-state-of-the-art-equipment/ |access-date=July 28, 2023 |website=Amtrak Media |language=en-US}}</ref> Deliveries are expected to begin in 2024, with service expected to begin in 2026 after funding is approved by Congress. These trainsets will be used to replace the Talgo VI trainsets retired in 2020, as well as to expand service. The new coaches will be used in six-coach trainsets with a capacity of 300 passengers, far more than the capacity of the Talgo trainsets, and will be able to modify trainset lengths based on expected passenger demand. The new coaches are expected to cost WSDOT $150 million, of which $75 million has been secured as of July 2021. Additional funding is expected from the federal government, as well as potentially the governments of Oregon and British Columbia.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lindblom |first=Mike |date=July 7, 2021 |title=New railcars in the works for Washington state Amtrak trains |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/news/new-railcars-in-the-works-for-washington-state-amtrak-trains/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=September 9, 2021}}</ref> The eight new trainsets will use a new livery that includes imagery of Mount Rainier and Mount Hood; it is primarily green with brown and white as accent colors.<ref>{{cite news |last=Zhou |first=Amanda |date=December 15, 2022 |title=Amtrak Cascades will have a new Northwest look in 2026 |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/amtrak-cascades-will-have-a-new-northwest-look-in-2026/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=April 1, 2024}}</ref>

== Funding ==
Funding for the route is provided separately by the states of Oregon and [[Washington (state)|Washington]], with [[Portland Union Station|Union Station in Portland]] serving as the dividing point between the two. As of 11 December 2023, Washington state has funded six daily round trips between Seattle and Portland. Washington also funds two daily round trips between Seattle and Vancouver, BC. Oregon funds two daily round trips between Eugene and Portland. The seven trainsets are organized into semi-regular operating cycles, but no particular train always has one route.

=== Local partnerships ===
As a result of ''Cascades'' service being jointly funded by the Washington and Oregon departments of transportation, public transit agencies and local municipalities can offer a variety of discounts, including companion ticket coupons.
* FlexPass and [[University of Washington]] UPass holders receive a 15% discount (discount code varies) on all regular ''Cascades'' travel. Employers participating in these programs may also receive a limited number of free companion ticket coupons for distribution to employees.<ref>{{cite web | title=Amtrak Cascades - Special Offers | url=http://www.amtrakcascades.com/SpecialOffers.htm | access-date=December 17, 2011 | publisher=Amtrak}}</ref>
* The [[Sound Transit]] RailPlus program allows riders to use weekday ''Cascades'' trains between Everett and Seattle with the [[Sounder Commuter Rail|Sounder commuter rail]] fare structure.<ref>{{cite web | title=Sounder train fares | publisher=Sound Transit | access-date=December 17, 2011 | url=http://www.soundtransit.org/Fares-and-Passes/Sounder-fares.xml?tab=4 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111017005938/http://www.soundtransit.org/Fares-and-Passes/Sounder-fares.xml?tab=4 | archive-date=October 17, 2011 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}</ref>

The ''Cascades'' service also benefits from Sound Transit's track upgrades for ''Sounder'' service, notably the [[Point Defiance Bypass]] project.

==Related services==

The ''Cascades'' corridor is also served by [[Amtrak Thruway]] buses that are partially funded by the Washington state government and contracted out to [[MTRWestern]]. Amtrak introduced its first [[battery electric bus]] on the ''Cascades'' service in August 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last=Zhou |first=Amanda |date=August 18, 2023 |title=Amtrak debuts first-ever electric bus on Cascades route |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/amtrak-debuts-first-ever-electric-bus-on-cascades-route/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=April 1, 2024}}</ref>

== Proposed changes ==
{{update section|date=April 2018}}
{{main|Pacific Northwest Corridor}}
According to its long-range plan, the WSDOT Rail Office plans eventual service of 13 daily round trips between Seattle and Portland and 4–6 round trips between Seattle and Bellingham, with four of those extending to Vancouver, BC.<ref name="longrange">{{cite web|url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/AE671CC5-6633-4BF2-9041-FB328ADB1F31/0/LongRangePlanforAmtrakCascades.pdf|publisher=WSDOT|title=Long Range Plan for Amtrak Cascades|date=February 2006|access-date=July 7, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090808172247/http://wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/AE671CC5-6633-4BF2-9041-FB328ADB1F31/0/LongRangePlanforAmtrakCascades.pdf|archive-date=August 8, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>  Amtrak Cascades travels along the entirety of the proposed Pacific Northwest High Speed Rail Corridor; the incremental improvements are designed to result in eventual higher-speed service.  According to WSDOT, the "hundreds of curves" in the current route and "the cost of acquiring land and constructing a brand new route" make upgrades so cost-prohibitive that, at most, speeds of 110&nbsp;mph (177&nbsp;km/h) can be achieved.<ref name="seatimes2011"/>

The eventual high-speed rail service according to the long-range plan should result in the following travel times:
* Seattle to Portland – 3:30 (2006); 3:25 (after completion of [[Point Defiance Bypass]]);<ref name="seatimes2011"/> 2:30 (planned)
* Seattle to Vancouver BC – 3:55 (2006); 2:45 (planned)
* Vancouver BC to Portland – 7:55 (2009); 5:25 (planned)

In order to increase train speeds and frequency to meet these goals, a number of incremental track improvement projects must be completed. Gates and signals must be improved, some grade crossings must be separated, track must be replaced or upgraded, and station capacities must be increased. The existing [[Columbia River Railroad Bridge]] between Vancouver, Washington and Portland would have to be modified, and an additional railroad bridge would have to be built next to the existing bridge.{{R|"longrange"|pp=5–22 to 5–23}}

In order to extend the second daily Seattle to Bellingham round trip to Vancouver, [[BNSF]] was required to make track improvements in Canada, to which the government of [[British Columbia]] was asked to contribute financially. On March 1, 2007, an agreement between the province, Amtrak, and [[BNSF]] was reached, allowing a second daily train to and from Vancouver.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Rail/AmtrakCascades/2ndTrain.htm |title=WSDOT - Second Amtrak Cascades Train to Canada<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=July 5, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080412211531/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Rail/AmtrakCascades/2ndTrain.htm |archive-date=April 12, 2008 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> The project involved building an {{convert|11000|ft|km|adj=mid}} siding in [[Delta, BC]] at a cost of US$7&nbsp;million; construction started in 2007 and has been completed.

In December 2008, WSDOT published a mid-range plan detailing projects needed to achieve the midpoint level of service proposed in the long-range plan.<ref name="midrange">{{cite web|url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/83B17378-CDC8-4D57-AA60-4CD64BAF6D94/0/AmtrakCascadesMidRangePlan.pdf|publisher=WSDOT|title=Amtrak Cascades Mid-Range Plan|date=December 2008|access-date=July 7, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090705160311/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/83B17378-CDC8-4D57-AA60-4CD64BAF6D94/0/AmtrakCascadesMidRangePlan.pdf|archive-date=July 5, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2009, Oregon applied for a $2.1&nbsp;billion Federal grant to redevelop the unused [[Oregon Electric Railway]] tracks, parallel to the Cascades' route between Eugene and Portland.<ref name="highspeed">{{cite news
|title=Oregon bids big for faster trains
|first=Harry|last=Esteve
|work=The Oregonian
|date=July 25, 2009
|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/07/oregon_bids_for_highspeed_rail.html
}}</ref> But it did not receive the grant. Instead, analysis of alternative routes to enable more passenger trains and higher speeds proceeded. In 2015, the current route, with numerous upgrades, was chosen by the Project Team as the Recommended Preferred Alternative.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://oregonpassengerrail.org/files/library/newsletter/opr-newsletter-fall-2015-final-20151013.pdf|title=Oregon Department of Transportation : Passenger Rail : Public Transportation : State of Oregon|date=October 17, 2023 }}</ref> The Preferred Alternative, if built, would decrease the trip time by 15 minutes from 2 hours and 35 minutes to 2 hours and 20 minutes and increase the number of daily trains from 2 to 6 from Eugene to Portland.<ref>{{cite report|url=http://www.oregonpassengerrail.org/files/library/documents/deis-publicdraft-cip-online.pdf|title=Tier 1 Draft Environmental Impact Statement|publisher=Oregon Department of Transportation|date=October 2018|access-date=December 27, 2018}}</ref>

In 2013, travel times between Seattle and Portland remained the same as they had been in 1966, with the fastest trains making the journey in 3 hours 30 minutes.<ref>The Official guide of the Railways and Steam Navigation Lines of the U.S., Rand McNally & Company, May 1966</ref><ref>Amtrak Winter-Spring Timetable 2013</ref> WSDOT received more than $800&nbsp;million in high-speed rail stimulus funds for projects discussed in the mid-range plan, since the corridor is one of the approved high-speed corridors eligible for money from ARRA.<ref name="stimulus">{{cite web|url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Funding/stimulus/passengerrail.htm|title=ARRA Funded High Speed Rail|publisher=WSDOT|access-date=July 7, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090705162446/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Funding/stimulus/passengerrail.htm|archive-date=July 5, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> The deadline for spending the stimulus funds is September 2017. The schedule was for the Leadership Council to vote on this in December 2015, then a Draft Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement was to be released in 2016 and hearings held on it, for the Leadership Council to finalize the Recommended Selected Alternative in 2017, then publish the Final Tier 1 EIS and receive the Record of Decision in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://oregonpassengerrail.org/page/schedule|title = ODOT - Oregon Passenger Rail &#124; Schedule| date=October 17, 2023 }}</ref> Then if funds can be found, design and engineering must be done before any construction can begin.

==Accidents and incidents==

===July 2017 derailment===
On July 2, 2017, northbound train 506 derailed while approaching the Chambers Bay drawbridge southwest of [[Tacoma, Washington]]. The train was traveling above the speed limit of {{convert|40|mph|km/h}} after passing an "Approach" signal (indicating that it be prepared to stop short of the next signal) at the bridge. As the bridge was raised and open, a device known as a "de-rail" was engaged, used to prevent a train from proceeding and falling in to the water by derailing it beforehand. The incident root cause was human error due to the engineer losing situational awareness. Only minor injuries were sustained due to the low speed at time of event as the engineer did attempt to stop on seeing the bridge up. The train's consist, an Oregon DOT-owned Talgo VIII set, was returned to the Talgo plant in Milwaukee, Wis. for repairs and returned to service in April 2018.<ref>{{cite news|date=December 18, 2017|last=Miller|first=Susan|title=Amtrak's Cascades rail lines saw a derailment in July|work=[[USA Today]]|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2017/12/18/amtraks-cascades-rail-lines-saw-derailment-july/961382001/|access-date=January 23, 2018}}</ref>

===December 2017 derailment===
{{main|2017 Washington train derailment}}
On December 18, 2017, while making the inaugural run on the [[Point Defiance Bypass]], southbound train 501 [[2017 Washington train derailment|derailed near DuPont, Washington]].<ref name="NYTimes">{{cite news |last=Chokshi |first=Niraj |date=December 18, 2017 |title=Amtrak Train Derailment Leaves Multiple People Dead in Washington State |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/18/us/amtrak-derailment-washington.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=December 18, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Amtrak Cascades Train 501 Derailment|date=December 18, 2017|publisher=Amtrak|access-date=December 20, 2017|url=http://media.amtrak.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Cascades-501-Derailment_Dec-18.pdf}}</ref> Three passengers were killed, and 65 people in total were injured. The crash occurred on an overpass over [[Interstate 5 in Washington|I-5]], on a sharp curve with a speed limit of {{convert|30|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}; train 501 was traveling at {{convert|80|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.greensboro.com/news/us_world/train-speeding-mph-over-limit-before-deadly-derailment-in-washington/article_aaac2a52-1330-570b-a725-c06ed2760d8f.html|title=Train speeding 50 mph over limit before deadly derailment in Washington state |last1=La Corte|last2=Flaccus|last3=Sisak|first1=Rachel|first2=Gillian|first3=Michael|work=[[News and Record]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=December 19, 2017|access-date=December 19, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/12/18/us/amtrak-derailment-washington/index.html|title=At least 3 dead in Amtrak derailment in Washington state, official says|last1=Ostrower|first1=Jon|last2=Sterling|first2=Joe|date=December 19, 2017|website=cnn.com|access-date=August 28, 2019|last3=Ellis|first3=Ralph}}</ref> [[Positive train control]], a system that would have prevented the train from speeding, was not yet enabled on the Point Defiance Bypass at the time of the crash. An investigation by the [[National Transportation Safety Board]] also found that the train's engineer was not properly trained on either the tracks or the train's Siemens Charger locomotive, both of which were new at the time.<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/RAR1901.pdf |title=Railroad Accident Report: Amtrak Passenger Train 501 Derailment, DuPont, Washington, December 18, 2017 |date=May 21, 2019 |publisher=[[National Transportation Safety Board]] |issue= |pages=79–82 |docket=NTSB/RAR-19/01 |access-date=2024-06-10}}</ref>

WSDOT announced that it would not resume service until the full implementation of PTC. Service was then scheduled to restart in early 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last=Baker |first=Mike |date=December 21, 2017 |title=Washington state: No passenger trains on Amtrak derailment route until safety systems are in place |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/washington-state-no-passenger-trains-on-amtrak-derailment-route-until-safety-systems-are-in-place/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=December 21, 2017}}</ref> PTC was activated on the Point Defiance Bypass in March 2019, but ''Cascades'' service on the bypass did not resume until November 18, 2021, almost four years after the derailment.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cascades Service to Resume on the Point Defiance Bypass|date=November 9, 2021|publisher=Amtrak|access-date=November 20, 2021|url=https://media.amtrak.com/2021/11/cascades-service-to-resume-on-the-point-defiance-bypass/}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="seatimes2011">{{cite news | title=Federal money to improve Amtrak Cascades train travel | url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/federal-money-to-improve-amtrak-cascades-train-travel/ | date=May 17, 2011 | via=[[Seattle Times]] |work=[[The Olympian]] | first=Jordan | last=Schrader | access-date=December 28, 2023}}</ref>
}}

== External links ==
{{stack|
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
{{Attached KML|display=title,inline}}
}}
*{{amtrak web|route=yes}}
*{{Official site}}
*[http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Rail/TrainEquipment.htm Amtrak ''Cascades'' Train Equipment] (Washington State Department of Transportation)
*[https://www.flickr.com/photos/135141530@N04/22215620388/in/album-72157657771522661/ 1972 first draft of "Cascades" concept] (Oregon Department of Transportation)
{{Amtrak routes}}
{{Amtrak rolling stock}}
{{Canadianmetros}}

[[Category:Amtrak routes]]
[[Category:Named passenger trains of Canada]]
[[Category:International named passenger trains]]
[[Category:Passenger rail transport in British Columbia]]
[[Category:Passenger rail transportation in Oregon]]
[[Category:Passenger rail transportation in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Tilting trains]]
[[Category:Railway services introduced in 1971]]
[[Category:Talgo]]