Amtrak starts direct service to B.C.

[WarrenC12]

There has to be a precedent here. I'm sure there are numerous daily trains from Boston/NYC to Montreal, Detroit or Chicago to Toronto... who pays the bill there?

[twoNeurons]

A bunch of links to articles on this subject:

http://www.pnwer.org/WorkingGroups/T...kCascades.aspx

edit: Cumulative Economic Impact of Second Amtrak Train to Vancouver, BC
$14,132,567 and counting...

[Rusty Gull]

This is the second transportation fiasco engineered by our federal government in the past month. The other is the handling of the UAE aviation situation.

The federal government really needs to give its head a shake. The press during the past week on both issues has been abysmal.

[Smooth]

Amtrak deal reached
VANCOUVER/CKNW AM 980
Janet Brown
10/14/2010

A deal has been struck to keep the second Amtrak train running between Vancouver and Portland.

The Canadian Border Services Agency has come up with the money to keep the train running.

Amtrak was vowing to cancel the service at the end of the month unless a 15-hundred-dollar daily inspection fee was eliminated.

http://www.cknw.com/Channels/Reg/New...spx?ID=1295113

[WarrenC12]

It's a one year deal. But, good news all around.

Now if only they could get that Van-Sea train time down a little so it was faster than the bus...

[GeeCee]

Awesome news!!

[twoNeurons]

When i saw this thread was updated, I was pessimistic... I thought... people must be commenting about how stupid this decision is.

However, I'm happy! It would be nice if it was a more permanent arrangement. You definitely won't seem much upgrading north of Bellingham if they don't have any guarantees that they'll be running next year.

[isaidso]

Which company has most of the traffic between Seattle and Vancouver, Amtrak or VIA?

[SpikePhanta]

Originally Posted by isaidso

Which company has most of the traffic between Seattle and Vancouver, Amtrak or VIA?

Via only runs in Canada, thought Amtrak uses Via rail employees and stations services when in Canada.

[SpongeG]

people like the romance of the train so speed isn't a factor - but at least its going to stay a little longer

[BCPhil]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

people like the romance of the train so speed isn't a factor - but at least its going to stay a little longer

Yeah, people like being able to get up, and walk around, maybe get a snack from the snack bar, and be able to use a washroom that's not the size of that rescue capsule they used to rescue those miners in Chile. I'll gladly trade an hour or 2 (or more) of my life to avoid a motor coach.

[simonfiction]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

people like the romance of the train so speed isn't a factor - but at least its going to stay a little longer

Originally Posted by BCPhil

Yeah, people like being able to get up, and walk around, maybe get a snack from the snack bar, and be able to use a washroom that's not the size of that rescue capsule they used to rescue those miners in Chile. I'll gladly trade an hour or 2 (or more) of my life to avoid a motor coach.

I agree with this, but it would be nice to see the route evolve beyond a novelty and romantic factor for tourism. It should become a reliable and relatively fast connection for Vancouver to the rest of the PNW, especially for businesses. Wireless internet on this route would be a big selling point for people who'd rather work or play on their commute, than concentrate on driving. I hope they implement that soon as Amtrak seem to have it on other routes.

A good win for the one year extension, but unless they secure something long term I think this is as good as it will get.

[SpongeG]

I agree but until the bridge gets fixed in new west i don't think amtrak wants to invest much on the route

[WBC]

Originally Posted by twoNeurons

A bunch of links to articles on this subject:

http://www.pnwer.org/WorkingGroups/T...kCascades.aspx

edit: Cumulative Economic Impact of Second Amtrak Train to Vancouver, BC
$14,132,567 and counting...

I am all for the trains, but isn't this kind of analysis wrong in assuming that none of these people would have come if not for the train? I am sure that some people went on a trip just because of the train, but certainly not all of them.

[SpongeG]

there are some who plan their trips around stuff like that and some who may have not thought of making the trip and than friends raved about their trip ...

I have heard of people who plan trips around apple store openings so they can get the t-shirt - now that is one i will never understand

[Millennium2002]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

I agree but until the bridge gets fixed in new west i don't think amtrak wants to invest much on the route

Or they'll probably focus on the stuff south of the border yes?

[Alex Mackinnon]

I'm not sure about that. I'd imagine any reasonable study would assume that it would only cause a percentage of new customers.

[Distill3d]

I've been looking into going to Whistler for the weekend, and I'm somewhat disappointed that there is only one current option to get there by train. I'm just wondering if its even been considered to extend the service northwards.

[SpikePhanta]

Originally Posted by Distill3d

I've been looking into going to Whistler for the weekend, and I'm somewhat disappointed that there is only one current option to get there by train. I'm just wondering if its even been considered to extend the service northwards.

Amtrak probably not, but with Via there is a chance.
Although I think Rocky Mountaineer has an exclusive agreement with I think CN or CP on the tracks up to whistler.

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by allan_kuan

Or they'll probably focus on the stuff south of the border yes?

there was that obama announcement to have a link between seattle and vancouver so its till possible

there was a plan and its mentioned somewhere on here at making the amtrak station in surrey near scott road skytrain station since the bridge is a problem