Experience the stunning landscapes of the Pacific Northwest on the Amtrak Cascades train. This popular service connects various cities throughout Washington and Oregon, with some trains extending north to Vancouver, British Columbia.
Travelers can move between cities such as Seattle, Tacoma, Portland, Salem, and Eugene while enjoying stunning views of Puget Sound, forests, mountains, and rivers along the way.
Not all trains travel the entire route. Some journeys require a transfer, particularly when traveling between Eugene and Vancouver, BC.
Whether you are planning a short trip along the corridor or an extended adventure in the Pacific Northwest, the Amtrak Cascades provides one of the most scenic and relaxing travel options in the region.
Quick Answer: What Is the Amtrak Cascades?
The Amtrak Cascades is a regional train route operated by Amtrak in the Pacific Northwest. It connects the cities of Vancouver, BC; Seattle; Portland; and Eugene. The train offers both coach and business-class seating, along with café service and Wi-Fi on many trips. Passengers can also enjoy scenic views of Puget Sound, forests, mountains, and rivers during their journey.
Amtrak Cascades At a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Route | Vancouver, BC ↔ Eugene, OR |
| Major Cities | Vancouver, Seattle, Tacoma, Portland, Salem, Eugene |
| Train Type | Regional Corridor Service |
| Seating Options | Coach Class and Business Class |
| Food Service | Café Car with snacks, drinks, and light meals |
| Wi-Fi | Available on many trains |
| Scenic Highlights | Puget Sound, forests, mountains, rivers, and Pacific Northwest landscapes |
| Border Crossing | Passport or approved travel documents required for Vancouver, BC trips |
| Best For | Short regional trips, scenic travel, and first-time Amtrak passengers |
| Connections | Empire Builder, Coast Starlight, and other Amtrak routes in Seattle and Portland |
Amtrak Cascades Service Accommodations
The Amtrak Cascades offers two seating options.
Coach seating
Amtrak coach class features comfortable seats, a fold-down tray, individual reading lights, 120V grounded (three-prong) electric outlets, overhead luggage storage, and restrooms. Some cars have USB chargers.
Based on my years of travel, I recommend bringing an extension cord to make it easier to access the power.
Business class
Business Class offers a more comfortable, luxurious travel experience. With priority boarding and detaining at selected stations, you can save time and enjoy a stress-free journey. The wider seats with more legroom provide ultimate relaxation, and fewer passengers in your car ensure a quieter atmosphere.
You also receive a $3 coupon for any menu item at the Bistro/Café Car. Moreover, Business Class customers earn a 25% bonus on Amtrak Guest Rewards points.
Luggage on the Amtrak Cascades
This train does not offer checked baggage.
Each passenger may carry on:
- One personal item, up to 25 pounds (12 kg), and 14 x 11 x 7 inches
- Two carry-on pieces of luggage, 50 lbs. (23 kg) and 28 x 22 x 14 inches each
Charges apply to additional and oversized luggage; see Amtrak’s carry-on bag policy for more information.
Add-ons to your Amtrak Cascades reservations
You can add a few items to your reservation if you’d like.
Pets
- If you want to bring your dog or cat:
- They and the carrier must be 20 pounds or less
- Please complete the paperwork you receive after making a reservation or in the “My Trip” tab before leaving for the station.
- And review Amtrak’s pet policy.
You cannot bring your pet into Canada.
If you have a service or comfort animal, read Amtrak’s service animal policy before leaving for the station. Ensure your animal meets Amtrak’s standards as a service animal and follows the requirements to bring it on board.
Bikes
You can bring your bikes aboard this train. Note the following rules. For more information, see Amtrak’s bike policy.
Food Offerings Aboard The Amtrak Cascades Service
While traveling by train, one of my favorite activities is visiting a bistro or café.
The bistro or café on the train offers a variety of hot and cold meals, snacks, and beverages, including alcoholic options.
The café is open most of the time, but may be closed at the beginning and end of the day.
You may bring your food and drinks aboard the train, but please note that you cannot consume any alcoholic beverages.
Additionally, it’s essential to remember that there may be restrictions on the type of food you can bring over the border, so make sure to check before you go.
Amtrak Cascades Timetable or Schedule
Here are the train schedules. Note that it does not include Amtrak’s connecting buses.
Additional Amtrak Connecting Services are available for these trains. For more information, click the blue button below. Amtrak’s Coast Starlight also runs between Eugene, OR, and Seattle, WA.
Amtrak Cascades Schedule – Northbound
| Communities Served | 504 | 508 | 500 | 502 | 506 | 516 | 518 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eugene, OR – (EUG) | 7:45a | 4:30p | – | – | – | – | – |
| Albany, OR (ALY) | 8:26a | 5:11p | – | – | – | – | – |
| Salem, OR Amtrak Station (SLM) | 8:56a | 5:41p | – | – | – | – | – |
| Oregon City, OR (ORC) | 9:39a | 6:24p | – | – | – | – | – |
| Portland, OR Union Station (PDX) | 10:40a | 7:25p | 6:45a | 8:20a | 5:55p | – | 2:10p |
| Vancouver, WA (VAN) | 10:58a | 7:43p | 7:03a | 8:38a | 6:13p | – | 2:28p |
| Kelso, WA (KEL) Longview, WA | 11:33a | 8:18p | 7:38a | 9:13a | 6:48p | – | 3:03p |
| Centralia, WA (CTL) | 12:14p | 8:59p | 8:19a | 9:54a | 7:29p | – | 3:44p |
| Olympia-Lacey, WA (OLW) | 12:35p | 9:20p | 8:40a | 10:15a | 7:50p | – | 4:05p |
| Tacoma, WA Amtrak Station (TAC) | 1:13p | 9:58p | 9:18a | 10:53a | 8:29p | – | 4:47p |
| Tukwila, WA (TUK) | 1:44p | 10:29p | 9:49a | 11:24a | 8:59p | – | 5:16p |
| Seattle, WA King Street Station (SEA) | 2:05p | 10:50p | 10:10a | 11:45a | 9:20p | 8:30a | 5:37p – 6:00p |
| Edmonds, WA (EDM) | – | – | – | – | – | 8:56a | 6:26p |
| Everett, WA (EVR) | – | – | – | – | – | 9:21a | 6:51p |
| Stanwood, WA (STW) | – | – | – | – | – | 9:51a | 7:21p |
| Mount Vernon, WA (MVW) | – | – | – | – | – | 10:04a | 7:34p |
| Bellingham, WA (BEL) | – | – | – | – | – | 10:37a | 8:07p |
| Vancouver, BC Pacific Central Station (VAC) | – | – | – | – | – | 12:30p | 10:00p |
Amtrak Cascades Schedule- Southbound
| Communities | 517 | 519 | 503 | 505 | 507 | 509 | 511 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver, BC Pacific Central Station (VAC) | 7:15a | 4:45a | – | – | – | – | – |
| Bellingham, WA (BEL) | 9:14a | 6:44a | – | – | – | – | – |
| Mount Vernon, WA (MVW) | 9:43a | 7:13a | – | – | – | – | – |
| Stanwood, WA (STW) | 9:57a | 7:27a | – | – | – | – | – |
| Everett, WA (EVR) | 10:37a | 8:07a | – | – | – | – | – |
| Edmonds, WA (EDM) | 11:00a | 8:30a | – | – | – | – | – |
| Seattle, WA King Street Station (SEA) | 11:40a – 12:10p | 9:10a | 5:52a | 7:08a | 2:20p | 5:40p | 7:50p |
| Tukwila, WA (TUK) | 12:25p | – | 6:07a | 7:23a | 2:35p | 5:55p | 8:05p |
| Tacoma, WA Amtrak Station (TAC) | 12:58p | – | 6:40a | 7:56a | 3:08p | 6:28p | 8:38p |
| Olympia-Lacey, WA (OLW) | 1:31p | – | 7:13a | 8:29a | 3:41p | 7:01p | 9:11p |
| Centralia, WA (CTL) | 1:51p | – | 7:33a | 8:49a | 4:01p | 7:21p | 9:31p |
| Kelso, WA (KEL) Longview, WA | 2:30p | – | 8:12a | 9:28a | 4:40p | 8:00p | 10:10p |
| Vancouver, WA (VAN) | 3:09p | – | 8:51a | 10:07a | 5:19p | 8:39p | 10:49p |
| Portland, OR Union Station (PDX) | 3:35p | – | 9:17a | 10:33a – 11:08a | 5:45p – 6:09p | 9:05p | 11:15p |
| Oregon City, OR (ORC) | – | – | – | 11:33a | 6:34p | – | – |
| Salem, OR Amtrak Station (SLM) | – | – | – | 12:20p | 7:21p | – | – |
| Albany, OR (ALY) | – | – | – | 12:55p | 7:52p | – | – |
| Eugene, OR Amtrak Station (EUG) | – | – | – | 1:48p | 8:47p | – | – |
Use this information as a guide; check with Amtrak or your eticket for exact times.
Printable Amtrak Cascades Schedule
Feel free to print out or download this page from Amtrak.
Crossing Into Canada on the Amtrak Cascades
One unique feature of the Amtrak Cascades is that select trains operate between the United States and Canada, connecting Seattle with Vancouver, British Columbia.
Passengers crossing the border must carry valid travel documents, usually a valid passport. It’s also important to note that not every train travels the full route into Canada so that some trips may require transfers or layovers.
Traveling by international train is generally simple, but customs and immigration procedures can sometimes delay travel times.
Southbound Trips Into the United States
Passengers traveling south from Vancouver, BC, to Seattle usually complete much of the U.S. immigration process at Vancouver’s Pacific Central Station before boarding the train.
Travelers are advised to arrive early and to have their travel documents ready before departure.
The train may stop briefly at the border for customs before continuing into Washington State.
Northbound Trips Into Canada
Travelers heading north from Seattle to Vancouver, BC, usually go through customs and immigration at the border.
The train may pause while officials conduct inspections and verify travel documents before continuing into Canada.
Keeping your passport easily accessible and allowing flexibility in your travel schedule can simplify the process.
If this is your first international train trip, it is wise to review current border-crossing requirements before traveling. Knowing which documents you need — and understanding which items can or cannot cross the border — can help your trip go more smoothly.
Here’s a helpful video resource about crossing the border on Amtrak:
Connecting To VIA
If you want to see Canada by rail, check out VIA Rail!
You can catch the Canadian to Toronto or one of the train’s intermediate stops from Vancouver, BC. This train offers a range of accommodations, from coach to sleeper.
Visit VIA Rail to see where the train can take you!
Wrapping Up the Amtrak Cascades
The Amtrak Cascades provides a relaxing and scenic way to explore the Pacific Northwest. Whether you’re traveling between Seattle and Portland, heading south to Eugene, or crossing the border into Vancouver, BC, this journey combines convenience with stunning views along the way.
With views of Puget Sound, forests, mountain landscapes, and vibrant cities, the Cascades route transforms transportation into part of the adventure.
For any Amtrak trip, checking schedules, understanding connections, and preparing for border-crossing procedures can help the journey go more smoothly. A bit of planning can make a significant difference, especially during busy travel seasons.
Thank you for reading this guide to Amtrak Cascades! If you appreciate beginner-friendly travel tips, schedules, and route guides for Amtrak, consider signing up for the Travels with Kev newsletter. Explore more of my Amtrak resources to help plan your next adventure! If this guide has been helpful, please consider supporting this work so it remains available for you and others when needed.
Safe Travels and happy planning,
Kev
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