Amtrak Cascades prepares for new trains as railway travel popularity goes off the rails
2 min readPORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — It’s “all aboard!” for Amtrak Cascades, as they’re preparing to receive eight new train sets later in the year.
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The new trains will replace the current trains, which date back to the 1970s.
Amtrak says the addition will increase train capacity from 200 to 300 passengers, and make things more accessible with wider seats and more storage.
“Taking the train is actually the most climate-friendly way to travel. And so we know that when we have 200 customers on the train, that’s 200 less people on the road,” said Jenny Cherrytree, the public information officer for Amtrak Cascades.
She adds that these upgrades will help stations stay on top of growing demand.
“In the last two years, we’ve had record ridership,” said Cherrytree. “I just want to thank Oregonians for taking the train because we have reached nearly a million passengers each year in the past two years. More and more people are taking the train if you look at 2019 customer data, it’s up nearly almost 50%.”
Amtrak says they will be upgrading the trains that run the routes along the I-5 corridor – KATU photo
One passenger, Kendra Braun, says she started taking the train after the pandemic.
“I remember thinking like, okay, we’re staying downtown, we don’t really need a car while we’re there, like we could fly, but then we’re far kind of from Seattle proper, so we looked at Amtrak and it’s pretty affordable to take to get up to Seattle,” said Braun.
Just a few rows ahead, Monica Morris booked her first ride on Amtrak, traveling to Seattle for business.
“It seems very convenient that I can also work while traveling,” said Morris, “… I think the upgrades would be great to help promote business travelers and even you know people with families.”
According to the Amtrak Cascades website, the new train sets will feature:
- Elevated experience: With panoramic windows and additional table seating, customers can enjoy some of the best views and connect to some of the most scenic landscapes in the world
- Comfortable seating: Each train seats more than 300 passengers and prioritizes ergonomics, offering large and sturdy tray tables, cushioned headrests, water bottle holders, and a seat-back tablet holder
- Redesigned café car: Featuring local Northwest favorite foods, including beer, wine, and spirits, along with some self-service food options
- Environmental improvements: The new trains are more fuel-efficient and produce significantly less air pollution
- Amenities: Individual outlets, USB ports, free onboard Wi-Fi, enhanced lighting, digital customer information displays, automated steps, and touchless restroom controls
The new trains are expected to arrive later in the year and will continue the same routes between Seattle, Vancouver, B.C., Portland, and other stations along the I-5 corridor.
