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So I have been doing some special assignments for my boss out in Portland, OR for the last several weeks, the pay was so great I couldn't turn it down, but my car has been in the body shop so I needed another way down, so my brother dropped me off in Portland and I needed a way home.
I considered the Bus, but Greyhound takes longer then I want to, Bolt Bus is very cheap, but it's faster because it only stops at major cities and apparently Tacoma is not a major city, and I didn't want to walk all my bags through Seattle mass transit after doing that in Portland.
Airlines? 140 dollars before I check any bags plus security and all that jazz.
How about Amtrak?
28 dollars coach, Portland Union Station (which is served by Portlands MAX light rail, so easily accessible) to Tacoma Amtrak station, two bags brought with you for no additional charge, coffee shop, bar and dining car, two hours and 15 minutes. perfect.
So this is the Amtrak Cascades train, Cascades is a much different format then most Amtrak routes, so Cascades is a collaboration between Washington Dept of Transportation, Oregon Dept of Transportation, and some help from Transport BC. It runs between Eugene Oregon and Vancouver BC. Farebox recovery ratio (the amount of costs paid by ticket buyers) is 59%, so it's subsidized, but not the worst example in mass transportation, most systems are lucky to recover 20%. The rolling stock are single level cars manufactured by Talgo, a Spanish car maker that builds rail equipment for many of the transit systems in Europe. The Cascades train is capable of operating at 100mph, but since it uses the freight right of way its maximum legal speed is 79mph, and on my trip because of freight traffic we averaged maybe 63 mph. the cars are quiet and due to Talgo's independent suspension system, very smooth. You're allowed to bring two carry on bags, which can be stowed either in overhead bins and larger bags/parcels etc can be stowed in a cabinet at the rear of your car. oversized packages or bags containing restricted items (firearms for example) must be stowed in the baggage car and checked. this service is very cheap compared to the airlines.
Arrival: When you arrive at the station you'll check in at the ticket counter, and be issued your tickets, if you have an existing electronic reservation on your phone you can skip check in. I had a reservation but since I arrived earlier then I thought at the station and just in time for an earlier train the ticket agent canceled my e-reservation and gave my paper tickets for the earlier train. you'll meet the conductor at an access point to the platform where s/he will issue you another ticket with your seat and car assignment and you enter the platform to board your train, that's it! no security, no enhanced freedom from TSA, no bag searches, just get on your train and find your seat.
Ammenities: The Cascades does not have a full service dining car like the regular train, it has instead a Bistro car, where you can purchase light meals like salads or sandwiches, since the longest possible trip on this train is six hours (Eugene to Canada) this isn't really a downside. they serve a variety of local microbrew beers and even some hard liquor cocktails, as well as coffee, newspapers, etc.
Arrival: An announcment is made before each stop, don't miss it, the train stops only long enough to disembark and embark the next set of passengers, it averages maybe 5 minutes a stop. if you fell asleep you've missed your stop. again, just exit the train, and unlike the airports your reception can wait for you right in front of the station.
overall not a bad way to travel, if you're traveling between major cities in the Pacific Northwest Amtrak Cascades is definitely the way to go if you don't have a car.
I considered the Bus, but Greyhound takes longer then I want to, Bolt Bus is very cheap, but it's faster because it only stops at major cities and apparently Tacoma is not a major city, and I didn't want to walk all my bags through Seattle mass transit after doing that in Portland.
Airlines? 140 dollars before I check any bags plus security and all that jazz.
How about Amtrak?
28 dollars coach, Portland Union Station (which is served by Portlands MAX light rail, so easily accessible) to Tacoma Amtrak station, two bags brought with you for no additional charge, coffee shop, bar and dining car, two hours and 15 minutes. perfect.
So this is the Amtrak Cascades train, Cascades is a much different format then most Amtrak routes, so Cascades is a collaboration between Washington Dept of Transportation, Oregon Dept of Transportation, and some help from Transport BC. It runs between Eugene Oregon and Vancouver BC. Farebox recovery ratio (the amount of costs paid by ticket buyers) is 59%, so it's subsidized, but not the worst example in mass transportation, most systems are lucky to recover 20%. The rolling stock are single level cars manufactured by Talgo, a Spanish car maker that builds rail equipment for many of the transit systems in Europe. The Cascades train is capable of operating at 100mph, but since it uses the freight right of way its maximum legal speed is 79mph, and on my trip because of freight traffic we averaged maybe 63 mph. the cars are quiet and due to Talgo's independent suspension system, very smooth. You're allowed to bring two carry on bags, which can be stowed either in overhead bins and larger bags/parcels etc can be stowed in a cabinet at the rear of your car. oversized packages or bags containing restricted items (firearms for example) must be stowed in the baggage car and checked. this service is very cheap compared to the airlines.
Arrival: When you arrive at the station you'll check in at the ticket counter, and be issued your tickets, if you have an existing electronic reservation on your phone you can skip check in. I had a reservation but since I arrived earlier then I thought at the station and just in time for an earlier train the ticket agent canceled my e-reservation and gave my paper tickets for the earlier train. you'll meet the conductor at an access point to the platform where s/he will issue you another ticket with your seat and car assignment and you enter the platform to board your train, that's it! no security, no enhanced freedom from TSA, no bag searches, just get on your train and find your seat.
Ammenities: The Cascades does not have a full service dining car like the regular train, it has instead a Bistro car, where you can purchase light meals like salads or sandwiches, since the longest possible trip on this train is six hours (Eugene to Canada) this isn't really a downside. they serve a variety of local microbrew beers and even some hard liquor cocktails, as well as coffee, newspapers, etc.
Arrival: An announcment is made before each stop, don't miss it, the train stops only long enough to disembark and embark the next set of passengers, it averages maybe 5 minutes a stop. if you fell asleep you've missed your stop. again, just exit the train, and unlike the airports your reception can wait for you right in front of the station.
overall not a bad way to travel, if you're traveling between major cities in the Pacific Northwest Amtrak Cascades is definitely the way to go if you don't have a car.
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