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Our State level legislation is monitored by our Executive Director, Lloyd Flem in our state capital in Olympia, WA. Most of this legislation affects the Washington State Department of Transportation budget, which supplies the money to operate the Pacific Northwest Corridor trains and infrastructure improvements for future high speed passenger rail in the Pacific Northwest, mainly in Washington State, of course.

For more State Legislative Information, please go to the Washington State Legislature Home Page.

• Sept 1998 Corridor Update

Our Goal:

• Fast, frequent Amtrak service on the Pacific Northwest Rail Corridor by the year 2018, that carries 2.2 million people annually. This service will carry these travelers up to 500 million miles a year - with no traffic congestioni, no auto emissions, improved safety, and no operating subsidy.
• The Pacific Northwest Rail Corridor stretches 466 miles from Vancouver, British Columbia to Eugene, Oregon via Seattle, Washington, Portland, Oregon, and other stops inbetween.

Our Approach:

• After a comprehensive study in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Washington State decided to pursue incremental improvements to the Pacific Northwest Amtrak Service. The improved service would primarily use existing railroad right of way and would be developed in partnership with Amtrak, railroads, Oregon, British Columbia, local communities, and others.
• A comprehensive program of improvement for stations, safety systems, crossings, track, equipment, and customer service has been pursued. The first major state-sponsored Amtrak service enhancement in the corridor, an additional daily Seattle-Portland round-trip, was introduced in 1994. Other improvements have followed.
• Technology is being used whenever feasible to provide efficient, cost-effective service improvements. European-designed Talgo tilt-trains were selected to help reduce travel times and increase frequency of service.

Service Targets:

• By 2018, nearly hourly service between Seattle and Portland with a 2 hour, 30 minute travel time and service every two hours between Seattle and Vancouver with a travel time just under 3 hours. Many of these trains would offer through service connecting Eugene, Portland, Seattle, Vancouver, BCm and stops between.
• Independent forecasting recently indicated that revenues generated at the fare box will pay for all operations once the system is completed in 2018.

Amtrak/Washington State Results:

More than 500,000 people per year now ride Amtrak within our region. Ridership has more than doubled since Washington and Oregon began delivering service improvements in partnership with Amtrak in 1994.

Local Amtrak Trains routinely rank at or near the top nationwide for customer satisfaction.

In 1998, an additional daily Seattle-Portland round-trip was added to schedules and travel times reduced by 25 minutes. This is a direct result of use of Talgo train technology on the route. There are now four daily round-trips connecting Seattle and Portland, two daily round-trips connecting Portland and Eugene, and one daily round trip connecting Seattle and Vancouver, BC (NO STOPS INBETWEEN, however) Amtrak Thruway motorcoaches enhance schedule frequency.

Ridership for the first half 1998 is up 16 percent over 1997 and more than 35 percent above 1996, despite more aggressive pricing. July 1998 broke ridership ridership and revenue records for the corridor.

Amtrak is spending $30 million in capital investments in the Northwest this year and made a committment to another $30 million next year. Oregon is providing more than $10 million in improvements between Portland Union Station and the Columbia River. Washington State and BNSF have each invested well over $100 million.

The Next Few Years:

Amtrak Cascades service launches December 1st with new Talgo trains and service enhancements, including a choice of custom class seating, improved accessibility and improvements for comfort and efficiency.

Amtrak's approved capital plan includes track improvements and equipment to be used for a 2nd round trip north and south of Seattle. An additional round-trip between Seattle and Portland is possible before mid-2001.

In partnership with Sound Transit, Amtrak will add a station stop in Tukwila. Service could begin as early as December 1999, if facilities are ready.

Redevelopment construction at Seattle's historic King St. Station could begin as early as Summer 1999. The project could be complete by 2001.

If there are any questions and comments, please email Stan Suchan at suchans@wsdot.wa.gov, WSDOT Rail Office.

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Last Update: 01/04/00
Web Author: Warren Y. Yee