Amtrak train from Seattle to Vancouver delayed half a year

The Amtrak Cascades passenger train service between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. was delayed again, this time until December.

In a letter to both Washington and Oregon’s departments of transportation, Amtrak said a lack of staff was a crucial reason behind the delays.

Ray Lang, vice president of state supported services with Amtrak, defended the company and said the process of training and hiring was a long process.

“Having enough qualified maintenance personnel is a critical piece of our ability to support the resumption of service to Canada,” said Lang in his letter.

“While we are making good progress hiring individuals to fill those positions, most of the new hired employees need to complete their training programs.”

Lang said that he understood the frustration with the lack of service and hoped the date might come sooner.

“I realize this is much farther in the future than either state would lie. This news is also very disappointing to Amtrak,” said Lang.

“We commit to an earlier start date if our employee resources allow.”

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Roger Millar, secretary of transportation for Washington and Kris Strickler, director of the Oregon department of transportation, wrote Amtrak a letter back detailing their displeasure with the announcement.

“This delay is not acceptable to WSDOT and ODOT, our passengers, elected officials, or cities,” their letter stated. “Amtrak’s lack of support for the Amtrak Cascades service cannot continue and Amtrak’s plans to delay the re-start of Canadian service for seven months or more is not acceptable,” their letter said.

While Millar and Strickler said they understood the challenges staff shortages can bring, they said there were workarounds that could be put in place to re-establish the Cascades service.

“As the states and Amtrak have discussed over the last several months, the states are willing to accept at least weekend service or a staggered service throughout the week until resumption of full service. However, the states cannot accept Amtrak’s plan to provide no service at all.”