Riding the Amtrak Cascades makes sense for many reasons

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      Not long ago, I took my first Amtrak round-trip to Portland from Pacific Central Station in Vancouver.

      Costing less than $200, it was a bargain in comparison to the flights leaving Vancouver International Airport.

      I was surprised by the legroom in the coach section. It was superior to anything I've experienced in economy class on an airplane.

      Charlie Smith

      It's not bad for groups of four, either, should they want to sit together.

      Charlie Smith

      The seats on the right-hand side of the train going south offered far superior views of the ocean, making for a pleasant journey that included stops in several small towns along the way.

      Charlie Smith

      Seattle is one of the prime destinations along the route. The Emerald City's King Street Station has undergone a major renovation, as you can see below. For fans of the Seahawks, Mariners, and Sounders, the stadiums are within walking distance.

      Charlie Smith

      The bistro car offered snacks and drinks, which attracted long lineups.

      It took eight hours to reach Portland, but it didn't seem that long, thanks to the Wi-Fi on the train.

      Train travel has been the preferred option in Europe for generations, but it's only in recent years that it's made a comeback in North America.

      On a daily basis, more than 86,000 passengers rode Amtrak in the United States in 2012-13, according to its website.

      Last year, nearly 31.6 million boarded Amtrak trains, a record in the company's history.

      Would I take this train again? Without hesitation.

      Comments

      5 Comments

      penny

      May 20, 2014 at 7:18am

      $ 200 is the expensive end of the price scale. If you book in advance it's much cheaper. If you went on June 10 returning June 12, it would cost $112.

      Erica

      May 20, 2014 at 10:56am

      Yeah $200 seems high. We only payed $94 round trip each , but we made the reservation months in advance

      Charlie Smith

      May 20, 2014 at 12:09pm

      I wrote that it cost less than $200. I think it was $178, but I can't remember the exact price.
      Charlie Smith

      Shelia Rickers

      May 20, 2014 at 2:38pm

      Yea the 200 determines if you are going Coach or Business Class.I perfer Business due to the room and added admentaties. If you have mental or physical Disabilities it costs 145 for me to go from Centralia, WA to Vancouver Business Class

      Meathead

      May 20, 2014 at 3:24pm

      While not having the same prestige as the Mile High Club, the washrooms are much more conductive to nookie.