$1,500? Really?
Is that what’s stopping a second Amtrak train from Seattle?
A major roadblock to a second train is a demand by the Canada Border Services Agency to charge a $1,500 daily levy because the train would arrive outside normal CBSA working hours.
That’s nothing that couldn’t be resloved with a few hours of a federal Minister’s time. Why isn’t it?
This has been driving me nuts ever since I first heard about it. I use this train to go to Seattle. My sense is that with some promotion, and a more convenient timetable, ridership would probably increase significantly. Folks who haven’t used this train may not realize that much of the route is along the water and the scenery is quite spectacular.
One major drawback of the service, the only drawback as far as I’m concerned, is the schedule. It is not possible to take the train from Vancouver to Portland without staying overnight in Seattle on the present schedule. Amtrak provides a bus service but it requires a very early start in Vancouver. I haven’t used the bus service but I’ve heard a few discouraging stories of crossing the border by bus.
I cannot understand the Federal position on this. Surely, the increased tourism and the potential for reducing highway trips would be sufficient incentive to fast track a second train rather than hold it for ransom.
Transport 2000 BC has been following this issue for over a year. It has been frustrating to say the least. At least it’s getting lots of press these days. Thank you Gregor Robertson for talking about high speed rail to Portland, also Obama has raised the profile of rail in general. Now I’ve seen a lot of articles in the last little while in publications such as the Sun, the Province, the Globe, the Vancouver Courier, Metro newspaper, CTV news, 1410 news talk, The Walrus, Trains magazine, among others.
Someone in border services must not like train travel.
P.S. This second daily train (if it ever starts) would permit direct service to Portland.