Riding the new Amtrak Cascades to Vancouver BC and back
On Sept 30th, Amtrak Cascades debuted its new AIRO cars on service from Eugene, OR to Vancouver, BC. Replacing an aging fleet that was getting harder and harder to maintain, the Airos are Amtrak Cascade’s first revamp in fifty-five years. I traveled from Seattle to Vancouver and back to check out the new trains. It was worth the wait.
Seattle to Wenatchee
As the Amtrak Empire Builder moseyed up the westernmost side of Seattle, I tried mimicking its sound. Ta-ta-ta-ta-ta, ta-ta-ta-ta-ta, ta-ta-ta-ta-ta. My tongue hit the roof of my mouth, closely matching the noise of the slowly moving train. Departing exactly on schedule at 4:55 pm, we glided past the Smith and Columbia Towers, reaching the Olympic Sculpture Park moments after 5:00.