Amtrak is a fun and alternative way to travel! Here is a quick snippet of my Amtrak Cascades experience, from the station to the train car. My mom and niece were recently visiting me in Portland, their first time in the PNW, and wanted to take a trip to Seattle. I love Seattle and was happy to indulge! However, I preferred not to drive and therefore looked into traveling by Amtrak. A newbie to train travel, I researched online to get some insight. It led me to multiple sites, which became daunting. I hope this write-up helps others on a similar quest. Enjoy!
Amtrak Cascades
We rode on the Amtrak Cascades, which services Washington and Oregon. The trip time between Portland and Seattle was 3 hours and 25 minutes, similar to driving time but minus the fuss. I ended up paying $260 for four round-trip tickets, which equates to $65 per person. Although, I did notice less expensive tickets for different travel times. I imagine several factors, including supply and demand, affect ticket prices. After considering the cost of gas, parking, vehicle wear, and the pain in the arse of driving around downtown Seattle, I felt like it was worth the money. Since we stayed in a walkable part of downtown, we didn’t miss having a car during our visit.
Arriving at the Station
We took a taxi to Portland Union Station to avoid dealing with parking; however, the station does offer daily and overnight parking options for a fee. Portland Union Station is grand with the feel of an old nostalgic train station, like you see in the movies. We arrived about 20 minutes before departure with pre-purchased tickets. Since this was our first Amtrak adventure, we headed to the ticket counter for guidance. We were instructed to stand in a long-growing line in front of our departure gate, where we waited to board.
There was no TSA or structured security process like at the airport. However, Amtrack states on its website here that they “conduct a range of behind-the-scenes and front-line security measures to ensure Amtrak employees, customers, and infrastructure safety and security.”
Boarding the Train
As the departure line began to move, we made our way through the gate and outside the station to our train. A gentleman wearing a conductor hat greeted us as we approached the train car. He confirmed our destination and directed us to the car with the best seating available for our party of four. Coach tickets do not have assigned seats. After entering, you can sit wherever you’d like. There are two seats on each side of the aisle. If you have a group of people like we did, you’ll have to split up into pairs. Since we had four in our party, we took up a row where two of us sat on each side of the aisle.
Food and Comfort
Compared to flying, I found the seats on the train to be much more comfortable and spacious than a plane. There was plenty of legroom and room under the seat for my backpack. The train also has an overhead storage space for luggage if needed. Each row of seats features an easily accessible plugin to charge your phone or electronic device, and many trains and stations, including ours, offer wifi. The train cars have air-conditioning (AC); however, the AC was not working in the car on our return trip, making it a little uncomfortable since it was a hot June day.
Each train car has restrooms and trash bins. The Amtrak Cascades had food and beverages, including alcohol, available for purchase in a dedicated Cafe Car. You can view a list of their menu items here. If you plan on partaking, you may consider trying for a seat close to the Cafe Car (typically towards the end of the train) to avoid the struggle of walking back to your seat with your hands full. The train terrain can make for a bumpy ride. Hence, it can be tricky getting back to your seat juggling to stabilize yourself while holding food and drink. The Cafe Car has some booth seating available, but it’s limited.
The View
The train cars have large wide windows on each side offering great views. Shortly after we departed Portland Union Station we crossed over St. John’s Railroad Bridge that, to no surprise, provided a magnificent view of the beautiful and famous St. John’s Bridge.
The train route runs through several small towns on the way to Seattle, like the one shown in this picture of lush farmland backed by the sight of Mount Rainer. I found it relaxing to sit back and enjoy the scenic view, so much so that I inadvertently snagged a quick nap. However, I did manage to capture a few good pics of the view to share. You can check out my photo gallery here to view more.
That’s a wrap!
Overall, I enjoyed traveling on the Amtrak Cascades! It was a seamless experience from booking the tickets, navigating the train stations, and boarding for departure. The Amtrak employees were friendly and helpful, and the mood was much more relaxing than air travel. The seats were roomy and comfortable, with seat back trays for food or activities. The food and drinks served on board were reasonably priced, and the restroom facilities were always accessible due to the number available.
I will definitely travel on Amtrak again. Next time, I may splurge and try out a business-class seat! If you have traveled on Amtrak, please comment below with what you liked (or disliked) about your experience. If you haven’t traveled on Amtrak and have questions that weren’t addressed in this post, drop them in the comments below. Until next time…TTFN!!
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