Amtrak Cascades Boosts Vancouver-Seattle Travel Time with Border Preclearance

New customs preclearance protocols at Vancouver’s Pacific Central Station have reduced Amtrak Cascades travel times between Vancouver and Seattle by at least 10 minutes. The change, implemented on June 8, allows passengers to complete US customs and immigration checks before boarding, eliminating the need for trains to stop at the US border in Blaine, Washington.

Faster Journeys

The streamlined process has trimmed the scheduled travel time for southbound Amtrak Cascades trains from Vancouver to Seattle to four hours and 15 minutes, down from the previous four hours and 25 minutes. Northbound trains from Seattle to Vancouver maintain a shorter four-hour scheduled travel time.

Historically, US-bound trains would slow and halt at the Peace Arch Border Crossing in Blaine, where US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers would board to conduct screenings. These onboard checks, along with baggage inspections and occasional searches, could lead to further delays.

Under the new CBP protocols, all security screening, customs declarations, and document and baggage inspections are now conducted at Pacific Central Station prior to departure. This preclearance process, which builds upon existing station security measures, streamlines the border crossing experience. Amtrak now advises passengers to arrive an hour before departure to complete the preclearance process and board their train. Border control security protocols also mandate that passengers be seated at least 15 minutes before departure to ensure trains are properly secured.

Future Enhancements and Ridership Goals

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), which sponsors the Cascades service, aims to further reduce southbound run times to four hours. While published Amtrak schedules currently retain some buffer time, the new preclearance is a significant step.

In 2025, approximately 149,000 passengers travelled through Pacific Central Station on the Cascades service, making Vancouver the third busiest destination. Currently, two daily roundtrips operate between Vancouver and Seattle. WSDOT has proposals that could eventually increase service to six daily roundtrips and reduce travel times to as low as three hours and 36 minutes.

Advocacy groups are pushing for more substantial improvements to further trim trip times, though state funding priorities have historically favoured highway investments over rail.

Pacific Central Station is the first Canadian railway station to implement full US border preclearance, a process common at major Canadian airports like Vancouver International Airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport, and Montréal–Trudeau International Airport. Amtrak also operates other cross-border routes to Toronto and Montreal, but these do not currently feature the same level of preclearance. Amtrak and WSDOT have been advocating for customs preclearance on the Vancouver-Seattle route since 2019.

WSDOT Secretary Julie Meredith highlighted the significance of these improvements. “This is a milestone year for train travel in the Pacific Northwest,” Meredith stated. “We’re pleased to offer Amtrak Cascades passengers a better cross-border experience, particularly as we welcome visitors from around the world as part of the international soccer games happening in both Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia this summer.”

Meredith also announced the introduction of new Amtrak Cascades trains later in 2026, which will feature increased seating capacity and enhanced onboard amenities. “As a result, we’re anticipating record-breaking ridership in the year ahead and a bright future for rail travel throughout our region,” she added.

Amtrak hopes that the combination of increased visitor travel for international soccer games and the new Airo trains will help boost Amtrak Cascades ridership past the one million annual passenger mark for the first time.

Key facts

This development directly impacts transportation efficiency between two major Pacific Northwest cities. The reduction in travel time and the introduction of new trains are aimed at enhancing the passenger experience and encouraging greater use of rail services. The focus on preclearance at Pacific Central Station signifies a commitment to improving cross-border travel, a crucial element for regional connectivity and tourism, especially in light of upcoming international events.

Source: The Urbanist – Amtrak Cascades Speeds Up Trips from Vancouver, BC with Preclearance (https://www.theurbanist.org/amtrak-cascades-vancouver-bc-with-preclearance/)