15 April 1999

Amtrak Cascades Makes Tracks in Comfort and Style

Seattle Washington USA - Going by train keeps getting better.
 
If you haven't experienced Amtrak's new Cascades service yet, you're in for a treat. You've probably seen the ads on television, a sleek space-age-looking train that goes like the wind.
 
Last week, we rode the new train from Seattle to Eugene, Oregon. As we walked down the platform at Amtrak's King Street Station, we got our first glimpse of the spiffy dark green, chocolate, and white engine and the matching cars behind it. (Amtrak calls the colors evergreen and cappuccino.) It didn't look like any train we'd ever ridden on.
 
We got another surprise when we stepped onto our low-slung coach car and viewed the classy interior, matching walls and curtains in a soothing shade of blue/green picked up in the patterned fabric covering the seats, wall-to-wall carpeting, big windows, overhead racks, lighting strips running the length of the car, and individually operated lights. Sturdy trays and foot rests drop from the seat in front of you.
 
With two seats on each side and an aisle in between, the cars look a lot like the interior of an airplane except that these have more leg room and lots of space in which to move around.
 
Each seat has power for laptop computers and electronic devices. At the end of the car is space for oversize packages and luggage and, at the other end, a restroom. A wall rack holds a selection of magazines. Some cars have credit-card-activated phones.
 
At each end of the cars is an overhead TV monitor on which full-length family movies are shown during the trip. You can bring your own headset or rent one for $3.
 
Except when the movie is on, the monitors display maps of the train route, showing exactly where the train is at any given moment and information such as current time, estimated arrival time, current temperature, and the name of the next stop. The entire train is non-smoking.
 
We think the cars are an improvement over the original, rather stark Talgo-type versions introduced in the Northwest several years ago.
 
Air-operated glass doors separate the cars. In the Bistro food car, an electric eye automatically operates the door to the coach car, making it easier for passengers to carry their purchases back to their seats.
 
Stainless steel surfaces, Corian counters, pale pink walls, and bar seats covered with a deep lavender fabric give the Bistro car a jazzy, sophisticated look. Running the length of the ceiling is a map of the entire 466-mile Amtrak Pacific Corridor route, stretching from Vancouver, B.C., to Eugene.
 
The menu features Northwest products, Tim's potato chips, Ivar's clam chowder, Widmer and Redhook ales, Snoqualmie Falls oatmeal, pastries from Mostly Muffins, sandwiches from Larry's Market, and coffee from Cafe Appassionato. Prices range from 75 cents to $3 for breakfast items, $2 to $5.50 for lunch and dinner items, $1 to $1.50 for snacks, and $2.75 to $3.50 for beer, ale, wine, and cocktails.
 
Adjacent to the Bistro car is the lounge with Corian-topped tables and chairs. Passengers can eat their food there or carry it back to their seats.
 
On the Seattle-Vancouver, B.C., run, passengers can enjoy full meals in the lounge car with table service.
 
The lounge is one of four cars on the train, along with two coach cars and the Bistro car, that are wheelchair accessible. There's even space at some of the tables in the lounge car for wheelchairs to roll right up to them. Wide aisles make it easy to get around.
 
Amtrak Cascades is a high-speed train with a potential of 115 mph. At present, however, it travels at the same speed as other Amtrak trains, with a maximum of 79 mph.
 
When the Talgo train started five years ago, travel time between Seattle and Portland was three hours and 55 minutes. It has now been reduced to 3 1/2 hours. Additional track work and upgrading of signals will lower the time even more. The eventual goal is 2 1/2.
 
Current travel time for the once-daily train between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., is three hours and 55 minutes. Plans are under way to increase the frequency to two departures later in the year and eventually to reduce the travel time.
 
Despite the speed achieved by the use of pendular-tilt technology, which allows the equipment to approach curves without slowing down, the ride is very smooth.
 
Three-and-a-half hours is a decent time for the 186-mile trip between Seattle and Portland. Even more important, you don't have to fight traffic. If you've driven Interstate 5 recently between the two cities, you know it can be a nightmare.
 
The same is true on the Seattle-Vancouver, B.C., route and you don't have to wait in long lines at the border to clear customs.
 
At the station and on-board the train, we noticed a new breed of Amtrak employees, very service oriented. Our first encounter was in Seattle with Clayton Boyer, ticket counter agent, who was helpful and very pleasant.
 
Paul Albers, chief of on-board service, patiently assigned passengers to seats prior to boarding. No more running down the platform to make sure you get the seat you want.
 
On board, Albers circulated through the cars making sure passengers were comfortable and things were running smoothly. David Allgaier, service attendant in the Bistro car, exhibited the same "can-do" attitude.
 
Amtrak Cascade fares vary, depending on availability. The earlier you make your reservations, the better the price.
 
One-way fares between Seattle and Portland range from $21 to $33, between Seattle and Eugene $29 to $54, and between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., $21 to $32.
 
Also available on Amtrak Cascades is a custom class in which passengers ride in coaches with wider seats and receive preferential boarding, complimentary newspaper, and a snack of fresh fruits, biscotti, a piece of Seattle's Chocolate, and a non-alcoholic drink of their choice. Custom class passengers pay an additional $10 each way.
 
Amtrak fares are reduced 15 percent for seniors over 62. Children ages 2 to 15 traveling with an adult pay half fare.
 
Currently, Amtrak has a special offer. The first person traveling pays full fare, the second person pays half fare, and the third person is free. This offer is good through 12 Jun 1999 except for 28-31 May 1999.
 
For reservations and information, call Amtrak at 800-872-7245.
 
The Talgo train was an experiment. At the time it began service, we asked, "Why take the Talgo now?" The answer was:  "Because it gives you a look at the future of rail travel in the Pacific Northwest."
 
The future is here.
 
Hilda Anderson.