Slide temporarily stops Amtrak Cascades service between Vancouver and Seattle
Slide temporarily stops Amtrak Cascades service between Vancouver and Seattle
By Staff on December 19, 2024 2:32pm
View of a debris slide north of White Rock, BC, from an Amtrak Cascades train forced to stop (December 18, 2024). Photo: Whatcom News
WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. Riders on an Amtrak Cascades train found themselves being backed to the station after the train came to a stop several hundred feet from a debris slide across the tracks a few miles north of White Rock, BC.
Amtrak announced about 12:15pm on Wednesday, December 18th, that the train had been stopped. Amtrak officials said they were working with BNSF Railway to determine a course of action.
About 1pm, riders were informed buses were being arranged to take them from the Bellingham station to the Vancouver station and the train began the reverse trip to Bellingham.
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As a matter of protocol, train service is stopped for a minimum of 48 hours in the event of a track blockage incident. ... Amtrak says train service is expected to resume normal operations on Friday, December 20th, around noon. Until then, bus service is being provided for riders between Seattle and Vancouver.