I am looking to book this train in late September. Amtrak is telling me it travels once a day, leaving Seattle in am. Tour company is telling me that there are two daily departures from Seattle north to Vancouver, one leaving in pm. Which is correct? Can Amtrak really not know when its trains leave?
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
Without having done any investigation, I'll bet those other departures are Amtrak Thruway Connections. There are busses (depending on supply and demand) that are either chartered by Amtrak or regularly scheduled busses that will stop at Amtrak stations. In either case, Amtrak tickets are accepted for transportation and their connection is guaranteed ("train's late, bus waits").
[This message has been edited by Gilbert B Norman (edited 04-29-2002).]
Posted by Ken V (Member # 1466) on :
Amtrak is correct. There is only one Talgo train per day between Seattle and Vancouver. I suspect that the evening train the tour company was refering to was train #762 which only goes as far as Bellingham WA. with a Thruway bus connection to Vancouver BC. There is also a late nite Thruway bus from Seattle to Vancouver which waits for the Coast Starlight.
As a side note, with your 31st post above, Mr. Norman, you have moved from the rank of New Member to Member. Congratulations!
[This message has been edited by Ken V (edited 04-29-2002).]