Amtrak Cascades Is Back: Full Service Resumes After 11-Day Shutdown

Passengers Rejoice as Key Pacific Northwest Rail Route Returns

After an 11-day disruption that left travelers scrambling for alternatives, Amtrak has fully restored service on its popular Cascades route between Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. The shutdown, caused by extreme weather damage to tracks near Vancouver, Washington, impacted thousands of daily commuters and vacationers.

Why Service Was Halted

• Landslides and flooding damaged critical rail infrastructure
• Nearby freight operations also experienced major delays
• Repairs required coordination between multiple agencies and jurisdictions

What This Means for Travelers

The Cascades route serves 18 stations along its 467-mile corridor, carrying over 800,000 passengers annually. With service restored:

1. Regular four daily roundtrips between Portland and Seattle have resumed
2. International service to Vancouver, BC is operating normally
3. Connecting bus services between Eugene and Portland are back on schedule

A Warning for Future Travel

BNN meteorologists note that climate change is making extreme weather events more frequent in the Pacific Northwest. Travel experts suggest:

• Check Amtrak alerts before departing during storm seasons
• Consider travel insurance for important trips
• Have alternative transportation plans during winter months

What Do You Think?

• Should Amtrak invest more in preventive infrastructure to avoid these shutdowns?
• Is rail travel still reliable given increasing climate disruptions?
• Would you support higher ticket prices if it meant more weather-resistant tracks?
• Are officials doing enough to protect critical transportation corridors?
• Is this proof we need to shift more travel from planes to trains?