Amtrak Cascades (Vancouver to Seattle)
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Amtrak Cascades suits a car-free trip from Vancouver to Seattle: two trains a day run each way from Pacific Central Station, and the southbound run takes 4 hours 15 minutes. Since 8 June 2026 you clear US preclearance in the station before boarding, so arrive an hour early.
Photo by Yuheng Ouyang on Unsplash and others, credited in the gallery
Services
| Service | Time | How often | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train 517, Vancouver to Seattle | 255 min | DailyLeaves Pacific Central Station at 7:25 am and reaches Seattle at 11:40 am | Timetable effective 8 June 2026 |
| Train 519, Vancouver to Seattle | 255 min | DailyLeaves Pacific Central Station at 4:55 pm and reaches Seattle at 9:10 pm | Timetable effective 8 June 2026 |
| Train 516, Seattle to Vancouver | 240 min | DailyLeaves Seattle at 8:30 am and reaches Vancouver at 12:30 pm | Timetable effective 8 June 2026 |
| Train 518, Seattle to Vancouver | 240 min | DailyLeaves Seattle at 6:00 pm and reaches Vancouver at 10:00 pm | Timetable effective 8 June 2026 |
| Amtrak Thruway bus, Vancouver to Seattle | – | Four a dayLeaves Vancouver at 5:30 am, 9:00 am, 11:30 am and 4:00 pm, reaching Seattle between 9:00 am and 7:45 pm | Timetable effective 8 June 2026 All four southbound buses also stop in Richmond, and they reach it 20 to 30 minutes after leaving Vancouver. |
| Amtrak Thruway bus, Seattle to Vancouver | – | Four a dayLeaves Seattle at 10:45 am, 1:45 pm, 4:45 pm and 9:00 pm, reaching Vancouver between 2:15 pm and 12:15 am | Timetable effective 8 June 2026 |
Fares
- Bike rack reservationAmtrak Cascades' bike page gives $5 a rack without naming the currency; a boxed bike costs $15 for the box plus a $10 handling fee when racks sell out.US$5 (2026)
Two Amtrak Cascades trains leave Pacific Central Station every day on the timetable effective 8 June 2026. Train 517 departs at 7:25 am and reaches Seattle at 11:40 am, and train 519 leaves at 4:55 pm for a 9:10 pm arrival. Northbound, train 516 leaves Seattle at 8:30 am and train 518 at 6:00 pm, and each takes four hours. Four Thruway buses a day fill the gaps between 5:30 am and 4:00 pm out of Vancouver, and every one also stops in Richmond.
US preclearance opened at Pacific Central Station on 8 June 2026. Southbound passengers now clear US immigration and customs before boarding, and the train no longer stops at Blaine for the border check. The Urbanist reports that the change cut the scheduled run from 4 hours 25 minutes to 4 hours 15. Amtrak asks for an hour at the station before departure.
British Columbia stays on UTC−7 all year from 1 November 2026, and Washington's clocks go back an hour that day, so BC runs an hour ahead of Seattle until mid-March 2027. The June 2026 timetable predates that change. Check train times on Amtrak's site for any trip after 1 November.
Each train carries ten bike racks at $5 each, booked with your seat. E-bikes under 50 pounds are allowed. When the racks sell out, a boxed bike goes for $15 plus a $10 handling fee, and you take it apart yourself.
Worth knowing
- Book bike space with your ticket, and book early for summer, since each Amtrak Cascades train has ten racks.
- Tell the US inspectors at Pacific Central Station about every agricultural item you carry, including the ones the rules allow.
Quick answers about Amtrak Cascades (Vancouver to Seattle)
How long is the train from Vancouver to Seattle?
On the timetable effective 8 June 2026, Amtrak Cascades schedules 4 hours 15 minutes from Vancouver to Seattle and 4 hours northbound. Two trains run each way every day.
Do you clear US customs in Vancouver on Amtrak Cascades?
Yes. US preclearance has operated at Pacific Central Station since 8 June 2026, and Amtrak asks passengers to arrive an hour before departure.
Can you take a bike on the Amtrak from Vancouver to Seattle?
Yes. Each Amtrak Cascades train has ten bike racks that you reserve with your seat at $5 each, and e-bikes under 50 pounds are allowed.
Does the time change affect the Vancouver to Seattle train?
Yes. From 1 November 2026 British Columbia stays on UTC−7 and Washington's clocks go back an hour, so BC runs an hour ahead of Seattle until mid-March 2027, and the June 2026 timetable predates that change.
How long does Amtrak Cascades (Vancouver to Seattle) take?
Train 517, Vancouver to Seattle takes about 4 h 15 min, daily.
How much is Amtrak Cascades (Vancouver to Seattle)?
Bike rack reservation on Amtrak Cascades (Vancouver to Seattle) costs US$5 (2026).
Do you need to book Amtrak Cascades (Vancouver to Seattle) ahead?
Amtrak Cascades (Vancouver to Seattle): Arrive at Pacific Central Station an hour before departure to clear US preclearance. Be in your seat 15 minutes before the train leaves, because the doors close and the train is sealed then. Book bike space with your seat, especially in summer.