As reported by Lane Today, in December, a new Amtrak Cascades schedule went into effect on Monday, January 6, 2014. The new schedule coincides with the arrival of Amtrak’s two new Talgo Series 8 13-car passenger train sets, named “Mt. Bachelor” and “Mt. Jefferson.” Both train sets were manufactured in Milwaukee, Wisconsin by Talgo America with corporate headquarters in Madrid, Spain.
Now, after a full week of operations, both Talgo 8 train sets worked seamlessly alongside five sister passenger trains in the Amtrak Cascades corridor between Eugene, Ore. and Vancouver, B.C.
Amtrak Cascades New Talgo Series 8 Train Set on the Move
Photo: ODOT
A new bus and train schedule for the Amtrak Cascades corridor (pdf) is now in effect with the addition of the trains. Passengers can also see just the changes that affect the Oregon portion of the corridor (pdf).
Features of the new Amtrak Cascades schedule include replacing several bus routes with trains, adding new stops on bus routes and adding new bus service. For example, for the first time, Portland riders heading south will have an early morning train option at 6 a.m. and Eugene riders heading north will have a late afternoon train option at 4 p.m.
The new, improved Amtrak Cascades schedule is the final step in the process of acquiring and operating the new passenger train sets for Oregon. The process from purchase to delivery of Oregon’s new Talgo 8 train sets by the Oregon Department of Transportation did not happen overnight. In fact it took several years.
“This is an exciting day for everyone in Oregon¬—not just for those who love trains, but for those who appreciate having options in travel,” Oregon Department of Transportation Director Matt Garrett said at the ribbon cutting ceremony, held on July 26, 2013, in Eugene. “It took an amazing amount of teamwork to make this dream of having our own trains come true. Now, we’re taking the next big step in Oregon passenger rail travel with our own state-owned trains.”
Each train set seats 286 passengers and has features including catering facilities, a bicycle storage car, business class accommodations, at-seat passenger electrical outlets, and 4G Wi-Fi.
For more information regarding passenger rail service in Oregon, visit www.oregon.gov/ODOT.
To see routes and fares for Amtrak Cascades corridor, visit www.amtrakcascades.com.
For information on the new schedule changes, visit http://www.amtrakcascades.com/Schedules.htm