Train travel is booming. In the last year, The National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) has served 24+ million riders, and in 2023, Portland’s Union Station served 525,955.
The more sustainable, often scenic, and middle seat-less cousin to flying, train travel could play a part in your next vacation — here’s how to do it locally.
Meet the routes
If you’re leaving from Portland Union Station, you’ll have several routes at your disposal, including the long-distance Coast Starlight and Empire Builder routes.
Another line that stops in the City of Roses is Amtrak Cascades. Here are some of its amenities:
- Wi-Fi | Coach and Business class passengers can enjoy free Wi-Fi (except when traveling in Canada).
- Food | Riders are invited to the Bistro to dig into soups, sandwiches, sweets + snacks, plus alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages. Some trains have a Lounge car, where you can enjoy your meal and the jaw-dropping scenery.
- Know before you go | Make sure you have personal items for a comfortable trip and the necessary documents if you’re crossing the border.
Where it takes you
Maybe you’ll take the midnight train, but you don’t wanna go just anywhere. Check out a few places you can get to from Portland. Prices may vary.
- Seattle (Amtrak Cascades) | ~3.5-hour trip | Coach: $33-$66 | Business: $90
- Vancouver, BC (Amtrak Cascades) | ~8 hour-trip | Coach: $63-$124 | Business: $140
- Chicago (Empire Builder) | ~46-hour trip | Coach: $190-$304 | Business: $291| Private rooms: $687+
First stop: The ticket counter
Purchase one-way tickets online, or buy a pass — the $499 USA Rail Pass, for instance, gets you 10 rides over 30 days.
Next — getting to the station. Portland Union Station includes daily and overnight parking, but you can also use public transit.
Just down the track…
Research on the potential for a high-speed rail service connecting the Pacific Northwest is ongoing; a report by the Washington Department of Transportation (WDOT) said it “could result in better access to jobs, affordable housing, shared resources, increased collaboration, and economic prosperity” for the megaregion.
