Cultural Cascades                                                          

Story Ideas

ON BOARD

• Travel in comfort and style from Eugene to Vancouver, BC on the Amtrak Cascades, featuring new European-style trains built by Talgo, Pacifica Marine and General Motors Electro-Motive Division. These trains were custom-built and designed in consultation with Pacific Northwest consumers, Amtrak employees, travel industry professionals, artists and rail experts. They meet or exceed safety, environmental and accessibility standards.
• Reflecting the natural culture of the region’s magnificent forests, the sleek, modern trains feature distinctive evergreen and cappuccino hues on a cream background and sport unique 7-foot tall tail fins. Panoramic windows and calm, natural tones inside the train are designed to showcase spectacular British Columbia and Pacific Northwest views. A unique artistic rendering on the ceiling of the Bistro car offers a satellite view of the region, including fiber optic lights to show population and activity centers.

Train Statistics - Each Amtrak Cascades train typically consists of 12 cars and seats up to 244 passengers, with space for four mobility-impaired passengers. Each train typically includes a locomotive; five standard coach cars; one Business Class car; one accessible coach car; one accessible Business Class car; one Bistro car; one dining/lounge car; one baggage car; and one end service car.

Standard Coach and Business Class Cars - All Amtrak Cascades standard coach and Business Class cars include panoramic windows; wide, comfortable, reclining seats; generous legroom; adjustable footrests; seat back tray tables; at-seat AC power outlets; 17-inch television monitors; four channel in-seat audio; baggage closet and overhead luggage compartment; temperature and lighting controls; and restrooms. An on-board information system uses links to satellites to present accurate arrival and scenery information on video screens in every coach.

• Standard coach cars offer two-and-two seating with a center aisle. A total of 36 seats are available in each coach car. Eight of these seats are arranged around tables for four-person family or business groups.
• Business Class cars offer two-and-one seating with a center aisle, and even wider, roomier seats. A total of 26 seats are available in each Business Class car.
• Accessible coach and Business Class cars meet or exceed all ADA standards for accessibility. The accessible coach cars offer 17 comfortable reclining seats and two seats that convert to wheelchair spaces. The accessible Business Class cars offer 17 seats, one seat that converts to a wheelchair space, and one wheelchair space. Transfer and companion seats and accessible restrooms are available in all accessible coach and accessible Business Class cars.

Bistro Cars - You can eat in the Bistro or take food back your seat. The Bistro is wheelchair accessible and features panoramic windows. The Bistro ceiling features an artists rendering of the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia from a satellite. Population and activity centers of the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia are highlighted with hundreds of fiber optic lights.

Lounge/Dining Cars - Each lounge/dining car offers 30 seats and 10 tables, is wheelchair accessible and features panoramic windows. At-table dining service is available on some Seattle to Vancouver, B.C. trains. Amtrak Cascades passengers on all routes are invited to use the car as a lounge when at-table dining service is not available. Travelers are invited to spend some time in the lounge car to enjoy the company of family and friends and to dine on food from the Bistro car.

Baggage Car and End Service Car - Hidden beneath the Amtrak Cascades unique tail fins at both ends of the train are baggage cars and end service cars. Each baggage car is designed to accommodate checked baggage including skis, snowboards, boxed bikes, six bicycles on racks, and express packages. Each end service car contains power generators for on-board services like air conditioning, lights, kitchen equipment, video, and music.

Locomotives - New F59PHI locomotives push or pull Amtrak Cascades trains. Manufactured by General Motors Electro-Motive Division, these locomotives feature computer-controlled fuel injection for maximum efficiency, a specially designed cab to insulate crew from noise and vibration, and an aerodynamic body style for low drag. The new locomotives produce low emissions. They are capable of operating at speeds up to 110 miles per hour, but only in locations where track and safety systems are designed to accommodate these speeds. New track and safety systems capable of speeds up to 125 mph will by added within the next decade.

Pacific Northwest Rail Corridor Ridership - In 2002, over 577,000   passengers took Amtrak trips within the Pacific Northwest Rail Corridor. Ridership on the corridor has increased more than 150 percent since 1993; the year Amtrak's partnership with local states began.

High Speed Trains - Although Amtrak Cascades trains are designed to travel safely at speeds exceeding 125 miles per hour; they currently travel at a maximum speed of 79 miles per hour. Improvements to track, grade crossings, higher-speed locomotives and the development of innovative safety systems are planned in the Pacific Northwest to reach speeds of 110 mph. When completed during the next 20 years, these projects will allow trains to safely travel at higher speeds and reduce travel times.

Tilt Train Technology - Amtrak Cascades trains use Talgo pendular train technology to maintain speed through curves. Instead of slowing down when approaching a curve, the trains utilize gravity to tilt through the curve while maintaining speed. As a result, travel times are reduced while passenger comfort is assured. This technology delivers impressive results on tracks in the Pacific Northwest that tends to have a lot of curves. In 1998 when this technology was approved by safety regulators and railroads for more extensive local use, the trip between Seattle and Portland was reduced by 25 minutes.

For More Information

Visit www.AmtrakCascades.com

Revised March 2003