This was my first time traveling with the Amtrak train. I arrived at the station around 04:45 am for my outbound train leaving at 06:35 am. A security lady kindly asked me to fill in the Customs Declaration form and made sure the rest of my paperwork was ok. Since I was traveling with a foreign passport to the US (Seattle), an ESTA application need to be presented as well. All papers were ok and was kindly asked to take a seat until check in started at 05:20 am. Once that started another lady (blond, short hair) from Amtrak itself came along and started yelling about the fact that everyone was required to fill in the CD form and she was not going to say it again. She sounded extremely frustrated, somewhat disrespectful and unfriendly. Definitely someone who needed a lesson or two about customer service. Since I was traveling business class I was requested to check in first together with other business class travelers. After this I proceeded to a US Customs officer who asked me a couple of general questions about my visit to the US. When arriving at the car I took a seat and just thought about the somewhat unfriendly procedure back at check in. The train left on time and after a short while I heard the same voice again and it appeared the Amtrak lady was also the purser on the business class... Now all of a sudden she acted overly kind, which I found odd. The business class seats were good with lots of space. Do make sure you arrive early at the car since the larger size carry-on need to be stowed away in racking which has limited space. Also try getting a seat at the West side of the train since that supposedly has the best view. I was sitting on the East side which had a good view as well.

Travelers need to know that reviews written before 2021 no longer reflect Amtrak service between Vancouver Canada and Seattle Washington. Now there is no longer train service. It's a bus for the entire trip. There is no service window in the Vancouver station and there is no accurate signage to direct passengers to the location of Amtrak service. By asking around, we found that the only Amtrak location is the bus bay #8 outside the terminal and the only Amtrak representative is the bus driver who appeared with the bus about one hour before departure time. The driver does it all. He scans tickets purchased on line, checks passports, decides whether a passenger is allowed to change a ticket, loads the baggage, makes all announcements and then drives the bus. At the border, he unloads the bags, directs passengers through customs and immigration, reloads the bags after passengers are processed and then unloads them again in Seattle. The bus has no wifi and has very limited carryon baggage capacity. There is a small restroom at the back of the bus. The length of the ride depends on traffic conditions and efficiency and staffing at the border processing station. We arrived in Seattle a half hour later than scheduled. Overall a less expensive way to travel but not up to Amtrak standards.

As many other reviews have stated, the website will make you think you're booking a train when it's actually only a bus. They lost a star for being misleading about that. However, I will say the bus experience wasn't actually that bad. On my way to Seattle, the bus was only half full so I got my row to myself. On the way back it was full, but then people got off at the border and I again got seats to myself. Both the drivers to and from Seattle were nice, had fun senses of humour and were very informative and helpful. The border crossing was extremely easy both ways. Do yourself a favour and just assume that the bus you are going on has no WIFI and no outlets. Come with your entertainment pre-downloaded on your phone and your devices charged. Neither bus had outlets or wifi. I overheard one of the drivers mention that newer buses have outlets - but there is no way to guarantee your trip will be on one of those buses. Finally, the trip travel time was extremely efficient. The lack of stops outside of one stop in Richmond and the border along the way is appreciated. I'd travel with them again.

I bought a train ticket for my wife and I as a gift so we could enjoy a beautiful train ride from Vancouver to Seattle. When we got to the station we were told we had bought a bus ticket. It seems many of the other customers were are also surprised, as we all thought the tickets were for a train. We were told to look a the "small print". We purchased the tickets totally based on experiencing a train ride. We had no other reason to go to Seattle. How were we supposed to know that Amtrak is also a bus service, in fact it is mostly a bus line. Look at their website, do you see a photo of a bus??? No, you read all about "hoping on the train" First class service... Honestly, to be stuck on a bus for 4 hours, (bus was late and many of the passengers missed their meetings, shows, etc) was such a disappointment. I mean really, who actually wants to spend almost 4 hours sitting in a bus on a boring highway...

BEWARE!! Land border crossing for trains back to the United States closes at 5:30, 15 minutes before train departure. I and about 10 other passengers were left to arrange other travel options back home to the United States from Vancouver Central Pacific on November 11th after dark. They only notify you via signs that ARE NOT visible as you’re exiting the station when you first arrive. Piss-poor customer service to deny fare-paying passengers while the train is at the platform and still boarding. Disappointed in Canadian Border Services and Amtrak. Will be driving next time. What’s the advantage of taking the train when you still have to wait in line to be processed and if customs isn’t there, you’re out of luck?? I waited longer to get processed detraining in Vancouver than I would’ve to get processed at the Interstate 5 border crossing which runs 24 hours. The car drive takes only half the time.

For travel from Vancouver Canada to Seattle. Got to station an hour early and Amtrak was already boarding. Would have been nice to get a text or email saying get to station early. we barely found seats together (party of 2). Had to ask a family of four if they would mind seating together. Amtrak should make sure people who are in same party arent taking up double about of seats. Put us in an awkward spot to ask. Bathroom door that I locked with the big push button came open. On one train the sink faucet sprays all over because you have to push up on the faucet. Floor gets wet. I could see people slipping. Also why are there no safety procedures mentioned like in an airplane? What do we do if we derail? Would be nice to know. Lovely seats and space. Staff all were pleasant and informative but some more than others.

Customer service takes forever to pick up. Turns out I booked a bus ticket and not a train ticket after using their search that says "Find Trains". Online it only says "connecting bus/mixed travel" so I assumed there would be a connecting bus somewhere, not that the whole ride would be on a bus. I only found out because I called customer service to inquire about covid test requirements for entering the US and saw the other review so I thought to ask. I would NOT have booked if I knew it was a BUS. Now plane tickets are way more expensive than when I was originally booking and I have to take more time out of my day to book a plane instead. Very annoying...

This is specifically about the Amtrak Cascades route between Vancouver, BC and Everett, WA but will also pertain to the rest of the route to Seattle at least. The staff are efficient and very friendly and helpful. We loved the attendant (conductor?) on our trip. They make border crossing simple. This trip reminded me what I love about riding trains and slow travel. The dining car is limited but not bad and the cashier really nice. My only suggestion is that they create a recycling program onboard the train. A lot of waste comes from the dining car and they only have trash cans. No place to separate cardboard, cans/bottles from landfill waste.

Travelling from Vancouver to Seattle via Amtrak was the best experience! Def recommend taking the 517 Amtrak for this particular trip as it is a train ride instead of a bus & with the most beautiful scenery. The staff on board were amazing & helpful both ways. There are outlets in each seating section, there is a cafe on board, as well as wifi although it does cut out sometimes. The train wasn’t packed either way which allows you to your own seat which I loved. Customs was also a smooth process coming and going. Overall a gem of an experience.

Misleading and pathetic service!!! 1. I booked a ride from Seattle to Vancouver, got to know on the last minute that it’s not a train but a bus. They do not mention it anywhere. 2. The ticket cost is higher and has no amenities. There was no wifi on bus and no AC. There are cheaper and better alternatives available than Amtrak. 3. Our bus was delayed by 2 hours. They made all the passengers lined up for 1 hour and then informed us that it’s going to leave at 11pm instead of 9. Never travelling again with this pathetic service.

They don't do well in keeping to schedule.. I guess there are too many variables for them to manage...also, their service in general can be more consistent since I get the feeling that they have this " hey, I'm just doing my job "attitudes, although a few workers go further in making your travel a pleasant experience... going first class certainly does not feel like first class... I think train travel should be and can be a great way to both commute and travel long distances with some upgrades in policies and practices...

I had a problem with my ticket, I paid for it in advance. At the time, the driver wouldn't let me on because he couldn't find my ticket. I showed all the receipts, the same let it go paying for a new one. And advised that it was only to ask for a chargeback. I've been trying to talk to Amtrak for almost two weeks and I can't. Not in person, not by email, not by phone. Nobody cares about your case. No one is returning my money. And by mistake of the company.

The bus had a 2.5 hour delay because of an accident on the highway, which is surely not their fault but because of that we couldn’t catch our next bus which costed us a lot of money and a very long delay. You could expect at least a voucher or some more information. They couldn’t give us any updates and we had to wait at the station the entire time! All in all very poor experience and wouldn’t recommend if you have a followed up bus/train/flight!

This was so cool to experience. We took the train from Vancouver to Seattle for the Taylor Swift concert and it was worth every penny!! The views were amazing, the seats so comfy and the process super smooth. They had a cafe on board (and accept CAD & US) Menu posted in the photos below. If you are going over the border, make sure you are an hour early (in case it gets busy) If you can take an Amtrak train I highly recommend it!

CAREFUL WHEN BUYING TICKETS. Be very careful when buying your tickets. We bought a trip from Seattle to Vancouver expecting to be on the train but we bought bus tickets instead (without noticing until we arrived at the train station). The train and bus tickets are sold on the same page and the only difference between each one is an icon that look very similar. Overall the bus experience was ok, it was kind of dirty and worn out.

Nice leather seats in Business class. Friendly, helpful staff. A staff member,, who was sitting at a table next to the automatic doors, would trigger the door for me each time that I was carrying food from the snack bar. They didn't have to, but they did. I appreciate the kind gesture and I am sure you will too. It was my first time to try Amtrak. Compared to the typical airport experience, I would choose Amtrak every time.

The train from between Seattle and Vancouver is extremely slow. We arrived one hour too late last night due to various problems with freight trains blocking the way etc. The staff on the train was nice about it but at some point, the delays are too many and it becomes unacceptable! Terrible experience. In addition to that, it was freezing on the train. I will not take this train again.

Careful when booking Amtrak. No where does it say your train ticket can convert to a bus ticket at any time but it happened with us (had to go on a bus from Vancouver to Seattle and they sneakily didn't have any alerts saying their train wasn't operating there). Also the ticket is nonrefundable and can only be used for Amtrak credit. Why? So I can go on a surprise bus again?

Took the Cantrail bus between Vancouver and Seattle. Bus driver and staff were excellent. Ride was efficient. Seats were dirty and smelly. Rails and surfaces were sticky and dirty. Seats were uncomfortable and worn. It's a shame that Amtrak doesn't offer additional rail service on the cascade line. I would pay more if I could get on the train versus a old, dirty, worn bus.

AMTRAK SERVICE 2 TRAINS DAILY TO SEATTLE. ****YOU CLEARER CUSTOMS AT THIS TERMINAL. CUSTOMS DOORS CLOSE BY 530PM. DO NOT COME PASS 5PM OTHERWISE YOU WILL MISS THE TRAIN. BUSES SCHEDULE ARE 5:45AM 9:00AM 11:30AM 4:00PM YOU NEED PASSPORT TO BUY TICKET. STRONGLY RECOMMEND TO BUY TICKETS IN ADVANCE. BOARDING BUSES BAY 8 ****** RIGHT SIDE COFFEE SHOP ENTRANCE. BON VOYAGE.

Worst customer service I have ever experienced! I missed my train because the doors close 20mins before departure. But it was written nowhere on the ticket that you should arrive 20mins before to board the train. Amtrak please look at how European train companies are doing it and revise your boarding policies or at least communicate your policies the right way!!

I commute between the US and Canada and can’t remember the last time the Cascades train was on time. It shares many sections of tracks with freight trains, stops constantly and without warning. You can sit there for 1/2 hour without an announcement. The staff is generally good but cmon, how is this constant issue not being addressed. Build some more tracks

Amtrak station in Seattle was easy to get to, people there to help even at 6:30 am in be morning. It was super clean and very organized. Definitely a great way to travel. Train was super today and staff was clean and precise in directions. Easy to get around once in Vancouver too with skytrain and buses right out the front entrance.

EXTREMELY frustrated and disappointed with Amtrak service at this station. Ruined our trip. Border patrol closed the gate prior to the time posted and made us miss our train, and now we have to fly to our destination and spend an extra $600. There was also no communication from Amtrak on the required arrival time for this trip.

I had a reservation for a trip from Vancouver to Mount vernon on March 11. I got a toll-free call the day of travel to tell me the train had been canceled. No reason was given. I got a refund, but I would not likely trust this service again. I would not have even known of the cancellation if I had not answered my phone.

By and far the WORST experience I’ve ever had on a train. The staff were extremely incompetent and inconsiderate loading and unloading the passengers. Boarding was absolute chaos and they left us on our train car in the final destination station for more than 40 minutes without any announcements. Would not recommend.

Great experience with this company going FROM Vancouver to Seattle. Punctual, clean buses and very nice staff. Our driver Charlie did an amazing job letting us know about the trip schedule, the stops, custom procedures and even advising how long until the bus will warm up. Very nice and confortable trip!

I took Amtrak from yvr to Portland. Great view on the way. Trains are not modern. We went back our kids time train ride experience. Service is great. Too early departure time. Overall, it is worthwhile to take the view. There are delays on return trip which makes us to arrive home after midnight.

One of the most beautiful train rides I’ve ever gone on. If you’re going south make sure you’re on the right side to get a full view of the water and forest. The facilities are generally clean - think airline bathroom. And there are some snacks on the train. Recommend you bring your own though!

Extremely deceptive business practices in regards to posing as a train/rail company. Tricks consumers into thinking they’re buying train tickets - BBB or government agencies on both sides of the border should be shutting down the deceitful booking page WHICH MAKES MO MENTION OF BUSSES.

USA citizen visiting BC for the first time. I came in on Amtrak 516 from Mount Vernon, WA. What a beautiful station. The cafe was open. There is an A&W but it was closed temporarily. There is a place to change money right in the station. Also, a mailbox right outside the door.

I take the train down to see my parents. The view is gorgeous (depending if it's light enough outside to see out the window). The staff are always friendly and try their best to keep the line moving. There is food and WiFi available to make the ride more comfortable.

The railway attendants were more than happy to help me out and reschedule my bud last minute when I was having issue with my ESTA. Was travelling down to seattle and am not from here so these guys were a lifesaver couldn’t recommend more

Trains are ok, stations are nice. They don't seem strick on seating, so buy the cheapest ticket. Last 2 times trains have been delayed on the track for 1hr+. Turns a 3hr trip into 4hrs. I'm reconsidering future train trips.

Beautiful train station. Nice to arrive in the heart of downtown. If you aren't prepared to get from there to the airport it can be a challenge. How can a city the size of Seattle not have a shuttle service to the airport?

Massive old train station building that closed it's convivence store and A&W. There is a little coffee stand for while waiting hours for busses. Such a big beautiful space that could be use so much better.

It was disappointing and surprising to find out that the train ticket I bought was actually a bus ticket when I arrived at the station and there was no one available to direct travelers to the right area.

Why we can't make these places more fun, I don't know. Public investment in the train system and a willingness to add real retail. So many better examples of stations that are activated internationally.

Clean train station with a coffee place in it. You have to change your reservation to your ticket. The reservation says you have to be 60 min earlier but 30 are enough to get the ticket.

Clean newly renovated bathrooms at Vancouver's train station. No coffee sold at the station if you arrive there at 5am when the doors open. I recommend brewing your own for your trip.

Great first train ride experience! I would definitely travel with them again. We took the train from Everett to Vancouver and everything was comfortable and smooth as could be!

Coach is cramped. But otherwise haven't had a bad experience yet. If you're traveling solo. Fork out extra for business class otherwise you might end up with stinky seatmates.

The trains are old. Many seats don't recline or are showing age. Nonetheless, they get you from Vancouver to Washington state with relative ease.

train from Seattle to Vancouver take long time then mention ....lots of signals once train enter caneda it took 1 hour more then schey time

Convenient but be aware, bought ticket 745 depart to arrive in bc at 11... the train was delayed, left at 1215am arrived in bc 330am...

Absolutely beautiful historic station, safe! got Uber within 2 min. After l arrived. Not much going on inside so bring stuff to eat.

5 hours to travel 120 miles?! Geeeeeez super slow, served its purpose but hardly a rapid way of getting around.

No real place to store luggage. No lockers. Only the CN counter which will hold luggage for you for $6 per bag.

Bus driver last night from Seattle to Vancouver was amazing. Only 4 stars cuz of no charging ports in bus.

I'm so glad i can take round trips again! The staff are always amazing and the views are astounding.

Good experience. Comfortable and economical mode of transportation. Must try.

Other than the train being 120 degrees because the AC was broken, it was ok.

Good experience, friendly staff. Smooth traveling with beautiful views.

Awesome ride, Seattle to Vancouver. Very spacious seats (coach class).

Good transportation, too bad for lousy rail tracks and slow trains

So clean! Easy access to transport join leaving. Very polite

Friendly staff. Heading to Seattle from Vancouver.

Memorable trip pleasant train journey with amtrak

Clean and spacious and very comfortable seat.

Brought our own food, wine was good.