Portland-Vancouver high-speed rail inches forward The dream of a high-speed rail line connecting  Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver, BC , is moving closer to reality. A recent  $49.7 million federal grant  has been awarded to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to study the feasibility of this ambitious project. This marks a significant step forward for the Cascadia high-speed rail line. I have travelled on the existing Amrak line from Seattle to Vancouver and truly is one of the most scenic trips you can go on. It is doubtful for a number of reasons that is the line the future high-speed rail line would take. Riding the Amtrak Cascades train is a scenic trip and well worth it! Key Points Federal Funding:  The $49.7 million grant comes from the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Corridor Identification and Development Program. The Washington Legislature is also contributing  $5.5 million in matching funds , bringing the total to ...

First High-Speed Rail Study was in 1992 for the Vancouver-Seattle-Portland Corridor Since 1992, There has been studies and discussion about high-speed rail, or recently ultra-high speed transportation between Vancouver, Seattle and Portland. Let us look back at the history of this idea and an update of where we are at now. In October 1992, the Washington High Speed Ground Transportation Study was submitted to the State of Washington. It was done by Ganett Fleming Incorporated. The recommendations from that study stated, the State of Washington, Oregon and the province of British Columbia, should continue its commitment to upgrade Amtrak service and take further action on improving rail infrastructure now to build support for a high-speed rail program by adopting the following three goals. Implementation of true high-speed rail service, 250 kilometers per hour or greater between Everett and Portland by the year 2020. A maximum travel time between downtown Portland and downtown Seattle ...

Inside the driver’s cabin of the Alfa X Shinkansen - JP Rail It is time for high speed trains - Vancouver - Seattle - Portland There are many previous studies done on high speed rail in Canada with no action taken on any of them. Ontario-Quebec HSR - 22 studies , Edmonton-Calgary HSR- 4 studies.  In 2017 Vancouver,joined the Canadian cities that have high speed rail studies.The 2017 Vancouver-Seattle-Portland Feasibility Study and this was followed up with the 2019 Analysis Report. - 2 studies - Currently another more detailed study is underway with funding from government and the private sector. Vancouver-Seattle-Portland  Ultra High Speed Ground Study Rail Business Case Analysis completed in 2019 by the Washington State Department of Transport (UHSGT) had some interesting findings. Train speed - Ultra High Speed Rail (meaning 350 kilometers per hour) The ridership model survey results show that UHSGT almost completely captures the direct intra-regional air...

Paige Mallot, President of the advocacy organization Cascadia Rail recently made a presentation  at RAILVOLUTION 2019 in Vancouver promoting the Vancouver to Portland high speed rail line. As reported before in High Speed Rail Canada, the Ultra High Speed Rail Study has been completed and posted on our website to view. Here is a link to the presentation made by Paige at the conference. Paige Mallot Talks High Speed Rail

Globe and Mail - British Columbia’s Transportation Minister says the province supports Washington State’s decision to study the feasibility of a high-speed rail line from Portland to Vancouver. Washington Governor Jay Inslee has allotted $1-million (U.S.) from his 2017-19 state budget to examine the costs and benefits of building a system to carry travellers 400 kilometres an hour with stops in Seattle and Bellingham. A report is due in December. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/province-supports-feasibility-study-of-high-speed-rail-line-to-portland/article34026248/