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 ...

The Honourable Janet Austin, OBC,Lieutenant Governor at the Opening of the Fifth Session, Forty-first Parliament of the Province of British Columbia. The throne speech 02/11/2020 outlined priorities for the government. Good news for people believing in high speed rail between Vancouver and Seattle/Portland. Here is a quote from the speech. "British Columbians can look forward to more options like rapid transit, HOV lanes and commuter rail out to the Fraser Valley, and high-speed rail connections with our neighbours to the south."

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

High Speed Rail Canada has added the latest study that suggests their definitely is interest in having high speed rail between Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. The Ultra-High-Speed Ground Transportation Business Case Analysis was done by WSP Consulting of Seattle and their sub consulting firms. According to Jay Inslee, the Governor of Washington State, This Business Case Analysis is the result of a year of collaboration between the states of Washington and Oregon, the province of British Columbia, and Microsoft, and builds on a 2017-2018 feasibility study. It provides even greater confidence that an ultra-high-speed ground transportation system in the Pacific Northwest is worth the investment. 

We always support stories related to a possible Vancouver-Portland High Speed Rail line. Here is another to read. Click HERE .

When Canada Had Maglev Trains - Vancouver  Expo 1986 HSST Train at Expo 1986 - Vancouver, BC -Photos by by Chris Guenzler It might be hard to imagine given the current state of Canada's passenger rail system that at one short period in our history we had the most technological modern passenger train  operating in Vancouver. According to the official Expo Guide for 1986, - Go for the future aboard the HSST (High Speed Surface Train) of Japan Air Lines. Ride the 450 meters of the demonstration rail, admire the 1000 square meter diorama of a futuristic city. The HSST moves floating on electromagnetic modules and can safely and efficiently transport a large number of passengers, while ensuring speed, economy, comfort and cleanliness. Three HSST test vehicles have been developed to shuttle between airports and cities. These vehicles have already reached top speeds in excess of 300 kilometers per hour. The demonstration HSST at EXPO 86 carries 40 passengers. Here is an e...

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/

n January of 2010, local rail advocates rejoiced at learning Washington had been awarded $590 million in federal economic stimulus funding for high-speed rail. However, the money never actually materialized until this week. A budget showdown 2,800 miles away on Capitol Hill may have played a role in freeing up the dollars that had been held up for more than a year. Read the whole article here: http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/mar/02/regional-high-speed-rail-funds-have-arrived/