Pre-Clearance and Amtrak Cascades
RON PATE, Director Rail, Freight and Ports Division
Senate Transportation Committee Meeting
November 20, 2019
Roger Millar, Secretary of TransportationKeith Metcalf, Deputy Secretary of Transportation
Amtrak Cascades at Vancouver, B.C
Washington began funding passenger rail service between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. in 1995
The 1993 Washington State Legislature recognized the importance of offering passenger rail service to meet the growing demand for intercity travel
Amtrak Cascades currently provides one daily round trip between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C and one daily roundtrip between Portland and Vancouver, B.C.
Pacific Central Station in Vancouver, B.C. is the third busiest station on the Amtrak Cascades route
Serves some 165,000 passengers each year and accounts for more than $4 million in annual revenue
Pacific Central Station is a designated border inspection facility, even though it is 30 miles inside Canada
Pacific Central Station, Vancouver, BC
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Inspection process for Amtrak Cascades passengers heading north across the international border
Entering Canada from the United States
Amtrak staff verifies all passengers have proper documentation before leaving Bellingham
The train enters a secure cage area upon arrival at Pacific Central Station in Vancouver, B.C.
Passengers disembark, collect luggage and then get interviewed by Canada Border Services Agency officers before being allowed to leave the station
This happens twice a day, everyday
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