After 2-year pandemic pause, Seattle-BC train service returns

Amtrak service between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., is back up and running as of Monday, Sept. 26. The service, which crosses the U.S.-Canada border, was shut down for two years by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The first trip embarked out of Seattle at 7:45 a.m. Monday morning. It was slated to make five stops before arriving in Vancouver at 11:45 a.m. The train is scheduled to return at 5:45 p.m.

Just one daily round trip will be offered, at first, while Amtrak gets its staffing and equipment levels back up to par.

To commemorate the occasion, U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen was aboard the train from Everett to Stanwood. Larsen is a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Passengers on the border-crossing train will be required to wear face masks in Canadian train stations as they are traveling through Canada. Also, non-Canadian passengers must be fully vaccinated against Covid and will have to upload their vaccination information to the ArriveCAN app.

There is still no official word, yet, if Canada plans to drop the ArrivCAN app requirement by the end of the month, but they will be getting rid of the Covid-19 vaccine requirement by Sept. 30 if it's not renewed in the meantime.