Amtrak Seattle to Vancouver is a Pacific Northwest rail route served by Amtrak Cascades, with two daily departures in each direction between the United States and Canada. The route connects Seattle, Washington, to Vancouver, British Columbia, with intermediate stops in Edmonds, Everett, Stanwood, Mount Vernon, and Bellingham, Washington. It covers approximately 156 miles and takes between 4 hours and 4 hours and 15 minutes, depending on direction and departure. Coach and Business Class seating are both available, with Coach fares commonly starting in the $60 to $110 range.
Amtrak From Seattle to Vancouver
Only a subset of Amtrak Cascades trains run the full distance into Canada; two of the four daily Seattle-Vancouver trains operate as standalone segments, while the other two continue south to or originate from Portland and Eugene. Seattle and Vancouver share the same time zone, so no time zone adjustment applies between the two cities.
- Train Line: Amtrak Cascades (Trains 516, 518 northbound; 517, 519 southbound)
- Duration: Approximately 4 hours to 4 hours 15 minutes
- Distance: Approximately 156 miles (251 km)
- Frequency: Two daily departures in each direction and multiple bus routes.
- Departure Station: Amtrak Seattle King Street Station (SEA), 303 South Jackson Street, Seattle, WA 98104.
- Arrival Station: Amtrak Vancouver Pacific Central Station (VAC), 1150 Station Street, Vancouver, BC V6A 4C7.
Amtrak Seattle to Vancouver Train Schedule
Two departures take place every day from each city, Seattle and Vancouver, one in the morning and one in the evening.
Northbound Train from Seattle
| Amtrak Train | Departure (Seattle) | Arrival (Vancouver) | Days of Operation | Duration | Coach | Business Class |
| 516 Amtrak Cascades | 8:30 a.m. | 12:30 p.m. | Daily Service | 4 hours | From $84 | From $110 |
| 518 Amtrak Cascades | 6:00 p.m. | 2:12 p.m. | Wednesday to Friday | 4 hours | From $66 | From $111 |
Amtrak Cascades Schedule Intermediate Stops: Trains 516 and 518
| Station | Train 516 | Train 518 |
| Seattle King Street Station (SEA) | Departs 8:30 a.m. | Departs 6:00 p.m. |
| Edmonds (EDM) | 8:56 a.m. | 6:26 p.m. |
| Everett (EVR) | 9:21 a.m. | 6:51 p.m. |
| Stanwood (STW) | 9:51 a.m. | 7:21 p.m. |
| Mount Vernon (MVW) | 10:04 a.m. | 7:34 p.m. |
| Bellingham (BEL) | 10:37 a.m. | 8:07 p.m. |
| Vancouver Pacific Central Station (VAC) | Arrives 12:30 p.m. | Arrives 10:00 p.m. |
Southbound Train from Vancouver
| Amtrak Train | Departure (Vancouver) | Arrival (Seattle) | Days of Operation | Duration | Coach | Business Class |
| 517 Amtrak Cascades | 7:25 a.m. | 11:40 a.m. | Daily Service | 4 hours 15 minutes | From $84 | From $110 |
| 519 Amtrak Cascades | 4:55 p.m. | 9:10 p.m. | Daily Service | 4 hours 15 minutes | From $74 | From $111 |
Amtrak Cascades schedule Intermediate Stops: Trains 517 and 519
| Station | Train 517 | Train 519 |
| Vancouver Pacific Central Station (VAC) | Departs 7:25 a.m. | Departs 4:55 p.m. |
| Bellingham (BEL) | 9:14 a.m. | 6:44 p.m. |
| Stanwood (STW) | 9:43 a.m. | 7:13 p.m. |
| Everett (EVR) | 9:57 a.m. | 7:27 p.m. |
| Mount Vernon (MVW) | 10:37 a.m. | 8:07 p.m. |
| Edmonds (EDM) | 11:00 a.m. | 8:30 p.m. |
| Seattle King Street Station (SEA) | Arrives 12:10 p.m. | Arrives 9:10 p.m. |
Border Crossing and Travel Documents
This route crosses the U.S.-Canada border, so all passengers must carry a valid passport or another accepted document, such as a NEXUS card or a advance driver’s license. A standard driver’s license alone does not meet the requirement.
For southbound travel, U.S. Customs and Border Protection preclearance is conducted at Pacific Central Station in Vancouver before boarding, so passengers should plan to arrive at least 60 minutes ahead of departure.
For northbound travel, Canadian customs and immigration processing takes place on arrival at Pacific Central Station. On some trains, a stop at the border allows officials to board and verify documents before the train continues. Processing times vary, and delays at this stage can affect the overall trip length beyond the scheduled duration.
Amtrak Connecting Bus Service Between Seattle and Vancouver
Along with trains, Amtrak offers connecting bus service, operated by Cantrail. The bus departs from the Seattle King Street Station and arrives at Vancouver Pacific Central Station with just one stop in between.
Buses From Seattle:
| Stops | 8948 | 8900 | 8906 | 8914 |
| Seattle King Street Station (SEA) | 10:45 a.m. | 1:30 p.m. | 4:45 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. |
| Richmond (RBC) | 1:45 a.m. | 4:30 p.m. | 7:45 p.m. | 11:45 p.m. |
| Vancouver Pacific Central Station (VAC) | 2:15 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. | 8:15 p.m. | 12:15 a.m. |
Buses From Vancouver:
| Stops | 8911 | 8909 | 8957 | 8907 |
| Vancouver Pacific Central Station (VAC) | 5:30 a.m. | 11:30 p.m. | 4:00 p.m. | 8:30 a.m. |
| Richmond (RBC) | 5:50 a.m. | 12:00 p.m. | 4:30 p.m. | 9:00 a.m. |
| Seattle King Street Station (SEA) | 9:00 a.m. | 3:30 p.m. | 7:45 p.m. | 12:15 p.m. |
Passenger Cabins on the Amtrak Seattle to Vancouver Route
Amtrak Cascades operates with two seating classes. There are no sleeping car accommodations on this route, since it operates as a same-day corridor service.
- Amtrak Coach Class: Wide, reclining seats with at-seat power outlets, tray tables, and extra legroom compared to standard rail seating. Bike racks are available for passengers traveling with bicycles.
- Amtrak Business Class: Offers additional legroom, a dedicated seating section, and priority boarding. Business Class fares typically cost more than Coach and are subject to availability by train.
- Each train includes a Bistro Car offering regional food, wine, microbrews, and coffee for purchase.
- Amtrak Wifi is available throughout the route from Seattle to Vancouver. But the speed may vary due to multiple connections and while passing through tunnels.
Baggage, Pets, and Accessibility
- Baggage: Passengers can bring carry-on items that fit in the onboard overhead racks. Checked baggage service availability depends on the station and is generally more limited on this route of Amtrak Seattle to Vancouver.
- Pets: Small dogs and cats are permitted onboard in approved carriers under Amtrak’s pet policy, subject to size and weight limits and a separate pet fare.
- Accessibility: Both King Street Station and Pacific Central Station are wheelchair accessible, with no barriers between station platforms and train cars.
Tickets on the Amtrak Seattle to Vancouver are generally non-refundable but changeable for a fee. Advance booking is recommended, since fares are demand-based and typically increase closer to the travel date, using either the official Amtrak website or offline at the stations. As this is an international route, passengers should book under the name that matches their passport.
FAQ
Scheduled travel time is 4 hours on the two direct northbound trains. Southbound trips from Vancouver to Seattle run 4 hours 15 minutes to 4 hours 45 minutes. Actual travel time can vary depending on border processing.
Two trains run daily in each direction: Trains 516 and 518 from Seattle, and Trains 517 and 519 from Vancouver.
Coach fares commonly start in the $30 to $45 range, with pricing subject to change based on demand, travel date, and how far ahead the ticket is purchased.
Trains depart from and arrive at King Street Station, 303 South Jackson Street, Seattle, WA 98104.
Trains use Pacific Central Station at 1150 Station Street, Vancouver, BC.
Yes, all passengers must carry a valid passport or another accepted travel document, such as a NEXUS card or enhanced driver’s license, since the route crosses an international border.
No, Amtrak Cascades operates as a daytime corridor train with Coach and Business Class seating only; no overnight or sleeping accommodations are offered.
The route stops at Edmonds, Everett, Stanwood, Mount Vernon, and Bellingham in Washington State before crossing into British Columbia.
For southbound trips from Vancouver, arrive at least 60 minutes early to allow time for U.S. customs preclearance at the station before boarding.
