Ride like a train aficionado by checking out the categories below. Hint: if you are traveling to or from Canada make sure you have all the documentation you need.
Ride like a train aficionado by checking out the categories below. Hint: if you are traveling to or from Canada make sure you have all the documentation you need.
If you've never traveled on Amtrak Cascades, or it's been a while since you have, take note of the following information before you leave for the station:
Travel Documents Be sure you have all travel-related documents together before you leave for the train station. Be sure to bring your tickets and identification.
Heading to Canada? Avoid delays by checking the latest travel restrictions before heading to Canada.
Health and Medical Precautions If you or someone in your party takes medication, or has special health or medical needs, please contact Amtrak at 1-800-USA-RAIL for more information.
Baggage Carry-on baggage is limited to two pieces per passenger (with few exceptions). Checked baggage service is available only at certain train stations. Be sure you understand our checked baggage baggage guidelines before leaving for the station.
Seating On most Amtrak Cascades trains, seating is on a first-come, first served basis. Once onboard, the conductor may assign seats. Learn more about our seating accommodations.
Make Your Trip More Enjoyable Don't forget to bring along those personal items that will help you get the most out of your trip. Our seasoned riders recommend the following:
Train service re-started to Canada on September 26, 2022, with one round trip. On March 6, 2023, a second round was added. Please read the information below for the required documentation for cross border travel.
Details on COVID-19 requirements for traveling between Canada and the United States are available at https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid. Travelers who are not U.S. citizens or permanent U.S. residents, must show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 when entering the United States. Those who fail to meet these criteria will not be allowed to cross the border. A few more details about the bus trips are available at: https://www.cantrail.com/scheduled-services/
Passengers MUST have all the following BEFORE boarding the train or bus:
Guidance for all travelers entering Canada
Avoid delays! Check the latest travel requirements before heading to Canada.
Guidance for all travelers entering the United States
Avoid delays! Check the latest travel requirements before heading to the U.S.
Please note that masks are required on buses in Canada.
Check the latest travel restrictions before heading to Canada.
Traveling over the International United States/Canadian border requires specific identification and there are other laws you may need to comply with.
Passengers traveling on Amtrak Cascades across the U.S./Canada border are subject to inspection by Canadian and American law enforcement officials. When entering the United States, travelers must inform U.S. Border inspectors of all fruits, vegetables, plants, plant products, live animals, meats and animal products, regardless of whether they are allowed. Read Bringing Agriculture Products to the United States from Canada (pdf 80kb) for more information.
For further information, contact the appropriate U.S. or Canadian government offices prior to travel:
www.canadainternational.gc.ca | 1-800-O-CANADA (1-800-622-6232)
www.travel.state.gov | 1-800-FED-INFO (1-800-333-4636)
The Bistro car offers a variety of fresh, local foods and beverages including soups, sandwiches, sweets and snacks, as well as alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages. You can take your food back to your seat and use your spacious tray table, or relax in the Lounge car if your train has one. The Bistro is wheelchair accessible and two of the trainsets feature panoramic windows. Amtrak Cascades is proud to feature products grown and made in the Pacific Northwest on our normal menu. View the Bistro Menu.
The Lounge Car is one of the best places to enjoy the passing scenery, with casual seating for 30, available on a first-come basis. Eat, read, or play a game at one of 10 tables. The Lounge car is wheelchair accessible. Two of our current trainsets feature a Lounge Car.
If you're looking for a little entertainment with your relaxation, you're in luck. You may bring and use onboard personal electronic devices such as laptop computers, DVD players, and CD players (be sure to use headphones). Standard 110-volt electrical power outlets are available right by your seat to supply power to your electronic devices.
Please consider the comfort of others, particularly when your coach is crowded. Use earphones or headphones when listening to audio/video devices. When using your cell phone, please be considerate of other passengers around you. For calls of longer duration or louder tone, please use the vestibules between cars.
We allow trained service animals accompanying passengers with disabilities in all customer areas in our stations, trains and Amtrak Thruway motorcoaches. Trained service animals must be kept under the control of their owners or trainers at all times. The only animals other than service animals allowed on trains are small cats and dogs in accordance with our pet policy
We offer the best baggage policy; four free items!
TWO FREE Personal Items
Passengers may carry two personal items, 25 lbs. (12 kg) 14x11x7 inches each, such as small bags, backpacks, purses, laptops. Personal items can also include neck pillows, blankets and outer garments.
TWO FREE Carry-on Items
Each passenger may bring two bags; each bag weighing 50 lbs. (23 kg) or less, and measuring 28 x 22 x 14 inches or smaller.
Excess/Oversize Baggage Fees
A $20 excess baggage fee will be charged for each carry-on and personal item above the quantity and size limits. A maximum of two excess bags are permitted per passenger. The fee will be collected at the station or if unstaffed, onboard the train. If checked baggage is available, passengers can check two bags free of charge to their final destination. Checked baggage is not offered on all trains and stations, so please check with Amtrak to see if checked baggage is available throughout your journey. Amtrak reserves the right to deny transport for items exceeding policy limitations.
The complete baggage policy is available at Amtrak.com.
Make a reservation for both you and your bike aboard Amtrak Cascades. There are two options for bringing your bike – you can use one of our onboard bike racks, or box your bicycle and check it as baggage.
Ten bike racks are available on each Amtrak Cascades train. Bike racks are very popular and reservations are required. The cost for reserving space in the bike rack is $5. Bicycle racks will not accommodate tandem, recumbent or other unusual bikes. Such bikes must be transported as checked baggage in a box.
Boxed bicycles do not require a reservation and can be checked as baggage. There is a $10 handling fee for checking a boxed bike. (This is subject to change without notice.) Not all stations have checked baggage service, and baggage service may not be available every day. Don't have a bicycle box? Bicycle boxes are available for purchase for $15 at staffed Amtrak stations with checked baggage service. Bicycles usually must be partially disassembled. For details regarding boxing your bicycle, on general information bringing bicycles onboard, please visit Amtrak.com
Special items such as sports equipment, strollers, etc. are allowed on the train. Amtrak accepts a number of special items such as baby strollers, golf bags, musical instruments, snowboards, and skis (one board or set per bag/container).
Special items (such as skis, golf bags and surfboards) must be properly packed and visibly tagged.
In most cases there is a handling charge of $10 to $20 per special item. Contact 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245) for more information.
Amtrak allows firearms and ammunition to be checked as luggage between staffed stations. Carry-on firearms and ammunition are prohibited. Visit Amtrak.com for more information about firearms in checked baggage.
The following kinds of items are prohibited as both checked and carry-on baggage:
Please note: This is not an exhaustive list. Any item similar to those listed, even if not specifically mentioned here, is prohibited from being carried onboard or checked as baggage.
Reports for lost or misplaced items left on trains or in stations must be submitted within 30 days of travel. For best results, submit your report at your arrival station; otherwise, call Amtrak at 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245).
When reporting a lost item, please have the following information ready:
Make memories and save money when you take the kids on a journey they’ll never forget. They'll experience the wonder of the train, while you enjoy a trip without baggage fees or traffic.
One infant under the age of two may ride free with each passenger paying an adult fare. Free infants ride on the lap of the adult. Additional infants per adult travel at the child fare
Child and infant discounts are automatically applied when adding travelers to your booking – No Promo Code needed.
Child car seats cannot be secured to any train or bus seats. Passengers traveling with an infant/small child in a child car seat may place the seat in a vacant seat only if it is not needed for a paying passenger; children under 2 years of age may be required to ride on the passenger’s lap and the child car seat stored in an appropriate baggage area.
*Exception: A minor who is 16 or 17, who is a parent to children of any age, may bring those children without restriction. The 16- or 17-year-old must bring proof that he or she is the parent of the children.
You can take your small dog or cat along with you on Amtrak Cascades trains. Now that Rover can come over, we hope to see you and your pet onboard. Please refer to the guidelines below. Other restrictions may apply. Please note these guidelines do not pertain to service animals.
Types of Pets Allowed
Cats and dogs are the only types of pets accepted. Only one pet and one carrier per passenger will be allowed. Maximum combined weight of pet and carrier = 20 lbs.
Maximum Trip Length
Making Pet Reservations, Fare and Ticketing
Buses and Multi-ride tickets
Pet Check in at Station
Onboard Guidelines
As noted, pets must remain in their carrier and on the floor. Pets cannot be on seats; and being in front of the aisle seat rather than the window seat keeps them safely away from the heater which could become too hot for their comfort and safety.
Approved Pet Carriers
Passengers traveling with pets can board at staffed or unstaffed stations as follows:
Pet Age and Health
Amtrak Cascades offers Coach Class and Business Class seating:
Coach Class offers theatre style seating, or family style that accommodates up to four people seated at a table. Coach amenities include:
Business Class offers relaxation and roomier seats—all for only a few dollars more than a standard coach ticket. Business Class amenities include:
Our goal is to provide safe, efficient, and comfortable service to all of our passengers. We are pleased to provide additional services to passengers with disabilities. Each Amtrak Cascades train has space for at least four mobility-impaired passengers. Braille signage is available throughout the train and audio and open captioning for travel information is provided on all overhead monitors. Visit our Accessibility page for more information.
Everyone can travel on Amtrak Cascades. Our goal is to provide safe, efficient, and comfortable service to all of our passengers. We are pleased to provide additional services to passengers with disabilities. Each Amtrak Cascades train has space for at least four mobility-impaired passengers. Braille signage is available throughout the train and audio and open captioning for travel information is provided on all overhead monitors. Amtrak Cascades is one of the most accessible passenger trains in the world with features accommodations for four mobility-impaired passengers on each train.
Reservations are required for Amtrak Cascades. To obtain special accommodations, we recommend that you make reservations and purchase tickets by:
Pay for your ticket once you're on the train, if you boarded at an unstaffed station or were unable to pay beforehand because of a disability. The onboard purchase fee will be waived for passengers who had no way to purchase tickets in advance.
We allow trained service animals accompanying passengers with disabilities in all customer areas in our stations, trains and Amtrak Thruway motorcoaches. Trained service animals must be kept under the control of their owners or trainers at all times. For all other critters, please view our new Pet Policy.
Amtrak Cascades offers a 10% fare discount to passengers with mobility challenges and to their adult companions (16 years or older). Please request the discount when making reservations. These discounts cannot be combined with other available discounts.
To establish eligibility for the rail fare discount, a disabled person must present one of the following documents to both the Amtrak ticket agent and the conductor:
Note: If the documentation does not contain a photograph, photo identification may be requested.
Masks are optional.
If you see something concerning or suspicious - Please report any security issues to the Conductor.
Bring your bike on the train
We know how much you love bicycling — it’s just part of the Pacific Northwest culture. That’s why we’ve made it easy for you to take your bike along on your next trip aboard Amtrak Cascades.
Bike trips near the stations
Looking for more info and some great bike rides along the Amtrak Cascades route? Check out our bike brochure for ideas on where to head for your next bike adventure.