18 May 2010

DOT Improving Seattle-Portland Amtrak Service

Tacoma Washington USA - The Transportation Department is preparing an environmental assessment of a project to improve a rail line through the Tacoma area for Amtrak and Sounder passenger trains.
 
The $92 million project would rebuild 11 miles of track and add three new miles so that passenger trains that now share the freight route around Point Defiance would use a line closer to Interstate 5.
 
The goal is more reliable Amtrak service between Portland and Seattle. There are four daily round-trip trains between the cities. The department's Ron Pate says planners want to add two more.
 
The Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce reports trips are scheduled to take three-and-a-half hours, but only about 60 percent of the trains arrive on time.