WSDOT Archives - Railway Age

On March 7, Amtrak will be adding a second round-trip train between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., restoring the Cascades line to pre-pandemic levels. (Photo Courtesy of Amtrak)

January 18, 2023
Passenger

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, NJ Transit

Amtrak to restore full service on the Cascade line to pre-pandemic levels. Also, NJ Transit expands Student Discount Program to include part-time students.

Premier John Horgan and Gov. Inslee signed a MOU in October 2018 to “act jointly to grow the region’s innovation economy, protect the environment and combat climate change, promote trade and improve transportation connectivity.”

September 14, 2022
High Performance

B.C., WSDOT Invest in Next Phase of Vancouver-Seattle-Portland High-Speed Rail Study

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and the Province of British Columbia (B.C.) are supporting the feasibility of a high-speed rail service connecting Vancouver, Seattle and Portland with $4 million in funding and a $300,000 investment, respectively, toward the next phase of the Ultra-High-Speed Ground Transportation (UHSGT) project.

Starting Nov. 18, 2021, a total of eight trains—including Amtrak Cascades and Coast Starlight—will use the Point Defiance Bypass between Seattle, Wash., and Portland, Ore., each day “with additional trains added in the months ahead as COVID restrictions ease,” Amtrak said. In addition, operations in Tacoma, Wash., will move to the new Tacoma Dome Station (pictured), near Sound Transit’s Sounder commuter rail and light rail stations on East 25th Street.

November 10, 2021
Intercity

Amtrak Service Returning to Point Defiance Bypass

Amtrak will resume Cascades service on the Point Defiance Bypass between Seattle, Wash., and Portland, Ore., on Nov. 18, nearly four years after an overspeed derailment stopped service there.

July 31, 2018
High Performance

HSR in the PNW?

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is envisioning a 250-mph “ultra-high speed ground transportation system” connecting Vancouver, B.C.; Seattle, Wash. and Portland, Ore., with Seattle-Vancouver and Seattle-Portland travel times reduced to one hour each. Engineering and professional services consultancy WSP will be preparing a business case analysis for what WSDOT describes as “an international, public-private partnership of WSDOT; the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT); the British Columbia Ministry of Jobs, Trade and Technology; and Microsoft Corp.”

March 02, 2018
Freight

BNSF asks to join suit over Washington state coal terminal

BNSF Railway is asking to join a lawsuit against Washington state officials who blocked plans to build a coal export terminal.

September 19, 2017
C&S/IT

BNSF, WSDOT awarded W.W. Hay Award

INDIANAPOLIS: At Railway Interchange 2017, the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA) presented the 2017 Dr. William W. Hay Award for Excellence to BNSF and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) for the Improvements for Passenger Rail Service and Reliability on BNSF Railway in Washington State project.

August 11, 2016
High Performance

Charger burning up the rails in Pueblo

Siemens’ new higher-speed Charger diesel-electric passenger locomotive is undergoing a comprehensive testing program at the Transportation Technology Center Inc. (TTCI) in Pueblo, Colo., prior to entry into revenue service in various U.S. locations.

March 11, 2016
High Performance

WSDOT celebrates new locomotives milestone

The first engine has been installed in a new Siemens Charger locomotive, moving the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) one step closer to obtaining the state-of-the-art machines, the agency announced March 10, 2016.