Local

Amtrak is back: Trips between Seattle and Vancouver, BC, resume after COVID-19 pandemic hiatus

SEATTLE — Amtrak’s daily, round trips between Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia, returned on Monday.

About 270 passengers boarded at the King Street Station for Amtrak’s first cross-border trip from Seattle since March 2020. Services have been suspended since then because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Due to ongoing staffing and equipment issues, Amtrak is making its return with one daily trip, rather than the usual two.

“It’s been a long time coming, but we’re excited to be here today,” said Ray Lang, a vice president at Amtrak, before boarding Monday morning’s train. “By the middle of winter, we should have a second daily roundtrip back up and running.”

COVID-19 protocols will remain in place until Oct.1. All COVID-19 restrictions, including proof of vaccination and mask requirements for trains and flights, will be lifted on Saturday.

Until then, all passengers must use the ArriveCAN app before travel and wear a mask while traveling through Canada. Non-Canadian citizens must be fully vaccinated and carry proof of vaccination while traveling. The same document must also be uploaded on the ArriveCAN app.

Non-citizens traveling into the U.S. must be fully vaccinated, according to Amtrak.