Passenger Rail

Passenger rail is part of the state's intermodal and intercity transportation system. It provides an important transportation option for residents and visitors traveling the congested I-5 Corridor and offers connections to Oregon's communities, regional and out-of-state destinations. The Oregon portion of the Amtrak Cascades intercity passenger rail service offers two round trips daily from Eugene, OR to Seattle, WA. Amtrak's long distance passenger trains, The Coast Starlight and The Empire Builder also utilize the Pacific Northwest Rail Corridor. You can learn more about the Oregon Rail System here.

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Offers a safer, productive alternative to driving a car.
Supports the economies of the origin and destination cities, including providing opportunities for tourism.
Offers a more fuel efficient trip on a per passenger mile basis and with less carbon dioxide as compared to air and other passenger vehicles.
Supports system resiliency by providing another travel mode on fixed rail in the I-5 corridor.
Expands mobility and transportation choices for all people, including seniors and people with disabilities.

The Amtrak Cascades service includes two daily roundtrips between Eugene and Portland, six daily roundtrips between Portland and Seattle, and two daily roundtrips between Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia. In 2024, the Amtrak Cascades Corridor saw a 27% increase in ridership. This was the highest ridership growth of all state supported services.

Service Performance

Amtrak Cascades has operated for over 20 years.
951,397 passengers rode Amtrak Cascades in 2025.
2025 Ridership for Oregon
2025 On-Time Performance in Oregon
ODOT Amtrak Cascades Oregon 2025 Annual Performance Report
WSDOT Amtrak Cascades 2025 Performance Data Report

Corridor Management

The Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act (PRIIA) was enacted in 2008 (Public Law 110‑432, October 16, 2008) and directed the states to supplement Amtrak passenger routes that were located within the states. The Oregon Department of Transportation manages the Amtrak Cascades intercity passenger rail service along the Pacific Northwest Rail Corridor in partnership with the Washington State Department of Transportation. The states pay Amtrak to operate the Amtrak Cascades service from Eugene to Vancouver, B.C. The Oregon Service Development Plan provides key corridor improvements to allow for increased frequency, improved reliability, and a better passenger experience. Oregon Department of Transportation, or ODOT, and the Washington State Department of Transportation, or WSDOT, work with many partners to develop agreements, policies, and guidance to manage the service using a corridor approach.

Who Does What?
The Amtrak Cascades Partnership

Trains traveling the Cascades corridor are operated by Amtrak. Amtrak handles all of the various aspects of moving passengers between stations including but not limited to booking tickets, customer service, train service and marketing and advertising. Amtrak Cascades serves 18 cities on 467 track miles along the 1-5 corridor between Vancouver, BC and Eugene, OR.

Funding: The Amtrak Cascades service is funded by ticket revenue, with the states of Washington and Oregon offsetting the difference between costs and revenue.

ODOT's Roles:

Oversee the operation and management of the service by way of Operating and Intergovernmental agreements with WSDOT and Amtrak
Financial oversight including cost analysis, fare recovery, and revenue generation
Performance Reporting including monthly, quarterly, annual and bi-annual reports on ridership and on-time performance
Maintain relationships with host railroads that own the track on which the service operates
Local and regional marketing and advertising, coordination with Amtrak National marketing to maximize ridership and revenue
Offer Oregonians passenger rail service between Eugene and Portland with stops in Oregon City, Salem, and Albany
Work with Amtrak, States and Intercity Passenger Rail Coalition (SAIPRC), host railroads and state partners to continually improve the experience of Amtrak Cascades passengers