As EvergreenRailfan has been noting in the comments, today Amtrak will have another round trip from Bellingham to Seattle. From their press release.
To help travelers pass the collapsed Skagit River Bridge severing Interstate 5, the Washington state-sponsored Amtrak Cascades train service will roll out two extra train trips daily between Seattle and Bellingham.
“Travelers need more options for travel and with the help of Amtrak, Sound Transit and BNSF, we were able to offer this great travel option,” said state Transportation Secretary Lynn Peterson. “We are so fortunate that we have the relationships to make this urgent service a reality so quickly.”
This third, temporary round trip will depart Seattle at 8:15 a.m. and departs Bellingham at 5:15 p.m.
“Sound Transit is pleased to provide a Sounder trainset during the time this temporary service is in operation,” said Sound Transit Board Chair and Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy. “This additional service will help citizens avoid traffic congestion during the construction period, saving the public travel time as our organizations work together to bring a vital regional transportation artery back in operation.”
If passenger demand persists, the added round trip could remain in service until the Skagit River Bridge is repaired, rail officials said.
Hopefully it will help with congestion.
Although it’s only temporary, it should help. What I fear is using SOUNDER coaches on a longer run, could turn off repeat riders. Also, after the Northridge Quake, the then new commuter rail authority Metrolink did a couple emergency extensions due to the damage the freeways sustained. Those extensions, became permanent.
In a way, this was cooperation between government and the private sector. Within 24 hours, all involved agreed to offer the extra trip. That was WSDoT, Sound Transit, and Amtrak on the government side, and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railway on the private sector side. It took a week to iron out the details. Turns out, Sound Transit has a prior agreement with Amtrak to allow Amtrak to use Sounder coaches in emergencies. I don’t know who is providing engineers and conductors. BNSF works SOUNDER, Amtrak Cascades probably uses Amtrak crews. It probably depends on who has enough rested and available passenger qualified engineers and conductors on their extra boards. I would not want the hours of service rules waived.
A little background on the Northridge Metrolink expansion.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1.....earthquake