Taking the Amtrak Thruway Bus From Seattle to Vancouver, BC (and Back)

After I sold my auto, I needed to travel from Seattle, WA, to Vancouver, BC, and back. I decided to make an Amtrak train reservation—my most sustainable transportation option.

I really wanted to minimize my impact on the climate.

I also wanted to understand all of my Amtrak options, so I’m listing what I’ve found to be the most helpful Amtrak links below:

However, Amtrak had just one morning train and one evening train each way, and the morning train up to Vancouver was already sold out. Three weeks ahead of time. Mid-week.

How could this be? I’m guessing there are regular commuters? Plus a lot of tourists?

Upon closer examination of Amtrak's schedule, Amtrak also transported passengers by bus at other times throughout the day. I had no idea.

Amtrak listed this as part of its Amtrak Thruway service (with a bus logo).

So I booked an Amtrak Thruway bus ticket from Seattle, WA, to Vancouver, BC, and back. Then I began to wonder what might happen while crossing the border.

On Departure Day (in Seattle, at the Amtrak Train Station)

I arrived at Seattle's historic King Street Station an hour before my Amtrak Thruway bus departure time. Once inside the train station, I asked the tellers several questions.

Specifically, How does one catch a bus at a train station?

They said passengers should listen for an announcement over a loudspeaker, about a half-hour before departure time. That announcement would explain what to do.

Somehow (likely because I was searching for food), I never heard that announcement. Thankfully, the tellers provided more instruction…

  • walk out to the front of King Street Station

  • stand under the sign noting the trip

  • wait there to board the bus (it will pull up)

If you’re like me, just to be sure, you also ask others in line if they’re going to the same place.

There were only about twenty-five of us who rode that Amtrak Thruway bus, which meant we could spread out, sit wherever we wanted, and keep our carry-on bag in the seat next to us (if we chose).

I think that was my favorite part. Until I was later released from immigration.  Being released from immigration was my other favorite part.

Crossing the Border From the USA to Canada (on the Amtrak Thruway Bus)

As soon as the Amtrak Thruway bus arrived at the border…

  • we disembarked the bus and took our bags with us inside a building

  • we stood in a line

  • we presented our proper ID and customs form (next time, I’ll fill out a customs form on the bus even if I’m told I’m exempt—because border guards asked for my customs form)

  • the Canadian border guards held serious stances, yet gentler tones

  • we answered questions

    • next time, I'll briefly say I'm going to sightsee in Vancouver (which was true)

    • next time, I'll not proactively offer up that I’ll be housesitting for free in the evening (as this is what sent me to immigration; border guards wondered if service laws applied to those who housesit for free)

    • next time, if they ask where I’ll be staying, I might just say “with friends” and supply the housesitting address if requested (since I consider myself friends with those I housesit for, this is also true)

  • the Amtrak bus waited while immigration detained me and determined whether I'd be released/allowed to enter Canada

    • immigration consisted of a boxed-in space, in which I had to sit

    • I could still see and hear everything happening inside the main building

    • it was a little sad to see all my bus mates load back onto the bus without me

    • I was a tad worried about what this meant and what might happen next

    • turns out the Amtrak bus would have left without me had it been determined that I could not enter Canada

    • I have no idea how I would have returned to Seattle at that point ... there was no literature addressing this (would the Amtrak bus pick me up on its way back to Seattle?)

  • the Canadian border guards hesitantly determined that I could proceed into Canada

    • it was embarrassing, that walk to the bus

    • everyone was quiet and staring

    • after a lifetime of crossing that border, I could not believe I was an immigration concern

  • Amtrak’s Thruway bus then made a few brief stops (even at hotels) to drop off riders

  • we arrived at Vancouver's historic Pacific Central Station about thirty minutes late

    • I was sure it was my fault, and I felt guilty

    • yet I reminded myself that nearly anytime I've ridden Amtrak's actual trains (when not crossing a border), they have regularly arrived anywhere from thirty to sixty minutes late

    • this was another reminder to always plan flexibly

On Departure Day (in Vancouver, BC, at the Amtrak Train Station)

Four days later, when it was time for me to return to the USA, I arrived at Vancouver’s historic Pacific Central Station about four hours before my bus departure.

I checked in with the clerks, asked where I should catch the bus at this train station, and followed their instructions.

However, I was starving and I had a lot of time on my hands. So I ordered food to be delivered to me at the train station.

I met the delivery driver out front, where taxis pull over to wait for customers. It was amazing.

Crossing the Border From Canada to the USA (on the Amtrak Thruway Bus)

Amtrak’s Canadian bus driver prepared us well for this entire border experience, simply by being so kind and friendly…

  • he made humorous comments, like…

    • Good thing we're trying to cross now ... before America builds a wall

    • Border guards are always right, so try to not be like my last passenger who argued with them, as that didn't turn out so well...

  • we got off the bus and took our bags with us inside the building

  • we stood in a line

  • we presented proper ID and customs form

  • the US border guards held angry stances and tones, so I practiced mindfulness and held a kind stance/tone, which is not easy when I want to instead tell them how harmful intimidation is to all

    • the more I practice mindfulness in moments like these, the easier it is to witness, not react, to life's challenges

    • pausing and witnessing helps me laugh a little at myself and see why another would not appreciate their behavior being mirrored back to them

    • mindfulness helps me cultivate another way

    • my issue: as someone who has worked with victims and dangerous people, I know we can choose professional (respectful, deescalating) communication while we safely handle dangerous scenarios, so we don't inflict unnecessary fear/harm onto others

    • fear and intimidation are never necessary at the border

  • we answered questions

    • I briefly said that I'd been sightseeing in Vancouver, which was true

    • I did not offer up that I also spent time housesitting, for free, at night

    • when the US border guard asked for more details, I said I'd been taste-testing organic, gluten-free, and vegan restaurants, at which point he literally looked disgusted and waved at me to quickly stop talking and move along

  • we placed our bags through an x-ray machine

  • we grabbed our bags from the end of the x-ray machine

  • we were then allowed to board the bus and leave immediately

  • we arrived at Seattle's King Street Station near on time

Wi-Fi Internet Sevice (on the Amtrak Thruway Bus)

Even though it was supposedly included with the service, there was no wi-fi on either Amtrak Thruway bus. The bus driver mentioned something about this, but I couldn’t quite hear what he said.

I was okay with no wi-fi as I enjoyed this time to watch, relax, and sleep, but it’s an understandable challenge. If wi-fi is a necessity, I'd definitely call Amtrak to verify whether it will be supplied.

 

The Beautiful Part

In addition to the kindness and hard work of the bus drivers (plus the amazing hat worn by the gentleman in front of me), we were able to use the old historic train stations.

slow travelKristenamtrak seattle to vancouver thruway bus34 Comments