The Amtrak Cascades is the Pacific Northwest's primary intercity rail service, connecting Seattle and Portland through Tacoma, Olympia, and Centralia. Ridership has grown significantly, and the route is a key piece of regional transportation planning.
Morning - Seattle King Street Station to Portland Union Station
| Train # | Departs | Arrives | Value Fare | Flex Fare | Avg Delay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 505 | 8:55 AM | 12:20 PM | $27–$68 | $29–$71 | +10 min / 51% on time |
Evening - Portland Union Station to Seattle King Street Station
| Train # | Departs | Arrives | Value Fare | Flex Fare | Avg Delay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 506 | 5:55 PM | 9:20 PM | $27–$68 | $29–$71 | +4 min / 75% on time |
| 508 | 7:25 PM | 10:50 PM | $27–$68 | $29–$71 | +7 min / 66% on time |
Schedule and fares as of Apr 2026–Feb 2027. Delay averages: 6-month window via juckins.net.
Seattle King Street Station to Portland Union Station Route Overview
The Cascades departs Seattle King Street Station and travels south through Tukwila, Tacoma, Olympia/Lacey, Centralia, Kelso/Longview, and Vancouver, WA before arriving at Portland Union Station.
The trip takes approximately 3.5 hours. The Cascades is jointly funded by Washington State and Oregon.
Six round trips operate daily between Seattle and Portland on the Cascades, supplemented by the Amtrak Coast Starlight (which also serves the corridor but takes longer). The schedule is spaced through the day, giving one-or-two-day-per-week commuters solid options.
Portland Union Station is in the Old Town/Chinatown neighborhood, walkable to downtown and served by the TriMet MAX light rail.
Seattle King Street Station to Portland Union Station Pricing
Fares on the Seattle-Portland Cascades range from $27 to $55 for Value (non-refundable). Flex fares run $29-$58. Mid-week trains consistently have Value inventory available.
Washington and Oregon offer occasional promotional fares. Check WSDOT and ODOT rail pages for state-specific promotions.
Amtrak multi-ride and Guest Rewards apply on the Cascades same as any other route.
Real pricing: $1,250/month, $500 for 10 rides, or $12-22 advance individual. Here is the math.
Save 22-35% on every ticket using your employer's commuter benefit account.
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Booking Strategy
Book 3-6 weeks ahead for consistently low fares. Friday and Sunday trains sell out at low fares within days of opening.
Tacoma can be an intermediate boarding point if you live in the South Puget Sound area - booking from Tacoma to Portland is sometimes cheaper than booking the full Seattle-Portland route.
Mid-week trains are consistently less crowded and less price-volatile than Friday and Sunday departures.
On-Time Performance
The schedule table above shows the 6-month average arrival delay and on-time percentage for each commuter-window train on this corridor. Delay performance varies significantly by train - check the table before choosing a regular departure.
Trains that originate further down the corridor tend to carry accumulated delay by the time they depart. Earlier trains in the morning generally have better on-time performance than later ones.
Full historical delay data for any Amtrak train number is available at juckins.net.
Station Guide
Seattle King Street Station is served by the King County Metro and Sound Transit Link light rail (International District/Chinatown station is adjacent). Parking is available nearby.
Portland Union Station is in the Old Town/Chinatown neighborhood. TriMet MAX light rail stops nearby at Union Station. Parking is available at the station.
Track Your Seattle to Portland Commute with RailCommute
Cascades Value fares run $27-$55. Friday trains fill at the lowest prices within days of opening. On a corridor with 6 trains per day, paying $28 more per trip because you booked late is a function of timing, not availability.
RailCommute monitors fares on your booked Cascades trips. When a cheaper seat opens on your train, you get an alert so you can cancel and rebook.
It also logs your actual cost per trip. Forward your Amtrak confirmation emails once and your trips sync to your calendar automatically.
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RailCommute monitors fares on your booked Amtrak trips and alerts you when a cheaper seat opens up. Automatic entry from email forwarding - no manual work.
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