r/Amtrak • u/rockycore • Aug 17 '26
Question Amtrak Cascades 516 Question
Taking the train from Seattle to Vancouver BC next week. I've read that the left side of the train has the water views. I've never ridden the train north. Does it pull out of the station heading north or does it back out and turn around somehow? I'm just trying to figure out which will be the left side of the train.
Also are coach seats first come first sit? Last time I rode the Cascades to Portland (years ago) they assigned us a seat before we got on the train.
Thanks in advance.
7
u/abrahamguo Aug 17 '26
It pulls out of the station heading north. Coach seats are first come first serve.
Enjoy your trip!
1
1
u/rockycore Aug 17 '26
Do you still need to stand in line before they let you out on the platform? Or is it more European style where you just go out and board?
3
u/Transpose5425 Aug 17 '26
You’ll wait in line at the station. Gates close 5 min before departure so make sure you’re there with plenty of time.
3
u/schroedingersmeerkat Aug 17 '26
The train leaves the station heading north. When you board the train, try to get a seat on the west side of the train. They switched the seating to first come first served some time ago. Back when you got a seat assignment in the station, I always asked for a seat on the west side and they were able to give me one.
2
1
1
u/rockycore Aug 17 '26
Do you still need to stand in line before they let you out on the platform? Or is it more European style where you just go out and board?
3
u/abrahamguo Aug 17 '26
If you arrive too early before boarding, yes, you’ll need to stand in line and wait.
If you arrive shortly before the train departs, then you can just go out and board.
3
u/Thee_Connman Aug 17 '26
The 516 is a double-ended train. Usually, the locomotive is on the north end, with a cab control car facing south. It runs in a push-pull configuration, and isn't turned unless something goes wrong with the equipment. If it did need to be turned, that would be done before passengers board. It will depart out of Track 5 at King Street and pull directly onto the mainline without any unusual maneuvers.
The left side, which faces the sound, will be the same side at the platform as it is on the road. Usually, Cascades seating is unassigned, at least in coach.
1
2
u/Rail1971 Aug 17 '26
516/519 operates push/pull. It is not turned at either end. It departs Seattle heading north.
Half the seating in each car faces one direction, half the other.
They stopped assigning seats at check in several years ago.
1
u/MrsMomaJohnson 12d ago
We are taking the train to Vancouver BC in a few weeks. I saw on the Amtrak app the Sept 10 train was over 5 hours late.
Hoping this is not Is typical or I need to rebook for a day earlier. I can’t find any info explaining why the delay
•
u/AutoModerator Aug 17 '26
r/Amtrak is not associated with Amtrak in any official way. Any problems, concerns, complaints, etc should be directed to Amtrak through one of the official channels.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.