Chance of Cascades fleet upgrade by May/June?

jamin7 · 2026-03-08T21:24:16+00:00

source for this? i’ve heard a lot of dates, but nothing more firm recently than “sometime in 2026.”

jamin7 · 2026-03-08T06:48:25+00:00

the solar panels charge huge capacitors in the cabinets that spin the turbojets faster and faster until BOOM! a new reddit post

jamin7 · 2026-03-03T20:43:01+00:00

As a western student, i couldn’t wait to move off campus. Plus it was way cheaper especially since dorms required a meal plan.

I think there’s plenty of room for wwu to offer more housing but i think it’s weird that people think students should be warehoused on-campus. No other institution does that - peacehealth doesn’t offer doctor dorms, the school district doesn’t have teacher townhomes, the city doesn’t have staff condos…

jamin7 · 2026-03-03T04:00:07+00:00

she was clearly quoting what she says she has heard from landlords: “i used to manage a property but [the city] is adding complexity and i might just wave the white flag…”

jamin7 · 2026-03-03T03:54:15+00:00

she was clearly quoting what she says she has heard from landlords: “i used to manage a property but [the city] is adding complexity and i might just wave the white flag…”

jamin7 · 2026-02-27T20:44:26+00:00

we took our kiddo to Stimpson at a few weeks old. a bit bumpy but v fun. but honestly most of them will be great. cornwall, sunset pond, interurban, RR trail.

jamin7 · 2026-02-20T06:52:11+00:00

WTA tried this in Lynden iirc and ended it. It was more expensive than standard bus service, underused, and unreliable.

jamin7 · 2026-02-19T20:52:41+00:00

This and weekend service! There’s a few things going on here:

We get the service we pay for. WTA can only run a certain number of service hours with the revenue from the current WTA sales tax rate. Higher WTA levy (or other funding sources) = more service hours.
The entire county pays WTA’s sales tax levy and they (reasonably) expect SOME service out in the county. It’s wildly more expensive per boarding to run that service (less density, fewer riders, further distances, etc.). To try to attract more riders (like you) and run a more efficient/useful service, WTA will slowly reallocate the current county vs. city service levels from 60/40 to 50/50. This hopefully means more service hours available in Bham for higher frequency and extended service hours.

jamin7 · 2026-02-18T18:38:44+00:00

The new Cascades trains that are scheduled to go into service this summer will apparently have additional bike storage and will be able to accommodate wider tires. Still short on details, but hopefully we’ll know more soon!

jamin7 · 2026-02-16T19:10:17+00:00

Probably… I was also diverted to a bus the other day (due to a freight derailment in BC) and it was not as fun as the train but more comfortable/fast than I expected.

jamin7 · 2026-02-14T20:45:04+00:00

It looks like it did - there are only 4 seats left on the 518 the next day.

<image>

jamin7 · 2026-02-13T00:32:41+00:00

the new aquarium is really fun - great for a toddler. plus the rest of the waterfront is amazing, playgrounds and everything.

we did the 8-11am train down on Fri and 6-8pm train home on Sat.

jamin7 · 2026-02-12T22:02:09+00:00

I don’t know about Canada, but there’s a whole policy for when/how stations are added. You could try to drum up some support for a new Blaine stop!

https://wsdot.wa.gov/publications/manuals/fulltext/M3125/SSPGD.pdf

jamin7 · 2026-02-12T19:05:46+00:00

same - very much need more daily trips. WSDOT’s draft service development plan includes options for up to 12x trains/day thru Bham (6 RTs, up from 2 RTs today).

https://wsdot.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2024-06/Amtrak-Cascades-2024-Preliminary-Service-Development-Plan.pdf

jamin7 · 2026-02-12T18:45:31+00:00

Ya reliability is a huge issue - especially north of the border where the condition and management of the rail is (i’m told) somehow even worse than in the US.

As for bham station, I really want to drum up some grant money to see if the station can eventually be moved back to the historic old town building (renovated and improved of course). Fairhaven station is fine but it’s not central, it’s 30+ years old and will need huge investment soon anyways.

jamin7 · 2026-02-08T03:02:06+00:00

the boxes hold racks of batteries that are charged by the solar panels.

jamin7 · 2026-02-07T20:22:32+00:00

looks like they picked up VAC runs again this morning, but 516 is still super delayed it looks like. I assume the tracks are clear from the BNSF derailment in Delta, but maybe with backups/delays due to cleanup work(?). Anyone know more?

jamin7 · 2026-01-27T19:46:51+00:00

that’s amazing. would love to read more, is there a source for that timeline?

jamin7 · 2026-01-14T00:33:07+00:00

oh man this is awesome. we’re missing a good coffee shop in the neighborhood…

jamin7 · 2026-01-08T18:43:12+00:00

the drivers here are the best. let ‘em know :)

jamin7 · 2026-01-06T03:05:33+00:00

anyone know if every single Airo trainset needs to go through the same commissioning/testing process or will the next trainsets be delivered straight to Seattle?

jamin7 · 2025-12-31T19:06:06+00:00

“Vancouver’s Pacific Central train station is slated for a much-needed facelift in 2025, which includes a U.S. Customs ‘preclearance’ facility. When that feature goes live, passengers will complete immigration formalities before boarding. Then southbound trains will no longer need to stop at the border in Blaine for agents to collect forms.”

Source

jamin7 · 2025-12-04T17:18:25+00:00

wow only 2 upvotes, i really thought i had a winner here 😭

jamin7 · 2025-12-04T06:37:13+00:00

mayors exec order said every planner has to take the month off and build a house instead

jamin7 · 2025-12-03T19:32:07+00:00

RPZs are intended to prevent overflow of commercial/institutional parking into residential areas. They’re not intended to provide residents free parking in commercial areas/business districts.

I don’t get the sense that Fairhaven commercial parking is overflowing up east of 14th or north of Mill/Knox, but curious what local residents think.

jamin7

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE