Trains from Seattle, WA to Bellingham, WA

Trains from Seattle to Bellingham

Bellingham is an attractive, fast-growing coastal city in the northwest of Washington state, close to the Canadian border. With its scenic location on Bellingham Bay, the city is a popular hub for outdoors enthusiasts planning camping trips to the San Juan Islands or hiking expeditions in the North Cascades. The harbor at Fairhaven, close to the Bellingham railroad station, is also an embarkation point for cruises to the islands, to British Columbia or further north to Alaska. Adventurers, cruise passengers and business travelers coming from the south of the state can take a direct train from Seattle to Bellingham on Amtrak's Cascades route, the line that runs up the northwest coast of the USA as far as Vancouver in Canada. There are direct trains from Seattle to Bellingham twice a day, seven days a week, with journey times of just over 2 hours. Departures from Seattle King Street Station are in the early morning and early evening, providing options suitable for a morning business meeting or cruise departure, or for a late dinner by the bay.

Which train companies travel from Seattle to Bellingham?

Amtrak, the USA's foremost long-distance railroad operator provides all of the direct trains from Seattle to Bellingham, with its morning and evening services running on the Cascades Line, connecting cities in British Columbia, Washington State and Oregon, Passengers on the Amtrak train from Seattle to Bellingham can choose between Coach Class and Business Class seats. Cascades Line trains offer an onboard bistro or cafe service serving meals and drinks throughout the journey. Amtrak Cascades trains have free WiFi, at-seat power points to charge a cell phone or tablet, wheelchair ramp access, and bicycle storage. Most Amtrak trains on this route north to Bellingham also offer a free baggage check-in service with two large items allowed per passenger in addition to their carry-on luggage allowance.

How long is the train ride from Seattle to Bellingham?

This short stretch of the Amtrak Cascades route north towards British Columbia covers a distance of 90 miles (144 kilometers) from Seattle to the coastal city. The fastest train from Seattle to Bellingham is the early evening departure from King Street Station, taking 2 hours and two minutes to reach the station in Bellingham. The morning Amtrak Cascades departures from Seattle take two minutes longer to complete the trip to Bellingham. With limited rail services on this line, indirect connections are not a practical consideration, although Amtrak does operate some daily direct Thruway bus services from Seattle to Bellingham as an alternative daytime option, with similar journey durations.

How many trains are there from Seattle to Bellingham?

The Amtrak Cascades service offers two daily direct trains between Seattle King Street Station and Bellingham's Fairhaven terminus seven days a week. The first train from Seattle to Bellingham leaves in the early morning, arriving a little before 10:00 a.m. The second service is an early evening departure from Seattle, arriving in the northern city just after 9:00 p.m.

What are the departure and arrival stations for trains from Seattle to Bellingham?

Departure station: Seattle King Street Station is a historic Northern Pacific railroad depot dating from 1906, with a grand, ornate lobby that rivals Grand Central Terminal in New York City. The station is located in the Pioneer Square neighborhood on the south side of downtown Seattle with public transit connections that include King County Metro and Sound Transit Express bus routes, as well as Seattle Streetcar services on the First Hill line. Link Light Rail connections stop a block away from the terminus at the China Town station. Facilities at the station include vending machines, free city WiFi, baggage storage services and ATMs. Nearby downtown blocks offer a wide choice of restaurants, bars, fast food franchises, coffee shops, bookstores and newsstands.

Arrival station: Bellingham Fairhaven Station dates from 1995, a transit hub for Amtrak trains and long distance bus services. Located by the coast in Fairhaven, about three miles (five kilometers) southwest of the city center, the station is a short walk to the quayside for cruise services to the San Juan Islands, British Columbia and Alaska. The station has public transit links on bus routes 1, 14 and 105 from the city stopping nearby on Ferry Terminal Road and Harris Avenue. Facilities at the station include same day and overnight parking lots, baggage storage services, wheelchair accessible platforms and restrooms, ATMs and vending machines. There is a coffee shop, bakery and snack bar, and a beer bar not far from the station's entrance.