Cascadia High-Speed Rail route study for Vancouver, Seattle and Portland to report in 2028
Three governments are spending C$78 million on a planning study that will outline route options for a high-speed rail line linking Metro Vancouver, Seattle and Portland, with a public survey open until November 13.
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Three governments started spending C$78 million this year to map out possible routes for a high-speed rail line that could one day link Metro Vancouver to Seattle and Portland. Daily Hive Vancouver reported on November 6 that the Service Development Plan is expected to be finished in 2028, and that a public survey is open until November 13.
Washington State Department of Transportation is leading the planning effort, with BC's Ministry of Transportation and Transit and Oregon's Department of Transportation as partners. Work on the plan began in January 2025.
What the study will and will not do
The 2028 plan will identify potential routes, look at passenger demand, train speeds, engineering requirements, and connections with other transit services. It will also look at how to fund and govern a service that crosses the Canada-US border.
The plan will not pick a final route or decide on station locations. Those steps would come later, through formal environmental review, design and construction, if the project advances.
Where a Vancouver station could go
Discussions about the Canadian end of the line have covered several options, according to Daily Hive Vancouver. These include stations in both Downtown Vancouver and Surrey, a terminus in Surrey City Centre, or a northern terminus at Vancouver International Airport. YVR's leadership suggested the airport option earlier in 2026.
How much money, and where it came from
Daily Hive Vancouver reports the total planning budget is US$55.7 million, about C$78 million. The breakdown: US$49.7 million (C$70 million) came from the US Federal Railroad Administration in December 2024; a further US$500,000 (C$700,000) came from a federal grant; and Washington state added US$5.5 million (C$7.7 million) in matching funds.
Why this corridor is being planned
The Cascadia region, covering the Vancouver, Seattle and Portland metropolitan areas, is forecast to gain 3.4 million residents by 2050, according to Daily Hive Vancouver citing WSDOT. WSDOT projects that 80 per cent of the I-5 highway through Washington state will face medium or high congestion by 2050, compared with 59 per cent today.
Cascadia High-Speed Rail would use dedicated tracks for trains travelling at more than 260 km/h (160 mph). The existing Amtrak Cascades service, which serves Vancouver today and began running a new Siemens fleet in September 2026, reaches a maximum of only 127 km/h on certain segments. Daily Hive Vancouver reports that WSDOT says the high-speed rail line would complement Amtrak Cascades, not replace it.
Residents can submit their views on the planning study through WSDOT's online survey, which is open until November 13, 2026.
Questions this story answers
What is the Cascadia High-Speed Rail Service Development Plan?
It is a government-funded planning study that will identify potential precise routes for a high-speed rail line linking Metro Vancouver, Seattle and Portland. Washington State Department of Transportation is leading the work, in partnership with BC's Ministry of Transportation and Transit and Oregon's Department of Transportation. The plan is expected to be completed in 2028, according to Daily Hive Vancouver.
How much money is being spent on this planning study?
The total budget for the planning work is US$55.7 million, which is about C$78 million. Daily Hive Vancouver reports that US$49.7 million (about C$70 million) came from the US Federal Railroad Administration in December 2024, with another US$500,000 (C$700,000) in federal grant funding and US$5.5 million (C$7.7 million) in matching funds from Washington state.
Will the 2028 plan choose a final route for high-speed rail to Vancouver?
No. Daily Hive Vancouver reports that the 2028 plan will not select a preferred route or decide on station locations. It will identify possibilities for further detailed technical study. Formal environmental review, design and construction would still follow if the project advances.
What speed would Cascadia High-Speed Rail trains travel?
WSDOT defines high-speed rail as trains travelling at more than 260 km/h, which is 160 mph, according to Daily Hive Vancouver. For comparison, the current Amtrak Cascades service reaches a maximum of 127 km/h on certain segments of the same corridor.
Where could a Vancouver station be located?
Daily Hive Vancouver reports that suggestions for the BC portion of the line have included stations in both Downtown Vancouver and Surrey, or a northern terminus in Surrey City Centre. Vancouver International Airport's leadership has also suggested locating the terminus at YVR to create a multimodal hub.
Why is this planning study being done now?
Population forecasts show the Cascadia region, covering the Vancouver, Seattle and Portland metropolitan areas, is projected to gain 3.4 million residents by 2050, according to Daily Hive Vancouver citing WSDOT. WSDOT also says 80 per cent of the I-5 highway in Washington state is projected to experience medium or high congestion by 2050, compared with 59 per cent today.
Is there a public survey for residents to give feedback?
Yes. Daily Hive Vancouver reports that WSDOT's online survey on the Cascadia High-Speed Rail project and a companion I-5 highway plan is open through November 13, 2026. The survey seeks feedback on transportation needs and priorities for the Cascadia region.
How does this relate to Amtrak Cascades, which already serves Vancouver?
Daily Hive Vancouver reports that WSDOT notes the high-speed rail line would complement, not replace, Amtrak Cascades. The existing service, which began using a new Siemens fleet in September 2026, makes more stops along the corridor and reaches Vancouver today, but travels at a maximum of 127 km/h. High-speed rail would use dedicated tracks at more than 260 km/h.
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