Stanwood Station on track

The crew of Interwest Construction of Burlington work on the future site of the train station in Stanwood last week. Work continues on the Stanwood train station.

So far, the platform footings have been poured, said Kirk Fredrickson, Washington state Department of Transportation rail project manager.

The crew is constructing the stormwater detention facilities, and then will build the 600-foot platform and lift the passenger waiting shelters into place.

Due to having to remove lead-contaminated soil from the site, the station will likely not be finished until November, Fredrickson said.

Amtrak Cascades service will start shortly after that.

"We know people have been waiting for this for a few years, and it's getting closer and closer to becoming a reality," he said.

In addition, Canada has agreed to allow the department and Amtrak Cascades to run a second daily service between Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia from August through the 2010 Winter Olympics in February.