The train stops here… soon

Twice every morning and again in the evening, Amtrak Cascades zips through Stanwood blairing its horn to stay clear of the tracks. Beginning Saturday it will stop and welcome all on board! Stanwood’s first scheduled train rolls into town at 9:03 a.m., Nov. 21, and Senator Mary Margaret Haugen (D-Wash.) will greet it.

Though it may seem like a giant step back in time, it’s true. The soon-to-be-completed Amtrak Cascades train station is set to host its first train, a scheduled stop four years in the making.

“I’m so excited, “ said Haugen. “I think it’s the key to our future.”

Stanwood Station is an unstaffed platform and is located on land donated by the city of Stanwood and the Burlington Santa Fe Railroad tracks in downtown Stanwood. The $5 million project funded through Washington state was built by Interwest Construction of Burlington.

Haugen, chairwoman of Washington State’s transportation committee, secured authorization for the station in 2005, when she managed to secure $51 million from the state Legislature for improvements to the Camano Island/ I-5 corridor by 2011 and $5 million to begin a commuter rail system in Stanwood, planned to be completed by 2007.

Although the project is behind schedule, Haugen has followed up each year with additional funding and measures to guarantee its completion.

She said although the new station won’t be used for commuter rail as hoped, it gives local residents alternative means of travel.

“This has been a long time coming,” Haugen announced in a press release. “It’s going to make a huge difference for so many people.”

Amtrak Cascades will stop four times daily in Stanwood, twice in the morning and twice in the evening, as part of its run from Eugene, Ore., to Vancouver, B.C. The train also stops in Portland, Seattle, Mount Vernon, Bellingham and 11 other cities.

“This increases the travel options for everyone in the Stanwood and Camano Island area,” Haugen said. “It’s about time, energy, environment and quality of life.”

“I went to Spain a few weeks ago, they try to compete with high-speed rail,” said Haugen. “That will never be us, but if we can just compete with the cars, it gives people options.”

Northbound trains will stop in Stanwood at 9:03 a.m. and 8:14 p.m., destined for Vancouver, B.C. The southbound runs will stop in town at 9:18 a.m. and 8:25 p.m. before eventually making their way to Eugene, Ore.

Tickets may be purchased online at www.AmtrakCascades. com or by calling (800) USA-RAIL. Tickets may also be purchased onboard trains, but special sale prices are only available by phone or on the Web site. In the future, a Quik Trak Self- Servicing kiosk will open at Stanwood Station. Currently, Amtrak Cascade fares between Stanwood and Vancouver, B.C. are discounted by 25 percent until Dec. 31.

Regarding the station’s lack of restrooms, Haugen said most train stations on the East Coast don’t have them because of the expensive upkeep. Nonetheless, Haugen said she’d like to work with city of Stanwood to construct restrooms in the future.

For now, she noted, each train is equipped with eight restrooms that include roomy disabled units.

It’s been a while since residents greeted a train here. Specifically, since April 30, 1971.

In that spirit, the public is invited to join Haugen and state Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond for the station’s grand opening.

Witness the beginning of what will soon be a regular sight downtown.

Again.

Staff Reporter Jeremiah O’Hagan: 629-8066 ext. 125 or ohagan@scnews.com Editor Kelly Ruhoff contributed to this story.