Amtrak Introduces Its First-Ever Electric Bus, Connecting Rail Stations Sustainably

Amtrak and Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) have just rolled out the rail operator’s first-ever electric vehicle (EV), bus that serves the intercity Amtrak Cascades route that runs through the Pacific Northwest.

The new eco-friendly bus will replace its diesel-powered predecessor as part of the Cascade Thruway service, which connects passengers with train stations along the Amtrak Cascades route that runs north-south from Vancouver, British Columbia through Washington and down to Eugene, Oregon.

These daily mid-day buses offer extra connectivity options beyond the morning and evening rail service running between Seattle and Bellingham, connecting riders with trains heading to and from the Amtrak stations south of Seattle.

The first EV ever to join the Amtrak National Network, the new electric bus, owned and operated by motorcoach company MTRWestern, can complete its nearly 200-mile roundtrip journey on just a single charge.

An ideal trip length for an electric bus, the new connector vehicle will eliminate the use of roughly 10,000 gallons of diesel fuel per year, reducing CO2 emissions by 109 tons annually. The charging hub at MTRWestern’s Seattle facilities occupies a space that was formerly use to store large petroleum tanks.

“The future is electric, and we are committed to delivering carbon-free intercity and group transportation throughout the Pacific Northwest,” said MTRWestern President Jeremy Butzlaff. “We consider the collaboration on this route a transformational step towards even greater EV regional transit.”

“At Amtrak, we strive to give our passengers reliable, comfortable, and sustainable travel options. By incorporating environmental considerations into our current operations and as we work with our partners to reach more of America, we continue to make Amtrak an even ‘greener’ mode of transportation,” Kara Oldhouser, Amtrak Sustainability Director, said in a statement.

“WSDOT is pleased to be the first in the country to offer electric bus service on an intercity route that’s part of Amtrak’s National Network. Amtrak Cascades trains already operate with locomotives that meet the EPA’s highest standards—reducing emissions by 86 percent after replacing older locomotives in 2017,” said Washington Secretary of Transportation Roger Millar. “Adding a bus to our fleet that is powered by clean energy further affirms our commitment to offer environmentally friendly travel options in the Pacific Northwest.”

The WSDOT said that it strives to supply passengers with efficient, high-quality intercity rail service while, at the same time, remaining cognizant of community and environmental impacts, as well as business costs.

The debut of Amtrak’s first EV bus follows the full resumption of its pre-pandemic service in the region, including the popular daily roundtrip train that travels between Portland, Seattle and Vancouver, BC.

This rollout of its first-ever EV bus will help Amtrak fulfill its pledge to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across the entire Amtrak Network by 2045. The national rail operator is looking into other routes within its network to determine where it might implement more EVs and switch to alternative fuels.

In June, Amtrak released its Fiscal Year 2022 Sustainability Report, detailing its reduced diesel consumption and carbon emissions, as well as its investment into carbon-free energy sources. Its efforts are in aid of a company-wide climate commitment to prioritize environmental concerns when making all of its business decisions.