Students planning to head home for Memorial Day should start thinking about how they're going to get there. With gas prices near all-time highs, they may need to find alternative ways to and from campus to save some money this spring.
The Bellingham Amtrak Station is just a short bus ride away from campus and can take students nearly anywhere they want to go, without the sticker shock that comes with filling up their tank.
A map of the Amtrak Cascades corridor with station stops. Not pictured on the map are the station stops in Eastern Washington, which include Wenatchee, Pasco and Spokane, among others. // Credit Amtrak Cascades
With over 20 station stops in Washington and Oregon, Amtrak is a popular way for Western students to get between campus and wherever they call home. But from sold-out trains to fare changes and delays, the process may seem overwhelming and first-time riders may not know where to start.
Western second-year Isabelle Goff has been riding on Amtrak trains since she was in middle school. Knowing how quickly the trains can fill up, she books her tickets in the summer, long before the train is sold out, and recommends others do the same.
“The sooner you book your tickets, the cheaper they are. So if you know that you're going back for spring break or whatever, try to book those (tickets) as soon as possible,” she said.
Additionally, she recommends paying extra for the Flex Fare option when booking. The Flex Fare allows passengers to get a full refund if they cancel their ticket and to reschedule to a different date with no fee, according to Amtrak’s fare guide.
While the Flex Fare does cost more than the standard Value Fare, Goff said that the extra few dollars are well worth the peace of mind knowing that tickets can be canceled or changed if needed.
In his two years of riding the train, Western second-year Naima Zida-Brown stresses the importance of passengers showing up on time to the station and having their ticket ready before boarding. That way, the conductor can quickly scan your ticket and keep the line of people moving to avoid delays.
Zida-Brown said that he was confused when he first started riding because there was so little he needed to do before getting on the train besides presenting his ticket.
“There's not any check-in before you get on the train. It's all after you've sat down and the train starts going,” he said.
Goff says that the conductor will tell passengers which car to board depending on where they’re going. Once in the proper car, they are free to sit in whichever seat they want, as most Amtrak trains are open seating unless the conductor says otherwise.
“I usually like sitting by the windows on the right, because I go south (from Bellingham) on Amtrak,” Zida-Brown said.
When going southbound from Bellingham, passengers sitting on the right-hand side of the train are treated to scenic views of Bellingham Bay and the Salish Sea that can only be seen by rail.
Zida-Brown added that if passengers are lucky, they might even see salmon jumping in the water when they are headed upstream to spawn. Those on his train were lucky enough to see them after the conductor pointed them out.
Near the middle of the train is the café car. Western fourth-year Regan Richards has had many meals on the train. After trying a plethora of the available options, she recommends the turkey Swiss sandwich.
Alternatively, Zida-Brown recommends passengers bring their own snacks on the train as a more budget-friendly option.
He suggested bringing things that are “easily packable and things that don’t leave too much of a mess. And water, definitely a water bottle.”
Amtrak Cascades does have free Wi-Fi, but it's far from perfect.
“The internet is extremely spotty. They say that there's free Wi-Fi, but I've never gotten it to work,” Goff said.
She also said that on occasion, passengers should be prepared for delays of up to several hours.
Amtrak Cascades trains had an on-time performance rating of 61% in 2025, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation’s annual report. While that number is up 12% from the year prior, trains being multiple hours late is not an uncommon occurrence, and passengers should plan accordingly.
But tardy trains and temperamental Wi-Fi may be worth it for students looking to avoid the sticker shock at the gas pump this Memorial Day. To ease the wallet woes even further, students can save 15% off their trip with Amtrak’s student discount.
Nathaniel Nagel (he/him) is a reporter for the campus news beat. He is a third-year visual journalism major. This is his first quarter writing for The Front. Outside of school, Nathaniel can be found watching sunsets and spending time in the mountains, always with a camera (or two) in his hand. You can reach him at nathanielnagel.thefront@gmail.com.
