New Amtrak facility in BC eliminates need for US Customs inspections while onboard southbound trains

WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. — Bellingham travelers heading south from Vancouver BC can now complete customs inspections prior to boarding.

According to a press release from Amtrak, a passenger rail preclearance facility opened at Pacific Central Station in Vancouver, British Columbia, on June 8, 2026. The facility allows passengers traveling into the US on Amtrak Cascades trains to complete US customs and immigration inspections before boarding.

According to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), Amtrak Cascades passenger trains connect Vancouver, British Columbia, with 18 stations in western Washington and Oregon, including Bellingham.

Previously, passengers traveling southbound underwent an inspection at the station before boarding and a second inspection onboard the train at the international border in Blaine. According to WSDOT, the border stop in Blaine added at least 10 minutes to the travel schedule. The preclearance designation combines the 2 inspections at the Vancouver station, eliminating the stop in Blaine and reducing travel time between Vancouver and Seattle to 4 hours.

According to Amtrak, Pacific Central Station is the first rail station in North America to receive a preclearance designation.

WSDOT reported that 149,000 passengers traveled to and from British Columbia on Amtrak Cascades trains in 2025, making Pacific Central Station the third most popular stop in the rail system.

Amtrak also announced plans to introduce new Amtrak Cascades trains later in 2026 to provide additional seating capacity and onboard amenities.