Amtrak’s Cascades line will now clear U.S. customs at Vancouver’s Pacific Central Station, cutting a stop in the four‑hour journey to Seattle. The change removes a second passport check in Blaine, Washington, and arrives just before Vancouver hosts seven World Cup matches. Passengers will board with U.S. customs paperwork already signed for travelers arriving today.

The preclearance program, first used at airports, now sits on a train platform, making cross‑border travel faster and more seamless. Amtrak’s president Roger Harris said the move will ease congestion and improve the fan experience as Seattle prepares for six World Cup games. The change comes ahead of new Airo trains later this year in 2026.

Nearly 150,000 passengers rode the Cascades in 2025, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation. The new preclearance will handle a fraction of that flow, but it signals Amtrak’s push to modernize cross‑border service. The policy also positions Pacific Central as the first train station with U.S. preclearance worldwide in the near future.

Passengers must arrive at least an hour before departure to complete processing, as Amtrak advises. The shift comes six days before Vancouver’s first match and five before Seattle’s kickoff, timing that could boost ticket sales and streamline logistics for organizers. The move confirms Amtrak’s commitment to streamline cross‑border travel for high‑volume events in 2026 season.