Due to stricter searches by customs at the US/Canada border, it has been recommended by the Michigan Association of Rail Passengers (MARP) to discontinue Amtrak's International. This is due to several reasons: 1. Reduced ridership 2. Delays caused by de-training, having passengers get on a bus to the border across the Blue Water Bridge, clearing all passengers and then meeting back with the train to reboard. 3. Missed bus connections due to schedule. MARP's suggestion is to reinstall Amtrak's Port-Huron to Chicago- Blue Water which would offer both earlier and later trains and more reliable connections. Russ Hoffman Valley RR
Why the heck do they get on a bus, here on the Cascades they stay on the train and go through customs and immigrations BEFORE they get on the train. There are fences around it at the station that you can't climb on or off the train too. That way as soon as you step on the train in Vancouver, you are done customs and are cleared to go through the border. Dane
Or do what the GN used to do between Seattle and Vancouver BC. The customs agents would deadhead one way and check people ON the train going back. Since there are no station stops between Bellingham WA and Vancouver BC the customs guys would have over an hour to check everybody on the train. Or better yet they could realize they're being paranoid and scrap the new security.
