Amtrak running 2 new trains purchased by Oregon

State of Oregon rail website

ALBANY, Ore. — Two new Amtrak trains the state of Oregon bought for more than $38 million with federal stimulus money have begun running between Eugene and Vancouver, British Columbia.

The Albany Democrat-Herald reports they are named for two prominent peaks in the Cascade Range, Mounts Jefferson and Bachelor.

Each train seats 286 passengers and has catering facilities, a bicycle storage car, business class accommodations, electrical outlets and Wi-Fi.

Kathy Holmes of the Oregon Department of Transportation says the trains can travel at higher speeds if tracks are improved.

A new bus and train schedule for the Amtrak Cascades corridor went into effect when the trains began running last week.

The trains join a fleet of five, three owned by Washington state, two by Amtrak.